Greatwater Lake (M) Butterflies taste through their feet.

Her fiery eyes followed his every movement as he came closer, close enough to touch. She felt his warm breath gust over her shoulder before his head tilted to look her in the face. Up close like this, she could see the signs of aging on his own face. Her brows rose as she marveled: wait, was he actually older than her?

Maxim had been younger, Reyes too. If she was looking for someone who didn’t resemble her former flames in any way, then this guy was it. She continued staring at him for a few beats longer, wondering when she’d last crossed paths with someone her senior, much less boinked one.

His mouth moved, scattering her thoughts. Her brow furrowed. Towhee hadn’t understood that at all, which happened sometimes. Her tail lashed. What did it matter? They weren’t here to talk, were they?

But some instinct told her that if he was a senior citizen, she ought to test his mettle. She couldn’t let just any old man smash. He needed to be worthy, especially if he was going to displace Maxim as the last man inside of her.

Her lips curled back from her teeth, a growl tearing loose from her chest. It was just on the edge of playful. Her eyes flashed as Towhee swiped at his shoulder with a foreleg. She wasn’t pulling her punches.