Page 20 of Batty About You
“That’s fine, if that’s what makes you comfortable,” I say quickly.
There’s silence. “I’ve never.”
“I know. Me, either.”
“I only wanted you.”
“Same.”
“I don’t care about the timing. I just want you to be happy,” he whispers.
Suddenly, I realize I don’t care about the timing, either. I just want it to be soon. “We’ll go with the flow. Is...” I swallow as my cheeks suddenly outshine the Jack-o-lanterns we can see lining the walkway of White Pines. “Are things different in this body?”
“Bigger and hairier. And I have wings. But they’re handy. Wanna see?”
“Okay.”
He wraps his arms around me and his wings cover me, making me instantly warm. “Ooh. That’s so nice. Like a leather jacket, but softer,” I sigh.
“You’ll always be warm at night if I’m with you, honey.”
I love how he calls me names like honey and sweetheart. Old-fashioned names, not like bae and shawty.
Our second kiss is even longer.
Chapter Eight: Bogdan
If you told me a place was “crawling with monsters,” I would immediately picture a slime-coated dungeon of horrors.
But the ballroom at White Pines is filled with humans and monsters, and no one seems to give a damn. There’s a gargoyle dressed like a Roman Gladiator, two Orcs in full Viking regalia, and a Kraken sporting a Zoot Suit with his flapper gal date who looks completely human. When I turn up, people cheer and shake my hand in relief. Cathy and Cindy rush to meet me, hugging me, buying my story about getting lost on a walk in the dark.
No one is scared on the scariest day of the year.
Kelly still loves me. Kelly is... Kelly is plastered to me, and I’m starting to think that the tight black pants I wear won’t conceal what that does to me.
“My family told me that Halloween was the night that my cursed blood would call to evil, and evil would prey upon me and tempt me to follow it—like other members in my family have done. When I saw you crying, and you thought I didn’t show up—and then you were scared of me—”
“It was temporary!” she protests, her head pillowed against my chest, cheek buried in my fur.
“I was sure the curse was real. But you broke it. That makes you magical.”
“This whole night is magical. The princess and the hero have to have some kind of misunderstanding or quest before they get to the good stuff.” Kelly looks up at me, chin on my sternum. So adorable! I wrap my wings around her tightly, even though I know it blocks the view of her beautiful dress.
“You love those fantasy romances.” I kiss her forehead, contentment settling into my soul.
