Page 13 of Trolling For Love

“Did you want to do laundry? I’d suggest it since it’ll be another week if you don’t.”

“I want to, but I wasn’t sure what I needed to do,” I admitted and rubbed at the back of my head while also wondering when I started showing a human reaction to embarrassment. Clearing my throat, I straightened up and looked Flynn in the eye. “What do I need to do?”

“Use the bag you brought with you to put your dirty clothes in then you’ll have something to carry them and anything else you buy there,” Flynn said. “You go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

I walked back into my tent and after emptying everything out of my bag I changed my clothes before putting them and the other things I’d worn this week back into it. “I’m ready,” I said as I stepped outside.

“You look nice,” Flynn said making me look at what I had on. It was a pair of jeans and a shirt, but it was different than what I’d been wearing all week.

“I like what you have on too,” I said, not sure if that was what I was supposed to say.

“Ready?” he asked again and this time we both walked away from camp to where the vehicles were parked. Flynn went to one of the old trucks they used to drive to the worksite and hopped into the driver’s side. I opened the door, but I wasn’t sure I could fit in the seat.

“I’ll ride in the back,” I said and put my bag next to where Flynn had put his.

“No need,” Flynn said, and reached across the seat to shove it back making more room. “There, that should do it.” He startedthe engine and waited while I crammed myself inside and to my surprise, I was able to fit. He turned a dial, and music started playing.

Of all the things in the human world, music was almost as magical to me as the trees. Every song was so different and all of them were wonderful. I closed my eyes as he drove along the bumpy road. The window was down and the scent of the forest heavy on the breeze as Flynn hummed along to the music that played.

“We’re almost there,” Flynn said, and I realized I’d fallen asleep.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sleep,” I said and straightened up in the seat, and barely avoided ramming my head into the top of the truck. The last thing I needed was to ram one of my horns through the metal.

“It’s okay. It’s a nice day and you’ve been working hard all week. You deserve some time to relax. Let’s go cash our checks before the bank closes.” He drove down one street and parked the truck in front of a building I hadn’t noticed before. “Bring your check,” he said before exiting the truck and getting his backpack out of the back. I picked up my own bag and followed him inside.

Somehow, they all knew who I was, and knew where I worked. After making my mark on the slip of paper I’d been given earlier, they gave me an envelope that held human money. “How did they know me?”

“The institute makes sure that monsters are welcome here, and that there isn’t a problem getting paid if you take a job. Every business in town will be aware of you, but the bank has all the monster’s information. Let’s go do laundry,” he said changing the subject, and led us back to the truck. It was all so strange, but also exciting. I never thought about needingmoney in this world, and right now, I was more thankful for the institute than I had been. But mostly I was thankful for Flynn.

Chapter 12

FLYNN

We walked into the laundromat and after a quick lesson on how things worked, Gunnar and I both sat and waited for our laundry to wash. “What did you want to do for dinner?” I asked.

“I think I’d feel better if you make that choice,” Gunnar said.

“What do you like to eat?”

“I will eat anything, and I have,” he said without humor.

“Did you really used to eat humans?” He turned to face me then where we sat on the floor against a wall and took my face in his hand.

“Yes, but it was long ago before the world became what it is today. It was a time of monsters and men who battled and killed each other without reason. That time has gone.”

“I can’t imagine you ever hurting anyone let alone eating them.” I wasn’t kidding, he was so gentle, and I hadn’t seen him act aggressive or out of control. It was just the opposite; he was always very calm and avoided any conflict.

“The world was different then,” he said, and sat back against the wall.

“Can I ask you something?” I said and hoped he wouldn’t be upset.

“Why do you ask if you can ask a question? Simply ask,” he said, and his mouth pulled up in a slight grin.

“Why do you not want anyone to touch your horns? I know you said it’s only for your mate, but is there another reason?”

“For a troll our horns are used in battle, if necessary, but they are also very sensitive to touch and part of mating. I would only allow my mate to touch them if we were to be mated, not someone who just wants to test how they feel.” He turned and met my eyes then. His were so dark I could see myself reflected back but not even an ounce of threat or coldness. He looked like a monster, but he had a heart of gold.

Before I could stop myself, I leaned in and kissed him. It was just a brief press of our lips, but when I pulled back, I was met with his wide-eyed shock. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t—” was all I got out before his lips were pressed against mine. He cradled the back of my head in his massive hand and guided my lips where he wanted them before pressing his tongue into my mouth. It was strange and different and so fucking hot I wanted to climb him like a tree and demand he fuck me right there, or possibly the town center. I wanted everyone to know that he was mine and I was his and what the fuck was I thinking?

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