Page 7 of Hold my Reins

I’ll be there in ten. Room number?

9. Got any preferences?

One of them needed to ask. Had Lynck hooked up with a human before?

He set his boots aside and rummaged through his bag for condoms and lube. Did monsters catch human STIs? Could humans catch monster STIs? He pulled back the covers on the bed and tossed the supplies on the pillow. Not subtle but easy to grab.

You. Naked.

Rox laughed. Like he hadn’t heard that before.

I’m pretty open.

Or was that a given since he’d invited a monster round?

He brushed his teeth and pulled off his T-shirt, leaving him only wearing the mesh shirt and ripped jeans. His dick pressed against the zipper as lust and nerves jumbled together and made him dizzy.

This rush was almost as good as coming.

He checked his phone, but there was no reply.

That didn’t matter, as Lynck should be on his way. He paced, then busied himself by pulling out his clothes for tomorrow. Dark blue work pants, a plain black T-shirt, his work boots,socks, and briefs. He’d tie his hair back and watch his mouth, and hopefully, everything would go smoothly.

He’d do as he was told and learn how the owner liked things done, and if it sucked, he’d stick it out until he had enough saved up to move on. Two months ago, he’d thought about sticking around, but he’d hated doing deliveries, and the guy he’d been thinking of staying for was a liar.

No, if he stayed, it needed to be because he wanted to, not because of someone else.

Footsteps that didn’t sound right snapped him out of his head. He ran his fingers through his hair and tugged out the elastic, tossing it onto the pile of clothes.

Then someone knocked on his door.

Lynck.

He couldn’t breathe as the tension wrapped around him and pulled tight. His pulse drummed in his ears as he padded over to the door in his socks. He checked through the peephole that it was Lynck.

A man with white skin and horse’s ears stood on the other side. Aside from the ears and skin color, he appeared human. Rox forced himself to take a slow breath and then opened the door.

Oh, fuck, Lynck was tall and broad-shouldered—his photo hadn’t done him justice. Not that Rox was short. He was pretty much what appeared in the dictionary as average in every way. Completely ordinary and forgettable. Lynck was anything but.

“Hi…”Blink and breathe.

“Hi.” Lynck’s voice was deep and melodic. The kind of voice that would be easy to listen to for hours. Nothing worse than being attracted to someone until they opened their mouth and ruined everything.

“Come in.” Rox stepped aside, and as Lynck walked past, he realized the kelpie had hooves and a tail.

Hooves.

And a tail made up of long white hair also streaked with green, braided and tied into a neat loop.

Definitely not human, even though Lynck’s face made him appear to be at first glance. Rox shut the door and locked it. He leaned against the wood, feeling like a grubby little spider next to Lynck.

Lynck turned. “Having doubts now you’ve seen a monster up close?”

Rox shook his head. “You’re prettier in real life.”

Lynck laughed and placed his hand on the door next to Rox’s head. “And so are you.”

Rox tilted his chin to hold Lynck’s gaze. His eyes were like ink. And this close, it was easy to see more differences. Lynck’s lips weren’t pinkish, they were gray, and his skin, which had seemed white in the photo, only appeared that way because of the dusting of white hair that covered his skin.

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