Page 35 of The Minotaur's Valentine

His laugh is quiet and good-natured. “Look, you’re safe inside, you’ve got the cats, and Ricky won’t bother you. To paraphrase my favorite love song of all time— ‘nothing else matters.’”

It’s that deep, melodic voice, and the look in his eyes, and the fact that I was nearing the peak of the most intense sexual pleasure of my life that pushes me to the edge of the couch. It’s probably the fact that one of the kittens is crawling determinedly up his back, short gray tail held high, that makes me lean forward. The fact that he uses my favorite love song in conversation—and that it’s his favorite love song, too?

I’m pretty sure that’s why I plant a soft, chaste kiss on his cheek and fall into his arms.

Chapter Thirty-One: Milo

Libby, the girl of my dreams, is in my arms. Hugging me, nestling against my chest, and looking at me with starry eyes. I know we can’t go farther right now, even if she wants to, but I’ll always have this moment.

She kissed my cheek. She’s not afraid of me! She’s—stroking my neck. Letting her fingers rub through my fur wonderingly as her eyes sharpen.

“Libby, you’re still affected by your evening with Ricky,” I say tactfully. “Want me to make you some coffee?”

“I could use some. Would you like to join me?”

I nod, reveling in the fact that Libby stays close to me.

“You’re huge.”

I snort in surprise. Does she mean that bulge in my pants? That’s an unwanted bulge! I didn’t think about how sexy she looks in that black dress and the sweet, salty aroma of her skin pressed next to mine. Well, not for more than a second.

“I’m sorry! That was rude. You can call me tiny if you want. I’m barely over five feet.”

“And I’m just over seven. But that’s okay. Minotaurs and humans always lived peacefully together, despite the size difference. I won’t step on your feet.”

Libby kicks off one sexy-as-fuck black ankle boot with silver studs on the heel and puts her little human foot next to my massive hoof.

Sweet mother of Taurus, she rubs her bare foot over my hoof and up my leg. Is she doing this innocently, like a child exploring a new toy? Does she realize that I am having a hard time remembering to be a gentleman considering she’s incubus intoxicated?

“Minotaurs and humans live peacefully? Wasn’t there some monster in a maze?”

Shit, she’s pulled my string now. “That’s a myth King Minos created when he went insane and killed one of his own children. The taurosapiens urged the queen and her surviving children to hide with them. She escaped into their community and eventually fell in love with Aspro, her protector. They went on to have a long, happy life together, with many little ones. In retaliation, Minos spread rumors about my ancestors and made us out to be monsters so that humans would fear us or kill us on sight.”

The fire in Libby’s eyes is instant. She pushes herself off my chest and stands barefoot on the floor, wobbling a little. “That big ancient bully!”

“Tell me about it.”

“So... over the years, your family moved around to escape persecution and ended up here? In New York?”

“Yeah, although some are still in Greece. There are a number of magical communities in the world where minotaurs would be welcome, but Pine Ridge is one of the best. It’s definitely the most peaceful and protective. Sometimes the unsavory creatures of the supernatural world end up in our area. With other magical communities, that might muddy the waters. Here, it’s very clear. You play nice or you leave.” What I didn’t say was sometimes that means driving something away and sometimes it means slaying the evil that’s trying to eat your neighbors. I don’t think she could handle it at the moment.

Libby’s face is becoming less dazed and more like the determined, pale beauty I’m used to. I hope I didn’t come off weird or creepy by saying I’ve been looking out for her. Maybe she’ll think of me like a hairy guardian angel?

“You said vampires?”

I tense. “Uh-huh.”

“What else? What other kinds of creatures live here?”

Her eyes burn right into mine. I couldn’t lie to her, even if I wanted to. That’s why I have to tell her the truth, even though I worry it might make her leave. “Oh, the usual—and the unusual. Witches, warlocks, incubi, succubi, werewolves, vampires, satyrs, gargoyles, shifters, a pooka, and three minotaurs—my parents and myself. My brother got married and moved to Greece. His wife is from Crete.”

The determined face is currently incredulous. “What? Am I like—the only human in town?”

“Oh, no! I think Pine Ridge is probably eighty percent human, especially with all those kids at the NYU Pine Ridge Campus. A lot of humans know about the magical community, and a lot more don’t. Some people are utterly oblivious. The smarter ones catch on the fastest.”

With a thoughtful frown, Libby scoots a little closer. “It took me almost six months. How smart am I?”

“Easily in the top ten percent.”

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