Page 64 of The Minotaur's Valentine

I could have a family. I could have that family. I wouldn’t care about their “species.” Humans and history have proved that we failed to corner the market on kindness, compassion, and decency.

“Thank you. Libby, I was going to ask you something. See, that phone call...” Milo pauses, his warm muzzle on my head, the weight grounding me.

My voice is light as I ask, “Did your mom read you the riot act about dating a human?”

“No. She told me not to step on you and to remember you were breakable.”

“Aw. I think?”

“It was meant kindly, I promise. Mom can’t wait to meet you. But, you don’t have to go. I completely understand if that’s—”

“I want to go. I want to meet them.” I want them to like me. That last thought is hidden. I might be able to bend over and let Milo see all my juicy bits, but I feel like admitting how badly I wanted a fresh start this year, how badly I wanted to develop a social life, how badly I’d like a family, even though I try to hide it—that’s one vulnerable bridge too far—and that’s stupid. He had to risk so much just to see me in person, and I can’t tell him I want his family to like me?

I feel like a slug. A hypocritical slug.

“I rushed this whole thing, I know. I shouldn’t have answered the phone when she called.”

“Milo. I would give my right arm, literally, if I could have one more phone call with my mother.”

“My mother wants me to be happy. You make me happy. She’s going to love you. Plus, I love Pine Ridge and you do, too. It about killed Mom when Bill moved to Greece, even though we have plenty of family there. If you take over Doc’s practice—well, you’ll want to stick around, right?”

I turn to face him, struggling to shift under his bulky embrace. “Someone’s thinking far ahead.”

I love it.

Milo hangs his head and looks guilty—for a second. Then he stomps one hoof and looks me square in the eyes. “I’m just stating facts. You want Peterson’s practice, or at least a partnership in it, or you wouldn’t have agreed for him to help put you through vet school. And—and you love coffee from The Pine Loft and the fudge from the Night Market. We’re co-parenting kittens.”

Ooh. Big, dominant bull. I shudder when his hand wraps around my wrist and his tail snakes up my calf, curling tight.

“Tell me you don’t love having a man who worships every inch of you,” he murmurs, voice so deep it sets off vibrations all through my body.

I make a little whimper of lust before nodding. “I love it. I love all the inches, too. I want to stay here, with... with people I care about. I’m j-just scared.” My breath escapes.

I admitted it for the first time since Mom died. I’m afraid, and something is out of my control. I’m scared, and even my heavy metal armor can’t save me from that.

Milo’s eyes go wide.

Apparently, I just unlocked Super Minotaur—Secret Level.

“I’ll protect you. Always. Whatever scares you, I will find and defeat. We will defeat, arm-in-arm, battle axe and dagger. Dio and Metallica.” Milo strokes my hair from my face and kisses me. “I know it’s too soon. But now you can stop being scared of one thing.” My wise minotaur clasps my hands tight. “If you’re afraid of being with someone because they might leave you and hurt you, you don’t need to fear that with me.” He licks his lower lip. “Even if you don’t want to be with me, my heart is already yours. It’ll be waiting for you whenever you arrive, however long it takes.”

Swooning. I suddenly understand that word. I would have fallen backward if Milo didn’t have my hands so tightly wrapped in his.

My logical brain throws out objections.

It’s too fast.

Milo said he’d wait.

Loving someone means you’ll get hurt.

Not loving anyone hurts, too.

He’ll leave you.

No. He won’t. He wants me. He’s been waiting for me.

Maybe I was waiting for him, too.

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