Page 14 of Monster Mate

She doubled over in the wheelchair, overtaken by the wracking sobs again. What a fucking disaster she was. So much for the strong mate Riordan thought he’d found. Now he’d surely see just how wrong he’d been.

But Riordan didn’t turn away. He didn’t say anything. He just gathered her up, lifted her out of the chair, and cradled her against his chest, letting her cry all over him.

She had no idea how long they stayed that way—her in his arms while he rocked her gently like a child. It could’ve been hours, minutes, or days. All she knew was that, eventually, the sobs subsided, petering out until only a few sniffles remained.

That’s when the embarrassment hit. She’d just fallen apart in front of him over stupid material things. She was alive, Winston was alive, Waldo was alive. Nothing else should matter.

Roxie tucked her face into the spot where his neck met his shoulder and let out a shuddering sigh. “Sorry,” she whispered against his skin.

“What for?” he grumbled roughly.

“For falling apart.”

“Don’t apologize for needing me. Because from now on, whenever you’re not strong enough on your own, that’s when I take over. Do you understand?”

His voice was so firm, his arms so strong around her, his body heat so welcoming, that all she could do was nod. She’d never had anyone she could rely on like that. Even Winston had emotional limitations. But she could feel in her bones that Riordan meant every word he’d just said. It should terrify her.

Instead, she’d never felt safer.

Was this it? Was this what it felt like to have a…partner in life? A true, unconditional friend? Someone who would take you to the airport at 5am, or help you move in the dead of night, or alibi you when they knew damn well you were guilty?

It felt…good. Really good. And so did he.

She snuggled deeper into his embrace and couldn’t hold back a tiny smile when he kissed the top of her head. “Will you stay with me?” he asked. “Will you let me help you?”

Roxie lifted her head and met his beautiful, golden gaze. She bit her lip and nodded.

His answering smile almost made everything she’d been through worth it.

* * *

Roxie blinked at the building in front of her as Riordan set her on her feet. “This is your house. This?”

Riordan rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, looking adorably insecure. “Do you…not like it?”

“It’s a church.”

“It was. I converted it into a home.” He shrugged. “I enjoy the architecture.”

Apparently, the irony of a demon living in a church was lost on him, and frankly, that suited Roxie just fine. Because this place was, without question, the coolest house she’d ever seen in her life.

Roxie was a bit of an architecture buff herself, and she knew this structure was built in the 19th century with imported materials from England. But even the cost (which must’ve been astronomical) of the huge, lavish building wasn’t enough to keep the congregation in town when monsters arrived. As far as Roxie knew, anyone who wanted to attend church had to travel at least twenty miles out of Sanity Falls.

Personally, Roxie didn’t understand or want to belong to any church that wouldn’t accept anyone into their congregation. Wasn’t that the whole point of church? Weren’t they supposed to love everyone?

So, it did Roxie’s rebel heart a world of good to see Riordan living here, on hallowed ground, metaphorically giving the finger to any church-y folk who wouldn’t accept him.

And her inner teenage goth girl was practically giddy at the thought of journaling in the ancient-looking graveyard behind the massive honey-colored stone structure.

“I love it,” she whispered reverently.

Riordan grinned down at her. “Wait until you see the inside.”

She wasn’t sure she could stand the excitement. She might pee herself. That’d be embarrassing. But worth it, she decided, following Riordan through the giant, dark-stained, arched front door.

Yep. It was every bit as over-the-top awesome as she’d thought it would be. Soaring, barrel-vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows loomed over the main living room, which was filled with sturdy-looking-but-comfortable furniture, arranged around the building’s original stone colonettes.

The floors were wood of some kind—maybe oak?—and wide planked. An ornate, curved marble staircase led to a walkway that connected what looked like three bedrooms (all with their own ensuites, Riordan told her) on the second floor.

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