Summon Lyght(63)

Chapter Twenty-One



"Are you okay?" Peggy couldn't resist sliding her fingers in Tyler's hair. Mostly to see if it was as soft as it looked. She watched his skin turn a deep red as her fingers voyaged from his hair to his cheeks, her curiosity knowing no bounds when it came to the sweet human. The downy precursor to the beard he would soon have fascinated her. Her fingertips insisted on knowing the texture.

Was the rest of his skin as soft as his hair? She allowed her fingers skip across the soft curve of his jaw, already beginning to show the square angle it would be when he finished puberty. By their own choice, her fingers resumed their exploration, trailing along his hairline to the skin at the back of his neck.

It was. As soft as his hair. And perfectly warm. Such a heavenly mix of ever-changing texture. She smiled, happy to sit there at his side and acquaint herself with every single fascinating inch of him.

Wait. Could he possibly be as fascinated with her? Would he like to touch? What would it feel like if—

Her finely tuned senses suddenly took note of his highly accelerated pulse and labored breathing. What could be wrong? He seemed distressed. Something to do with her? Her hair maybe? Her scent? Did she not choose the right combination of pheromones?

"I'm-I'm fine. You look…"

Peggy stepped back and looked down at her carefully chosen ensemble. She'd had a hard time choosing, but she'd finally settled on what the magazine called delicious low-rise stretch jeans and a curve-loving cotton sweater with a sweetheart neckline. She'd added a light leather jacket, a pair of gorgeous high-heeled knee boots to tuck the jeans into and swept her hair up in a cascade of loose curls, also from a magazine.

She'd studied fashion for a total of four hours and knew everything there was to know about it over the centuries. She'd chosen the precise norm for teen females in this geographical location. So why this reaction?

"Is it the color? I had my skin analyzed. Lavender is supposed to be one of my colors, I'm what they call a summer, but I also wondered if it were correct because I naturally like deep jewel tones." She looked around and found six amused eyes on her. Stupid brothers. You could never count on them to help with anything important.

"And what are you looking at, clackity?" She flicked her finger at Robert.

"Oh, don't mind me." He waved a pincer at her. "I'm just enjoying your little fashion show. And our young man's dashing response to you."

Peggy's mercury coagulated in her blood and she balled her fists. "I suppose you know so much about fashion. I'll have you know—"

"You look beautiful. That's what I was going to say. I hesitated because…" Peggy's chest fluttered with joy as she watched the cute human boy struggle to speak. Then he boldly and bravely pinned those dark blue eyes on her. "Because I'm stupid."

Peggy gasped on joy and didn't think twice about hugging him or even swinging him around in her arms. She'd study the female human nature and behavior next. She had a strong feeling that she was violating a lot of behavioral codes for her age and gender. She didn't care at the moment. She was too thrilled that she'd gotten her attire right.

"Can we get on with business? Dorn said back to business."

Peggy put Tyler down carefully and glared at Francis. "Fine Mr. Fancy pants." She took Tyler's hand and pulled him with her to the couch. When she sat, she patted the seat next to her. She wanted him close. She liked the way he felt and the smell of his skin. Definitely something she needed to explore more thoroughly, along with his responses. Not to mention her own.

Sudden overwhelming curiosity about his taste struck her. She shook it off. That was surely not in the realm of normal human behavior. Surely. Although… Yes, several times she'd witness Toren and Sam tasting one another. She glanced around at her brothers' curious expressions. Perhaps she should save that particular exploration for a time when she and Tyler could be alone?

Her thoughts went whirling off in another direction. She should probably study human development too, more thoroughly than the cursory reading she'd already done. It might be a good idea to familiarize herself with puberty and when Tyler might be fully grown to manhood so she could adjust her own growth to match.

Maxwell sat next to Peggy and cleared his throat dragging her attention back to the present. "So what are we going to do? What do you have in mind?"

Good. She needed a distraction from this endless curiosity about Tyler before she either offended him or made a fool of herself. Peggy patted Max's leg and smiled, thrilled to see him in human form.

All of them had changed form. Except Robert. Peggy regarded her obstinate brother for several seconds while he tried to find a spot to lounge his clickety clackety self in. "Is human form too difficult for you, Bobby?" The diminutive form, or nickname as Francis had explained it was called, of his name irritated Robert greatly, so she never missed an opportunity to use it.