Page 15 of Guarded By a Monster

His eyes swung from me to Kendal and back again. He stood, and I was grateful my house had nine-foot ceilings. He still had to keep his head tucked to his shoulders so he didn’t skewer the drywall with his horns. His hands opened and closed, and he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

“Whatareyou?” My hand flew to cover my mouth as soon as the words were out. “I’m so sorry. That’s terribly rude of me.”

“No, it’s a reasonable question.”

His voice rolled over me like thunder, and goosebumps covered my skin. I watched as he settled himself on the floor. His palms rubbed over his knees and the muscles in his forearms and biceps rippled. Someone call a hearse, because I wanted to pet this clearly dangerous beast.

“I am one of six Wyrfangs. A creature made rather than born from a mix of werewolf, wolf, and dragon DNA.”

“Um… werewolf and dragon?” I looked at Kendal, wondering if this was some kind of joke. I mean, obviously he was real, and unlike anything I knew of in existence, but werewolves and dragons? They expected me to believe that?

Kendal bobbed her head with a smile. “I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. There’s a whole other world that’s full of supernaturals living right under human’s noses. All of Society kept secret.”

“Right. I can’t imagine having something like him walking around would go over well.” I leaned forward and he shrunk back. I let my hand drop into my lap.

My hand flew to my mouth and I gasped. “You’re the animal, aren’t you? You’ve been watching me.”

His muzzle dipped in response.

My belly erupted in butterflies. I stood and paced the small confines of my living room. His eyes tracked my movement.

“Why were you watching me?”

“I … I don’t know.”

“I’ve seen you outside for at least a week. You must have some reason.”

His eyes cut to Kendal and back to me. “I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk. I heard you calling for Whiskers and I was drawn to your voice.”

I watched his chest rise and fall with a deep inhale.

“You smell so good. You looked sad or scared, and I wondered what was troubling you. I wasn’t going to come back, but I couldn’t seem to stay away.” His head dropped. “I’m sorry.”

Something propelled me forward and I laid a hand on his massive shoulder. I felt a shudder before he tilted his head and rubbed his cheek on my hand.

A flood of desire washed over me and I stumbled back. He cringed at my sudden movement.

“I’m sorry, I’ll go.”

I didn’t even let him stand up. “Wait!”

ten

I stared at her,not moving a muscle. She bit her bottom lip between her teeth, the pillowy flesh turning bright red in protest. I wanted to soothe it with my tongue. Another shudder rolled through my body.

When she’d touched me, it felt like heaven. I wanted to cover her body with mine, warm her in my arms and shield her from anything that thought to hurt her again. Then she pulled back and my world crashed at my feet. I wanted to say I’d wait for her forever. I would stay right where I was until I turned to ash, but I was too afraid to speak. I didn’t want to spook her.

“Um…” She glanced at the floor, at Kendal, at me, and then at the cats rubbing themselves against me. She giggled and waved her hand. “They seem to like you.”

“They’re soft.” I winced as one of them climbed my back, its tiny claws spearing through my fur. It sat on my shoulder. “I like them.”

“Me too.”

What was this swirl of heat in my gut? Why did my skin prickle when she spoke to me with her voice low and her eyes kind?

“Can you…” She cleared her throat and looked away. “Would you stay tonight?” Her cheeks turned bright red. “I feel safer with you here.”

My body lurched forward before I caught myself. Wrapping her tight in my arms wasn’t what she asked for. I looked at Kendal, whose grin split her face as she nodded encouragement.

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