Page 16 of Monster's Heart

“I’m sorry for what you endured, Luna. And I promise you, never again. You never have to be afraid again,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to mine.

I swallowed and held on, trying to catch my bearings.

Never be afraid again?

If only that were true. To be honest, I felt terrified right then. Scared that I was losing myself to something I couldn’t control.

What kind of hold could a no magic Witch like me have on a Monster like him?

I hated the self-doubts that plagued me. I wanted to be strong and confident and badass, but I was just me. I couldn’t be anything else if I tried. But maybe, for once, that would be enough. Sten dropped one more close-mouthed kiss on my lips before stepping back. That was when I noticed his thick blue tail wrapped around my waist.

Holy. Fuck.

That was so hot.

His tail was thick with a forked spike on the end that I imagined held a purpose other than trapping me against him. Though, I had to say I was pretty fucking fond of that purpose.

His chest rumbled again, and my palms flattened against it as if of their own free will. But really, I just wanted to touch him. Only my brain hadn’t caught up with my body yet, so it was a little bit of a surprise.

“Your thoughts are loud, Luna,” he growled, brushing a finger down my face from my eyebrow to my chin.

“W-why did you kiss me?” I asked, needing to know.

“Did you not like it?”

“I did. You know I did,” I said.

“I did, too,” he replied with a grin that made my heart flutter erratically in my chest. “But I don’t want you to worry. We’ll take it slow, okay? Go at your pace.”

“My pace? Oh, um, you mean, since we’ll be working together on my extra credit project, we should probably, um, take it easy, huh?”

I licked my lips, and his cerulean eyes followed the movement. I clenched my thighs, trying to ease the aching I suddenly felt there. His nostrils flared, and I wondered if he could smell my need, wetting my panties and making me squirm.

I knew Shifters could do that, and certain other supes, but I still didn’t know what Sten was. Hobgoblin, someone said, but I couldn’t be sure. There was a lot I did not know about him, despite my intense attraction. And that was the only reason I stepped back when he loosened his hold.

“We will take it as easy as you like,” he murmured, brushing a few strands of hair back from my face.

I didn’t clean his room anymore after that.

Thank fuck.

I mean, he told me not to. It wasn’t like I was trying to renege on our deal or anything. Sten was sexy and smart, and being with him was exciting and comforting at the same time. But he was still a guy, and guys were all pigs when it came to housecleaning. At least, the ones I knew were. But maybe that was because the women in my family tended to baby the boys.

Sten didn’t look like anyone had ever babied him even when he was an infant. I don’t know if it was the blue skin, horns curling from his head, or the tail, but he looked tough. I’d taken him for a loner from day one, but really, I knew nothing about him. I was curious, but uncertain about what was permitted and what was rude. He’d just had his tongue down my throat, so maybe he’d grant me a little leeway if I overstepped. I wouldn’t know till I tried.

“Are you ready to head back, Luna?” Sten asked, his cerulean gaze never wavering as he waited for my reply.

I nodded my head, taking the hint. I did not want to go. I mean, nothing in the world sounded better to me than staying with Sten, wrapped up in his arms, and tail, and whatever else he wanted because really, I had never felt as special, as safe, and as wanted as I did during the long, hot kiss we’d shared.

Clearing my throat, I excused myself and went into his bathroom to change my shirt. I should have kept it on, I thought, lifting the fabric to my nose one last time before I exited and hung it on the hook by the door.

“Oh, I guess I should toss this in the wash—”

“No! Um, I mean, no, it’s fine. I can do it,” he grumbled, and took the shirt from me, replacing it on the hook.

He seemed flustered, and his cheeks went dark, and I had to grin. His blue skin didn’t turn pink, but he was definitely blushing. The knowledge made me warm all over.

I bit my lips as I exited first, little spikes of nerves and something else I didn’t really recognize were dancing up and down my spine. This was the first time he’d walked me back to my dorm, and I was both nervous and excited.

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