Page 207 of Monsters in Love

His skin was so soft and cool from the water, his arms so strong as they held me. And now that he wasn’t dying, now that nothing was chasing me, I could catch his scent and hold it, something strange and primal, earthy and spiced. I couldn’t help but lean closer, inhaling him as I rested my head against his shoulder.

What the fuck is going on?

I couldn’t explain the bizarre reaction I was having to him. I’d consigned myself to being eternally single because I couldn’t find a man, woman, or anyone who really did it for me, but Kavi?

It wasn’t just that he had saved my life. There was something about his body, the way he moved, even his goddamn horns. Who knew that was what I’d be into? I’d been looking at entirely the wrong species all along.

Kavi strode to the stairs and carried me up, up, up. I closed my eyes and savored the feel of his body, trying to ignore the way my nipples tightened at the sensation of skin against skin. Wanting more.

That need was confusing, so much so that my brain skittered away from looking at it too closely. Maybe this really was some warped imagining, maybe the well had been tainted with hallucinogenics and this was all a drug fueled dream.

My head felt a little groggy. I couldn’t keep track of the turns we took, aware that we were moving ever deeper into this forsaken labyrinth. Aware that there was no way I was getting out unless he helped me leave.

Would he?

Kavi

She was so small in my arms, the size difference between us more obvious when she was cradled against my chest. Water dripped from her clothing, trickling down my arm, seeping into my pants, wetting my fur.

I bit back a growl as I thought of her dampness, the wetness inside her, and how that might feel. The very fact she was letting me hold her assured me she did not find me horrific, and I could smell her desire, her wanting. Felt my own desperate to respond.

But not yet.

We were still damaged. The poison was gone from my body, but I needed to apply a poultice to my wounds to stave off further infection. I needed to do the same to her cuts and ankle, which was purple and swollen. It made my chest ache to see her hurt. I would do anything to prevent that from happening again. Anything to stop her from experiencing pain. I clutched her tighter, and instead of pushing against it, Tamara leaned in rested her head on my shoulder. She inhaled.

My knees went weak, but I didn’t falter. I could sense her curiosity about me, and my skin tingled when she traced a finger across my chest before pressing her palm against it as if she hadn’t been feeling the lines of my muscles.

Finally, we made it to my chambers. I pushed open the door and strode in, gently laying her on my bed. She scrambled to a seated position, eyes wide and darting around the room as if she couldn’t quite take it all in.

Was it a surprise to her, the way I lived?

I glanced around the space, trying to view it as a stranger might. It was sparse in some ways, an entire wall dedicated to weapons, but the bed was sumptuous, the blankets lush. Beautiful rugs covered the floor, paintings of strange and mystical things adorned the walls, and ornate wooden furniture created a living space. I had other rooms, of course, but this was where I spent most of my time.

I returned to close the door and bolt it, hoping she knew it was only a precaution, and then I lit more lanterns so that the room was illuminated by more than the fire in the hearth.

“Kavi?” her voice wavering. “How did you get all this in here?”

I turned to look at her, mindful of how my horns cast dancing shadows on the walls. I hoped she didn’t see me as a devil, wouldn’t scorn me the way others had. Maybe if I could show her who I truly was, I could claim her in every way I wanted to. My cock twitched at the thought, threatening to tent my pants and reveal my lust. Pushing that down, I inhaled and moved to a workbench, pulling down the jars of herbs to mix the salve.

“Once, this place had another purpose. A hunting ground for beasts. A place of trials and competition. But it was always mine.” I swallowed hard and turned my head so I could look at her from the corner of my eyes. “I’ve had many years to accrue these items. I may be a monster to you, but I’m a monster who likes his comfort.”

“I…” She exhaled a ragged breath. “I don’t think you’re a monster, not a bad one, anyway. I…” There was a pause, and I resisted the urge to face her directly. I desperately wanted to know what she was going to say. There was a sound from the bed, and then she groaned. I spun to see that she had tried to get up. Had tried to walk toward me. I scooped the salve from the bench and marched across the room, scooping her up with ease and planting her back on the bed.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as our eyes met.

“Are you afraid of me?” I demanded.

“No!” she said. “Yes. Maybe?” The tension in her body fled, and she sank against the mattress, gaze fixed on the ceiling. “I’m afraid of the way you make me feel,” she whispered.

It felt like the stars exploded, and it took all of my willpower not to claim her then, not to drag my tongue up her body, taste her, take her mouth in mine, kiss her deeply and bury my cock inside her.

Instead, I picked her foot up and placed it against my thigh, scooping some of the salve with my other hand. I rubbed it gently on her ankle, trying my hardest not to let the rough pads of my fingers graze her body, not wanting to do her any further harm. She tensed, and then relaxed as I tended to her, only the slightest of whimpers escaping her lips.

“What’s in that?” she asked. “It feels so good, warm and cold at the same time.”

“My own mixture,” I replied, pushing my fingers up from her ankle, circling her calf. “You have other wounds?”

“Just small cuts,” she said with a shake of her head.

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