Page 16 of Guarded By a Monster

“Yes, I’ll stay.”

Jade stared at me and the rest of the world fell away. I dimly heard Kendal saying she was headed home, but my focus never wavered. When the door shut, I looked away. “I’ll just… lay down here, if that’s okay?”

The red tint crept into her upper chest. “Would you stay with me? In my room, I mean. You can sleep on the couch if you’d be more comfortable. I have great blankets and soft pillows. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. “I just… I’d like it if you’d hold me.”

I was struck dumb. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. She wanted me to hold her?

She snorted. “No, of course you don’t want to do that. I’m sorry.”

She squeaked as I swept her up in my arms and cradled her. “There is nothing I want more.”

Her sugar scent turned spicy, a sweet heat that made my cock press at my seam. My pelvis locked. I refused to let it out. She hadn’t run yet, but she would, if she saw how much I wanted her. I was already walking when she pointed down the hall. I knew where her bedroom was from the nights I stood outside her window, listening to her sleep.

Gods, I was such a creep.

I laid her down on the soft comforter and she popped right back up. I fisted my hands in dismay. “I’m sorry.”

She looked over her shoulder at me, her brows drawn down. “Why?”

I waved at the bed. “You didn’t want to be there.”

She laughed, and my heart took flight.

“I just wanted to pull the covers back.”

“Oh. Right. I’m not used to this yet.”

“What? Being with me?”

I tilted my muzzle to the floor. “Sleeping in a bed.”

I heard her sharp intake of breath, and I braced for a slew of questions.

They never came.

I looked up as she slid back under the covers and patted the sheets next to her. I circled around and sat carefully on the edge. Her bed was smaller than mine, and I worried it wouldn’t hold me. When nothing creaked or snapped, I lowered myself next to her.

She giggled as the bed sank, sending her rolling into me. I buried my nose in her hair and pulled her tight to my body. She let out a happy sigh and put her hand on my chest.

“You’re so warm.”

My growl sounded more like a purr.

“Thank you. For staying.”

There was nowhere else I’d rather be.

eleven

He was gone whenmy alarm went off. I might have convinced myself it was all a dream if the smell of him didn’t permeate the room. Earthy and warm. I pulled the sheets to my nose and inhaled.

My clit clenched.

It had been a long time since I’d been with anyone. I told myself it was fine, since I had a battery-operated boyfriend in my nightstand, better than any man I’d known. The way my body responded to Thurl made a liar of me.

I snickered. Although I guess I might not be lying, since Thurl was definitely not a man.

I was so turned on lying in his arms the night before that my underwear was soaked through.

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