Page 6 of Hold my Reins

Which was dangerous. If he told the truth, word might reach the government’s ears, and then he’d be tossed through the portal before having a chance to plead his case.

But at the same time, he didn’t want to ignore the request. His interest had been spiked. With a stamp of his hoof, he set the mop aside and replied.

Not much. Want to meet up?

Would Rox get cold feet? Was he just dipping his toes in and seeing what would happen? Lynck waited for a reply, but one didn’t bounce back. He’d scared him off with the direct request. Was that not what Rox had wanted?

He huffed and finished mopping the floor. Checked that everything was locked and headed to the lake. Now he needed to swim to burn off the annoyance—at himself for getting sucked in, and at humans in general—eddying through his veins.

He tugged at the silver chain, wishing the magic that bound it to him had been broken as easily as the power over him had been when he’d stepped through the portal.

Until the bridle was gone, he’d never be truly free.

four

Rox shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it over the chair. It was ridiculous to be excited about a little chat with a monster. But Lynck didn’t look monstrous…or at least not in a scary way. He appeared luminous, magical, and impossible. But then, most monsters seemed impossible, like they shouldn’t exist, which was probably monster-phobic of him. They probably looked at him and thought he shouldn’t exist.

Some humans did too.

He curled his fingers and stared at his nails. Instead of redoing them, he should’ve cleaned them off and gone into work looking as boring as hell. But if the people around here accepted monsters, a bit of nail polish on a man shouldn’t freak them out.

He checked his phone and saw that Lynck had replied with an offer to meet up.

Rox licked his lower lip, his pulse hot and heavy.

He shouldn’t…

It was his first night in town, and he had an early start. Plus, he’d only had one beer, and he wasn’t sure he that jumping into monster sex was a good idea. It probably wasn’t that different from any other sex, a little weird and awkward at first if hedidn’t know the person while they negotiated what was on offer, followed by some fun.

But he wanted to…

And if it was an app filled with horny humans, he wouldn’t be thinking twice. Instead of lying awake worrying about tomorrow, he’d be getting laid and relaxing.

So why hadn’t he flicked open a human app and started scrolling at the bar? Why had he jumped into the Monster Match app?

Because he knew what to expect from a human man, and he was bored.

That was why when he’d been looking for actual jobs, this one had moved to the top of the list. He wanted something different.

He wanted to be different.

Though he couldn’t say how. He’d been the only child, the carer, the grieving son…his entire life was defined by how he related to his mother. And now she was gone.

He’d do anything to ask her what he should do.

But that was the point, right?

He couldn’t ask, and he was on his own, trying to figure out shit, and it was terrifying and liberating, and he had no idea what was going on.

Sure. I’m at the motel on Third Street.

His chest tightened with anticipation as he waited for a response and undid his boots. He knew how this went, and he liked these moments of in between. When it was going to happen but was still forming. When it might all fall apart and leave him with only his hand.

He was really doing this.

Inviting a monster over.

He remembered some of the taunts thrown around by the haters about the humans hooking up and settling down with monsters. A lot of guys were worried that monsters would lure human women away. If a monster stole their women, they were doing a pretty shit job of being a partner.

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