Page 16 of In Darkness and Dank

“Hurt? Were you…” Kittisak made a gun with his free hand, pointing his index finger at the monster’s chest. “Bang bang. Were you shot?”

The monster shook his head, and he pointed his index finger at Kittisak. “Bang.”

“Oh, just me, huh? I’m the only one who got shot. That’s great.” Kittisak snorted. “Well, I wouldn’t take a bullet for just anybody, so consider yourself very lucky.”

“Prrp.”

“Well.” Kittisak suddenly didn’t know what to say. The heat of the monster’s body so close to his own was strangely pleasant, and he liked how the monster’s big hand curled around his own. The monster was tall enough that he could have rested his chin on the top of Kittisak’s head, and the urge to smother his face into the monster’s broad chest was ridiculously strong.

He couldn’t explain why he felt so at ease around this fantastic creature, and he was drawn to him in a way he’d never experienced before. Maybe he’d hit his head in the river or something. There was such kindness in the monster’s glimmering eyes though, and his smile was absolutely charming.

Even with the sharp teeth.

The monster bowed his head again to touch their foreheads, and he squeezed Kittisak’s hand, saying again, “Worry.”

“Hey, I’m okay. Thanks to you.” Kittisak arched his body forward without meaning to when the monster’s other hand found his hip, and he braced himself on the monster’s chest. His pulse zoomed back up, and a flicker of heat pooled in his loins.

The energy inside this little cave was charged now as if lightning was crackling through the air, and Kittisak noticed their bodies pressing closer and closer. He didn’t think it was even happening consciously, but as if they were both being pulled together by some unseen mystical force. He shivered when their hips met, and he caught his eyes wandering over the monster’s full lips.

Did monsters kiss…?

Kittisak was dying to find out.

His stomach rumbled, loud enough to be heard even through the water.

“Ah!” the monster grunted.

“Sorry.” Kittisak cringed. “Not sure when I ate last? But it’s probably been a little while.”

The spell that had brought them so close together hadn’t been fully broken yet, and Kittisak still lingered on the monster’s lips. He slid his hands up the monster’s chest to his broad shoulders, and he smiled shyly as the monster’s arms curled around him tight.

All he had to do was stand on his toes and he’d be able to kiss those luscious lips.

Maybe he really had hit his damn head.

“Yumiri? Mida?”

“What’s that mean?” Kittisak asked. “Does it mean food? Food? Nom nom?”

“Eh. Mida.” The monster shook his head and grinned.

“What is it?” Kittisak laughed. “You know, this is gonna be really complicated if we can’t understand each other. I need to know what you’re—hey!” He yelped in surprise as the monster suddenly swept him up into his arms like a bride. “What are you doing?”

“Mida.” The monster carried Kittisak out of the pool like a rag doll, heading over to the nest. He kneeled and then carefully laid Kittisak down. He petted Kittisak’s hair and straightened up the nest around him.

“What’s that mean? Is that food? Because I really do hope it’s food.” Kittisak shivered as the monster’s hand dropped to cradle his cheek. “Oh. Is that maybe your name?”

“Name?” the monster echoed.

“Yeah, your name.” Kittisak pointed at himself. “My name is Kittisak.”

“Kitteh?”

“No, Kittisak. Like kitty-sack, you say it fast.”

“Kitty.” The monster grinned.

Kittisak groaned. “No, that’s not right. My name isn’t Kitty.”

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