Page 10 of The Monster's Mate

He smells delicious, like mint.

“I will scream,” I threaten, just as I try to shut the door on all his appendages flailing inside, where he’s trying to pull me out.

A noise from the living room makes us both freeze and before I know it, I’m flipped through the air and under him. His mouth is on mine and he’s kissing me like his life depends on it.

And it’s crazy hot and sensual and I’m not sure if I should be appalled or offended, but in this moment, everything fades away and it’s just us enjoying each other. His lips nibble on mine until a moan escapes me and then he uses the moment to sweep his tongue into my mouth. He’s demanding and giving and this… this is kissing. Well, there was that one boy in the home, but that felt nothing like this.

There was that other boy in school, but that felt nothing like this.

This is a complete stranger, a total alien species, and it’s absolute magic.

Somehow my left leg wraps around his waist and locks him to me—it’s the only way I can, since his strong arms have mine held above my head as he kisses me within an inch of my life.

“Skiden? Get off Lucy!” Isabel’s voice is a shrill whisper.

His mouth lifts from mine and he looks down at me… and smiles.

“Sorry. I didn’t want you to scream,” he says.

Oh, horror of horrors, behind Isabel is River and Maman, both snickering over his actions, while my heart is pounding a mile a minute and I’m panting like I ran a marathon.

“Ick,” I say, wiping his kiss from my mouth with the back of my hand.

“You have eight tentacles and you thought you’d useyour mouthto shut her up?” Isabel asks.

Behind me, River giggles some more as she and Maman peek over Isabel’s shoulder to see the commotion.

“To be fair, she trapped all my tentacles in the sliding glass, so I was forced to use unconventional methods.”

“He was spying on you!” I say, glaring at him in case he thinks I enjoyed the kiss.

“What are you doing here?” Maman demands.

“Spying on you,” he says, unapologetically.

“Worst spy ever,” River giggles. “You don’t just admit to it. Shall we torture him for answers, ladies?”

“Yes!” I say quickly.

The focus is off me as Isabel yanks his arm, pulling him into the kitchen. She grabs an apron as she pushes him into a chair.

“Into the interrogation chair,” she says, tying him with the apron strings.

“Aww, Bel. You know human chairs are uncomfortable. Can’t you tie me to the cushiony couch?”

“No comfort for you.” She waggles a finger. “Besides, the couch is my bed right now. My little house wasn’t equipped to handle so many visitors, which is why we didn’t invite any guys.”

Maman closes the blinds on the sliding doors, looking around like she expects others. “How did you know we were here?” she asks the stranger over her shoulder.

“Mikhail.”

“I’m not sure he understands the ‘being tortured for information’ part,” River mouths.

“He is a little forthcoming,” Isabel says.

Skiden scowls at both of them. “It’s torture sitting in this chair. I’m all wet. You know the sprinklers come on in the park at night? It’s weird how a planet wastes water.”

Oh, God. I’m wet too. So wet, albeit in a different way. Guilt makes me snap a dishtowel at his tentacles that are roving dangerously close. “Explain why your tongue was in my mouth, traitor!”

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