Scarlet's Dilemma

by Zenina Masters

  Brushing his hair aside, she took the spray and wetted his back. His skin was smooth and had a fine grain that she envied. Once his skin was damp, she rubbed the soap over it, and then, she went to work, scrubbing in rapid up and down motions that caught him by surprise. He leaned against the wall with his palms flat, and he remained silent as she worked her way down his back, leaving his skin with a healthy glow and small balls of dead skin were at his feet.

  She gave him a final rinse, and he hissed, arching his back.

  She cleared her throat. “Finished, sorry if it was a little intense.”

  He swallowed. “That was a good word for it.”

  She smiled. “Your skin will recover quickly. It is the biggest bonus to being a shifter.”

  He sighed. “Yup. Now, let’s have some dinner, wash up, and then spend the evening soaking.”

  She laughed. “It sounds great to me. Can I wash my hair first?”

  “Certainly. I will get the meat started.” He smiled and headed for the charcoal barbeque. He placed a grill that had been fastened into the lid over the coals, and then, he fussed with the food.

  Scarlet unbraided her hair and got it wet. She rubbed the soap over her scalp, and when she set it down, she went after her scalp with her fingertips. She scrubbed, scraped, and rubbed until her head throbbed. When she was sure that she had gotten every leaf and twig, she rinsed her hair clean.

  Completely clean felt wonderful. Scarlet walked back to where he was preparing the food, and she nodded to his hair. “You can go and scrub it if you like. I can keep on top of this.”

  His gaze flicked downward. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would love it if you would wash my hair. I envied your head the way you massaged your head.”

  She laughed. “Sure. In exchange, you brush my hair.”

  “Deal.”

  She leaned forward and watched him move the marinated meat and vegetables around on the small grill.

  When he pulled out tortillas and warmed them up, she laughed.

  “Fajitas!” She grinned.

  “Yeah, the hostess has quite the sense of humour when it comes to food. Teebie never fails to astonish me. I am never sure of what I am eating until the last layer reveals itself.”

  “Interesting game.”

  “With all the guests coming and going, I don’t begrudge her some entertainment at my expense. She is an excellent host, as is her husband.”

  “I heard him, but I didn’t see him.”

  “You would notice him. He is the embodiment of fire itself.”

  “A phoenix?”

  “Exactly.” Hiro assembled the meat and vegetables neatly in the tortilla, and he handed it to her. “Your dinner is served.”

  She blinked. “Thank you.”

  She lifted it to her lips and took her first bite. She nearly groaned with satisfaction, but instead, she kept eating.

  When the first one was down, she took the second one he offered, and he passed her consumption as soon as she declined her third.

  She knelt on the rock and inhaled slowly. The traces of charcoal and the scent of the dinner still hung in the air, but the moisture was slowly pushing the traces down to the floor and into the water. In a day, no one would know they had ever been here.

  A slight clattering came across her senses, but by the time she opened her eyes, all traces of their meal had been packed away with the exception of the coals. “I could have helped.”

  “We are on my research trip, so the cooking and cleaning is up to me.”

  She smiled, “Well, at least I can wash your hair in thanks.”

  He gave her a shy smile. “With a scalp massage?”

  She laughed. “Yes, with a scalp massage. Come on, let’s get some more hot water.”

  He eagerly got to his feet and got the water. He refilled it from the second pool, so it would be warmer than blood heat but not uncomfortable.

  She looked around and found a rock with a flat top. She used her strength and moved the rock to the space under the shower. She patted the surface. “Have a seat. Madame Wilson has room in her chair.”

  He took the spot eagerly, and she got to work lathering, rinsing, and massaging. She engaged in light scraping with her nails, and he started purring.

  When she heard that sound, she realized that the most intimate part of the day had been when her fingers were running along his scalp. Nudity was fun, but it was the little gestures that made a bond. She just wasn’t sure that the bond went both ways.

  Chapter Six

  Washing your hair with soap left it squeaky. Scarlet took up a seat along the edge of the warmest pool where Hiro was standing, and she let him drag his comb through her hair.

  She sat and swayed as he worked out the tangles, inch by inch. He didn’t tug; he eased the comb through.

  “Has your hair always been this long?” Hiro asked the question quietly.

  “It has. I tried to cut it once, but it grew back the next day, so I just left it alone.”

  He grinned. “So, you have three forms. One of which you rarely use.”

  “What?”

  “Your small beast, your sasquatch hybrid—which is the one you rarely use—and your human form. Your hair is magical, which is not a usual situation for a shifter.”

  She snorted. “Everything is magical on a shifter. My father regularly donates his sasquatch toenails for stealth potions. It is how he put me through college.”

  Hiro paused. “Toenails?”

  “Sure. Folks can see the footprints, but they can never see the sasquatch if they are not meant to. The magic is in the toenails. The fur is used for insulation spells in cold climates.”

  He chuckled. “What about the fur of your red panda?”

  “Digestion aids. My fur can be used to help folks transition between omnivore and vegetarian. A pinch of the fur can even make insects palatable.”

  “Wow. That is interesting. So, you have sold bits of yourself?”

  She snorted. “No, my mother brushes me with a cat comb. The fur that comes loose is sold to a broker. It is how I paid for my first car. It was a crappy car, but it ran.” She grinned.

  He resumed his combing. “That is astonishing. Do you know what tiger parts are used for?”

  “Fur is used for camouflage, nails are used for confidence.” She ticked them off on her fingers.

  “How do you know that?”

  “I research stuff like that. I find it interesting. Hasn’t your mother ever sold fur or nails?”

  He paused. “No. It isn’t really her thing. She isn’t quite a tiger.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He finished combing her hair and began to braid it. “My mother is not a shapeshifter as we are; she is a fey who has a tiger form.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “My mother’s people are the Ainu, but her ancestry is Koro-pok-guru. She is of the little people of Hokkaido who are known for their beauty.”

  She stared at him. “How can you be here? The binding spells weren’t developed here until this decade.”

  He chuckled, “My mother’s people have methods of binding to their mates. Once they agreed to the marriage, her community came together to make it happen.”

  “So, you are not a shifter.”

  He paused while wrapping her braid around her head. “I am a shifter; I am just not pure shifter. Nor are you.”

  “Oh, you mean the theory that it was the wild men of the woods who died and possessed a married man to beget the first sasquatch. The woman would bear the hairy baby, and it would be taken to the woods.”

  “Yes, that. Born of the spirits of the mad.” He raised his brows and finished her hair. It was in a tight coronet around her head.

  “Sorry if my tone offended. I just... fey that I have met in the past haven’t been pleasant. The crackle of skin on skin always made my hair stand on end, literally. It makes it hard to carry on a conversation.”

  “As you can see, that is not an issue here.”
<
br />   She nodded. “Yes, and I also know that you are not shopping for a mate, so this might be entertainment, but it isn’t for keeps.”

  Hiro sighed. “Right. It would be a concern for you.”

  “Yeah, so why don’t we just have a nice soak and go our separate ways tomorrow.”

  He scowled. “If that is what you wish.”

  She touched his cheek quickly. “It isn’t what I wish, but I am a very practical person. It is what has to be. My beast wants a mate, not a companion. There is a difference in her call.”

  He nodded and moved to one side, putting the comb down on the rocky edge of the pool and holding his hand up to her. “I will help you in.”

  She took his hand and lowered herself into the hot water with a lot of gasping and the pricking of tears.

  When she was in up to her shoulders, she found a spot on a small outcropping and settled in. Hiro sat back, and he sighed deeply with his arms bracing him on the rock behind him.

  They settled into a strained silence. Her declaration of their status had been blunt, and she was kicking herself for making it. She pulled herself out of the pool on shaking arms and rolled into the next one, which was several degrees cooler.

  “Too hot?”

  “Yeah. I am a bit of a sissy when it comes to heat. Steam rooms terrify me. I always go for the coolest one.”

  She heard the whoosh of water from his pool, and he soon joined her in the less scorching one. It felt nice that he had followed her.

  “So, Scarlet, what are you looking for in a mate?” His eyes were closed again, and he was leaning against the side of the pool with his arms extended.

  “I don’t know. I think I want him attractive, educated, and even tempered. I would like him to have a flexible occupation, so I can either live near or visit my family a lot.”

  Hiro nodded. “Any particular beast?”

  “No, nothing specific. I mean, a red panda is not likely. We rarely occur outside of Asia, so I would be content with someone who has a friendly beast, something with fur.”

  He nodded again. “Height?”

  “I would say that he should be taller than me, but that isn’t much of a stretch. I would like him to be confident but not annoying about it and have a good relationship with his family.”

  Hiro grinned.

  “And he has to be looking for a mate.” She watched his grin disappear. “Hah!”

  He opened his eyes when he realized she was playing with him.

  She stuck her tongue out at him and chuckled. “What would you consider to be your best feature?”

  He answered instantly, “My hair.”

  Scarlet laughed.

  “What about you?”

  “My ability to do mundane tasks in rapid succession. I work at my family’s coffee shop, and there is never a line when I am behind the machines. They all dance to my tune.”

  He grinned. “I worked at a coffee shop when I was in university. I sucked at it.”

  She laughed.

  “What did you take in college?”

  “Business management courses, accounting courses, and one on international cooking. It was a bit of fun, and I enjoyed the learning.”

  “Did you do well?”

  “Top of my class.” There was pride in her voice, and she knew it.

  “I should have guessed nothing less.” He lifted his head and inclined it in apology.

  Silence fell between them again, and Scarlet let the water relax her. Finally, she asked, “What would your parents say if you went in search of a mate?”

  “My mother would be hesitant, but my father is all for it. He wants a grandchild in the worst way. He has been nagging me about it since I graduated.”

  “Why would she be hesitant?”

  “I think she thinks I would be better off with a human or a fey. She wants me to have a normal family, and that is easier if the child isn’t changing shape to run away from chores.”

  Scarlet smiled slightly. “That is part and parcel of being a shifter. Offspring is surprisingly mobile when they want to be once the transformation kicks in.”

  “Exactly. She wants a normal grandchild to dote on.”

  “What about you? What do you think of children?”

  “I like them as an abstract concept, but having one of my own would probably be a different situation. I imagine that I would enjoy being a parent.”

  She nodded. “Sensible description.”

  “I do strive to be sensible.” He grinned.

  After another hour of soaking, even Scarlet couldn’t take any more. “I think I need to turn in for a few hours, but since I need to go climb a tree, I will have to take my leave of you.”

  He sat up with a jolt. “Why do you have to climb a tree?”

  “Being up in a safe space gets me the best sleep ever. If I try to sleep on the ground, I get all achy the next day.”

  “Can I offer you an alternative?”

  She narrowed her gaze. “What?”

  “Sleep on my beast’s back. He is wide enough, warm enough, and you can use your claws to hang onto his fur. He should be more comfortable.”

  Scarlet thought about it for a moment. “Are you sure? It is a very tempting offer.”

  “I am sure.” He got out of the pool and stood at the side for a moment before his beast was standing where he had been.

  She crawled out of the pool and changed into her red panda, walking carefully toward the huge predator and letting him sniff her. Once he gave her a low huff, she climbed his front paw and pulled herself up into a comfortable position on his back.

  It took her less than a minute to settle in with a good grip, and she exhaled in satisfaction.

  He walked across the pool area and settled near their bags. She remained on his back as he settled in for a nap. As he dozed off, he let out a low series of sounds that were reminiscent of a purr, and her little panda burrowed deeper into his fur.

  It was the best night’s sleep she had had in recent memory.

  Scarlet woke when the light of the sun was streaming through the opening in the roof. Only, it wasn’t the roof, it was the window, and she was back in her room at the Crossroads.

  “What the fuck?”

  Chapter Seven

  Scarlet found her pack, her clothing, and everything else in her room with her. She walked to the bathroom and checked her reflection. Her hair was down and around her shoulders, but that was normal after a shift. Her skin still felt mineral-soft, and she could smell Hiro’s soap on her skin and hair. So, it wasn’t her imagination. She really had wandered out into the woods and found a tiger to play with.

  She checked her small charm and wrinkled her nose. Based on the light, it was nearly noon, and she was hungry. There was a café next to the bar she had been at, so it looked like she was going to have to dress and go in search of sustenance.

  She wasn’t in the mood to flirt, so she put on a pair of jeans and a clean shirt. Her sneakers were just as comfy as they always were, so they were the obvious choice.

  Dressed and hungry, she left her room, and she nearly ran into Teebie on the stairs. The blue woman stopped and stared, “Scarlet, when did you get back?”

  Scarlet rubbed the back of her neck, “I have no ideas. I did leave though, right?”

  “Yes, you did. Are you hungry? I could make something up for you.”

  Scarlet smiled slightly. “I am just going to grab a burger at the café. Do you mind?”

  “No, of course not. Walking around might help clear your head. You appear to have been given a sleeping enchantment.”

  “How long ago did I leave?”

  “The night before last. You haven’t been gone long.”

  Scarlet exhaled slowly. “Good. I was afraid I was missing more than a few hours.”

  Teebie caught on. “Oh, no. You are fine.”

  “Great. I will be back soon.”

  “Take your time. They are building an ornamental garden outside the Axion. It looks to be wonderful
when it’s complete.”

  “That sounds interesting. Where is the Axion?”

  Teebie looked at her charm and winced. “Sorry. It is made of fey magic, so you are not going to have an easy time seeing it.”

  Scarlet nodded. “Right. Well as long as I can see the burger, my plans for the afternoon will be fine.”

  Teebie smiled encouragingly. “See you when you get back.”

  “Yup.” Scarlet continued down the stairs and out the door.

  Outside, the day was bright, and the guests of the Crossroads were casually grouping and parting. It was a fun and friendly atmosphere.

  Scarlet smiled at a few folk who smiled first, and she headed to the café. A table for one was open, and she slipped into it before the crowd that had been building behind her could make it in.

  The age range in the café surprised her. There were guests in their late thirties and just out of their teens. She didn’t even want to guess at how old some of the fey were. She couldn’t see them, but she didn’t see a shifter mate as something they did just out of elf high school.

  She ordered a burger, fries, and a salad with a glass of water. She wanted a soda, but she would get a fruit pie instead. The last thing she wanted was to be startled and carbonated. She ended up with belch-hiccups and that was never a good thing.

  Scarlet watched the strangers becoming friends and others who had obviously just become lovers. It was a microcosm of enforced familiarity, but no one minded.

  Her meal showed up, delivered by a cheerful shifter.

  Scarlet whispered, “How do you see them all?”

  The server smiled. “I don’t wear a bracelet.”

  It was that simple. Her server winked and headed over to the next table.

  Scarlet looked down at the bracelet that she was wearing, and she sharpened one nail into a thick claw, sawing away.

  When the server passed her, she whispered, “Use a toothpick.”

  Scarlet took a toothpick out of the dispenser and worked it into the knot. Her claw hadn’t made a dent, so this seemed a better means of removal.

  The moment that the toothpick slid into the knot, people appeared where only blurry images had been before. The fey were there, male and a few female who had human blood. They spoke with anyone around them, laughed, and relaxed. It was amazing to see how very normal beings of magic could be in a relaxed atmosphere.