Page 3 of The Monster's Desire

He chuckles, holding me to him with a firm, but comforting, grip.

“We got right to it this time. Tell me about your week. How’s the new roommate situation?” Sam asks.

Oh look, another perfect example of how I treat him differently than my other clients. I don’t go past surface level with anyone except him. It’s not like I immediately trusted him, but he’s been my client for three years. That’s a lot of weekly sessions. He pats my hip, and I remember he asked me a question.

“Emerson? She’s good. Her daughter is adorable. So damn cute, but I’ve learned kids don’t sleep in for shit,” I grumble, burrowing deeper into his shoulder. No matter what his glamor looks like, he always smells exactly the same. It’s a combination of gasoline and leather, which doesn’t sound all that appealing, but somehow, he pulls it off in a way that makes my thighs clench.

“The wolf pup is an early bird?” Sam asks, chuckling softly.

“Yeah, she seems to rise with the sun every damn morning. I honestly don’t know how Emerson does it.” I have serious doubts I could work late nights and be cheerful enough to greet my child by six a.m. But, I suppose, that’s one of those things you learn to adapt to when you procreate.

Emerson is human, but her daughter, Ember, is a wolf shifter. She’s almost two years old, but she’s smart and already talking up a storm.

“She’s all tangled up with my bosses. I can’t believe you haven’t heard about it,” I say nonchalantly, but truly, I’m baffled.

It’s been the talk of Haven lately.

“How do you feel about children?” I’m not sure if he’s just making small talk, or if he’s trying to redirect my not-so-covert question.

I shrug because he doesn’t like it when I lie to him—he can always tell—but I’m not sure that’s something I’m willing to discuss at the moment. I spend a lot of time creating birth control spells and even more time helping female monsters get pregnant.

I’m twenty-eight, and, unlike most supernatural creatures, witches don’t have prolonged lifespans. Nor are we immortal. There are certain spells and ways a witch can extend their life, but I don’t mess with that type of magic.

His fingers meet my chin, carefully tilting my face toward his. He nuzzles his cheek to mine, and I grunt. It’s hard to keep the lines between us firm when he’s tender. Aftercare is one thing. A swarm of bubbly butterflies in my stomach every time we make eye contact is another.

“Children?” he asks again.

“I don’t know.” I sigh. “I’d need a partner for that, wouldn’t I? I’m very single and have been for too many years to count.” My eyes squeeze shut at that admission. It’s frustrating to be emotionally vulnerable with someone who never extends the same courtesy.

“If I thought you could handle everything I need from you, then I would scoop you up and never leave,” he murmurs, kissing my cheek. “Until then, we’ll settle for these scraps of stolen moments.”

“You’re always so cryptic.” I push up on my knees to look at him. “If you could tell me what you need, that might be a good first step.”

“I have,” he says, laughing and shaking his head. “You weren’t ready to hear it, and I have doubts you ever will be.”

I frown so hard, I can feel my own forehead wrinkle. He’s frustrating as hell when he doesn’t speak plainly. “You’ve never—”

“It’s that time, doll,” he says in the lower, gravelly tone that always comes when he uses that nickname for me.

I fight the urge to pout. I’ll see him again in a week, but that feels like forever. My chest gets tight, but I give him a forced smile and carefully climb out of his lap.

I aim for the hook where I left my robe and pull it on quickly.

“See you again soon.” His voice echoes from behind me. I shiver as he squeezes my hips, and then he’s gone.

ChapterTwo

Wraith

The very last thing I want is to be here. It’s been five human days since our session with Nadia, and my nerves are frayed. It’s considerably worse the longer I go without seeing her. Time moves slower in Hell, making it feel like an eternity has passed. There will be no respite until she’s in my presence. I’ll continue to become more and more agitated until I can lay eyes on her.

I’ve never been very good at playing my cards close to the vest.

That’s why I have Knight. We’ve been a team for more years than I can count. Millennia pass slowly in Hell, but that’s neither here nor there.

The sin eater is my other half.

Knight is one of three of his kind in all of Hell. They’re even rarer than reapers, and we’re practically endangered. There’s a unique bond that occurs between reapers and sin eaters, but considering we discovered it by chance, there’s no way I would out that information in front of the demons in the pit tonight.

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