Page 14 of The Minotaur's Valentine

I hope he can’t see me blush under my fur in the dark. All I can think about when he says “compatible” is how the phrase “hung like a bull” is totally accurate in my case. I think about how minotaurs have human-shaped equipment with bull-like size, and how that’s supposed to feel great for your partner... if your partner isn’t a petite little blonde human.

Would Libby and I be physically compatible? I’m a virgin but I’m not innocent. (Well, not exactly.) I’ve seen enough late-night internet to know that women are supposed to drool and go speechless over a big cock.

But a big cock on a human and a big cock on a minotaur are completely different definitions.

“Milo? I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Huh? Oh! No, Mr. Minegold, you never offend me. I just... Well, I don’t know if you know this, but minotaurs are pretty family oriented. We used to live in herds, these tight-knit communes. I’ve been thinking about family a lot lately. There aren’t other minotaur families in Pine Ridge, and I don’t want to move to Greece. I wouldn’t mind marrying a human.” Now I’m positive that he can see my blush. We’re almost to Peterson’s car, so I’d better hurry and wrap this up. “I don’t know if the human I have in mind would ever be interested in me.”

Mr. Minegold stops dead (no offense to his vampire status). I stop as well, lowering my head so it shields the cold, sleeping kittens better. “Someone new in town?”

I nod.

“Would you like me to make inquiries?”

“No, Mr. Minegold. That’s super nice of you, but no. I don’t want to put you to any trouble. I don’t even know if she’s aware of magic in general, let alone mythological creatures like me.”

“If she lives here and she is intelligent and caring, she soon will be. May I know the name of the young lady? I promise on my honor not to divulge your secret interest.”

“Her name is Libby, and she works for Doc Peterson.”

Minegold’s eyes light up. Then they dim. “She is not conversant with the more secret aspects of life in this town, I do know that.”

My heart lands in my stomach so hard I feel like someone should yell “Timberrrrr!” “Oh.”

“But I think she would be ready to learn and most sympathetic to it—given time.”

“I can wait.” I force a smile. I just hope I’m not waiting too long for something that can never be mine...

Chapter Fifteen: Libby

Iwake up after a few miserable, sniffly hours of sleep. Trying to take care of myself when I’m sick is nothing new, but doing it in my own peaceful apartment with actual money is different. Growing up, the only things we used when we were sick were the store-brand OTC cold medicines and the cheap blue cough drops that smelled like menthol cigarettes. If I was really sick, Mom took me to the doctor, but a doctor’s appointment meant she missed work and that meant a struggle later on in the month for groceries or rent. Most of the time I just went to school and dragged through the day because Mom didn’t want to leave me alone in our apartment complex full of crackheads.

So, after leaving work, I staggered home and stopped at the pharmacy in the next block. It’s not one of those big chain drug stores, it’s a little mom-and-pop operation, but they have everything you need.

I got myself a humidifier, tea, decongestant, and cough drops that didn’t make me think of truck stops.

But even after all that, I still slept like crap. It’s hard to sleep when your nose is dripping.

I wake up confused and wondering if I’m late. I yank open my curtains and promptly fall flat on my ass, hands to my head.

A big bat is swooping just outside my window. I don’t mean the size of a cat bat, I don’t mean a flying fox bat. I mean these wings could have covered my windshield.

No such bat exists.

Sweet Lord. What was in that tea?

I need more sleep and I need something to clear my nose. Maybe lack of oxygen is making me think I see human-sized winged creatures soaring through the night sky.

I walk unsteadily to the kitchen to get water and pop the next dose of decongestant. I don’t have to go to work today. It’s the weekend. I hope those kittens were found okay.

It’s probably too late to call Peterson and find out.

Ding!

Back to the bedroom, water in hand. My phone is lit up.

Dr. Peterson: Mission accomplished. Mother cat and kittens in the kennel. Two rejected kittens safely fostered. Feel better. See you on Monday.

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