Page 58 of Mochas and Minotaurs

The idea that dragons had been betting on my life like it was just a game irked, but then I realized that without the bet, I’d probably still be in that maze. Seth’s visit as an EA enforcer had been the clue we needed to find Bella and her solution.

There was a soft clearing of a throat as Bella decided finally to speak. “It’s okay, Gigi. I heard the dragon of Darlington is nice, for a dragon. I’ll go, but only if Gigi and her friends can visit sometimes.”

“Of course, dear. Now let’s get you back before Carly sets up your room without you.”

Gigi handed the precious compact to the older woman.

“Thank you for using your only wish on me, Marcus. You’re the best.”

Elana tsked. “There’s your first mistake right there, child. You shouldn’t call it a wish. That’s why everyone’s after you.”

We said goodbye to Bella and Elana as they disappeared through the swirling darkness of the portal.

“I think we did the right thing.” Gigi’s eyes were still where the portal had been.

“I think so, too.”

A sense of righteousness settled over us, and for the first time in my life, I truly believed that everything was going to be alright. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had friends, people who cared. I had a life that mattered, and I was freed from my obligations to the dragon. The gym was set up, our place would no longer be under attack, and most importantly, I’d found my mate in the most wonderful woman I’d ever met.

I grabbed the cover for Triscuit’s cage and tossed it over temporarily. “Now,” I said, rounding on my luscious witch. “I meant it when I said I wanted to be able to bend you over the back of the couch.”

I did just that, lifting her up and placing her over the back of the couch. I bent her over it, shackling her wrists in my larger hands. Lust poured from her, and I drank it in.

“That’s not fair, minotaur. You caught me off guard.” She shoved her ass back, bumping against the bulge at the front of my pants.

“Too bad, Kitten. You should have been paying attention. I’ve caught you and you’re all mine now.”

“Forever and ever?”

“Yes. Forever and ever.”

Epilogue

Griselda

I stepped back totake another look at the restyled bookshelf. Even after adding all the spell books I’d decided to keep from the old witch’s place in the basement, there was still plenty of room for the potted pothos vine.

I’d thought that Bella would like to keep them, but she hadn’t. She worked part-time at the Witch’s Brew now while she finished up her GED. Last time I checked, she wanted to write romance novels for a living. She claimed that she’d spent enoughtime in her head making up stories that she’d never run out of things to publish. I believed her.

It had taken a whole year of Marcus and I complaining about having to go up through the roof before we’d finally gotten the wall between our apartments knocked down. Since we hadn’t needed three kitchens, we also renovated them so that we had one ultimate dream kitchen instead.

That was several years ago, and we still had plenty of room to grow. But that would change soon.

At first, I’d worried that my things were encroaching into Marcus’s space. But he’d made it plenty clear that not only did he not mind, but he liked and invited it. He didn’t like how empty corners reminded him of years of being too afraid to own anything and always thinking he’d have to drop his life and flee one day.

Needless to say, that was a thing of the past. He’d settled down here with me and wasn’t going anywhere.

“How’s that look to you, Triscuit? Good?”

Triscuit bobbed his head before letting out a wolf whistle. “Looking good!”

I chuckled. He’d picked that up from Marcus, and it was said in his voice.

The door leading down to the gym opened, and Marcus stepped through, looking a whole lot of yummy.

“Sorry it took longer than usual. My last training client was late,” he said. “Do I have time for a quick shower?”

Today was Friday, and Friday was date night.

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