Page 17 of Becoming Monsterous

Aleron puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me in close before I can do anything other than squeak in reaction.

Chapter14

Ellie

He smells like pine needles and oak up close, a mysterious musk clinging to him. I bury my face in his shirt, enjoying how much closer his throat is to me when I'm in my taller divine form. His pulse is visible on the surface of his pale skin, beating erratically and fast.

Do I make him nervous? Curious, I reach out to stroke that pulse. It quickens, and I hide my smile in the place where his neck meets shoulder. Yes, I make him nervous. What a revelation that is for me.

Just as before, we travel through a great, white space full of muted color and sound. I feel a strange tugging inside me, and for a moment, my emotions burn high and bright.

Looking up into his red-tinged eyes, I feel as if, for once, I might be able to get close to therealMothman.

So I put my hands on his shoulders, draw his grasp down to my waist, and tilt my chin up towards him. His wings envelop me, and he flicks his eyes down to mine, a cross expression on his exquisitely handsome face.

"Don't even think about—"

Smiling impishly, I push up onto my toes and press my mouth to his.

He pretends to resist.

It's silly, really. He shouldn't even bother.

He doesn't for long.

Finally, he gives in.

He parts his lips and lets me inside him.

The kiss is deep and passionate, his wings pressing in against my body, a hungry growl leaving his pale throat. He draws me against him, tightening his fingers around my waist, taking control of me.

I feel time and space shift around us and settle into place. We're somewhere new now—but I don't open my eyes and step back from his lithe body. Instead, I stroke my tongue against Aleron's mouth, just like Morpheus has done to me.

I didn't realize kissing could be so soft and wonderful until I began to kiss monsters.

Soft and wonderful is exactly what it is. As well as hungry, arousing, and revealing. Because once I have my mouth on Aleron, his wings pressed against me, there's nowhere for him to hide.

No bitterness to cover up his soft core. No growls and threats to hide his emotions. Nothing but the man beneath my curious fingertips, hard yet yielding to my touch. With a mouth that claims mine and a tongue that licks inside me slowly, stroking my tongue to a rhythm that incites my every fantasy.

Abruptly, he steps back, his frown settling into place—though his lips are cherry red, and there's color to his pale cheeks that can't be denied. "We should get down to business. Someone will see us."

"Someone will see your wings, you mean," I point out, reaching out to brush a feather with my fingertip. "Thankfully we're in... a department store changing room?"

"Ye-yes." He seems to be distracted by my fingers on his feathers. I should remember that. "I thought that an outlet store would be a good choice. No one who works here pays attention, and they don't chase after thieves."

I put one of his feathers between my fingers and slowly stroke it up and down.

His eyes flutter half-closed, and he shudders from head to toe.

Grinning a little, I draw my hand down, searching for softer, even more sensitive feathers on the inside of his wing—

And Aleron snaps his eyes open, drawing his wings back all at once. They transform back into their colorful energy form, lying back against his arms and shoulders until they're nearly transparent.

Looking down at me, he murmurs in confusion, "You've... changed."

"I have a goddess inside me," I point out, feeling her strength, height, and boldness. "I'm not the nervous little mouse you first met."

"No, you're not," he agrees, his nostrils flaring. "I'm... not sure that I like it."

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