Page 34 of Becoming Monsterous

Looking up into his warm brown eyes, I place a hand on the center of his chest and put every bit of feeling into my next works.

"I really, really meant it."

The look in his eyes is everything.

As is the soft smile on his plush lips.

There are nervous butterflies in my chest. A churning in my stomach. A growing lump in my throat.

No turning back now. I've told all three of my triumvirate what I feel for them, and what I want. We've been through Hell and back—literally. I came out the other side a monster.

I can no longer pretend that I want to be human. That I wasmeantto be normal. This, right here, right now, is it.

This man with soft, furred ears that flop to the side, whose thick hair curls around two bull's horns, with a flared nose that can smell my arousal and two hooves at the end of his thick, muscular legs.

I want a monster in my bed.

So I grab onto his shirt and pull him back into my room.

It doesn't take much convincing. He makes a low, rumbling noise of desire, his hands falling to my waist as we walk through the doorway. Reaching up, I grab onto the collar of his shirt—then rip it off entirely.

It feels good to be strong.

Angus's wide, muscular chest is covered in thick, curly hairs. His skin glimmers with an unnatural bronze that comes with his monster state.

So I bring my monster out as well. At least a little. My muscles stretch with strength, and all my hair turns into snakes. I feel the vitality and surge of power that comes with being the goddess of vengeance.

Based on the lust-filled expression on Angus's face, he approves.

I get up onto my tiptoes, and barely onto my tiptoes, to kiss him. His tongue is probing, searching. His broad hands grab my waist even tighter.

"You," he tells me, punctuating the word by sucking on my lower lip, "are so sexy that I'm not sure I can control myself."

"Don't." I reach up to palm his cheek, enjoying the brush of his rough, stubbled beard against my soft skin. "I want all of you, Angus. Show me the monster and the man."

He blinks rapidly, and I get the sense that he's clearing tears from my eyes.

My poor, wonderful,monsterous man. Someone taught him that he didn't deserve to be loved.

They laughed at him. Tortured him.Assaultedhim. Well, no more. He's my man now, and no one will touch him if I have anything to say about it.

We back up towards the bed, kissing all the way. He slides his broad, calloused hands under my shirt and rips it off. I reach for his waistband and blush scarlet at the size of the erection that pressed against his loose-fitting pants. The mattress knocks against the back of my knees, and Angus lovingly pulls me down onto its soft, downy surface.

For a moment, we pull away to look into each other's eyes. He palms my breast with his hand, fingers soft and searching. His thumb strokes across my nipple, and I shiver with arousal, heat and lust pulsing between my thighs.

Those brown eyes of his are deep as the night sky. The world may see the Minotaur as a beast, a simple man-bull hybrid good for nothing but sex. I know that isn't true—Angus has a heart big enough and wide enough to change the world.

I'm going to free him so I can watch him do it.

"Ellie..." He chokes up, licking his lips as he falls silent with some strong emotion. "I don't deserve you. I know that. One day I hope that I will, that I can prove it... I'm a simple man, an even simpler monster. Despite all that, I love you, Ellie. I love you so much that I can't breathe without you."

I knew.

Hearing it feels different.

For a moment, emotion chokes me. I lean towards him, brushing my lips against his. Those broad hands of his hold me up, and I find myself leaning on his strength.

My snakes flick their tongues out, testing the air. Some swivel their heads towards me. Others brush against Angus, smelling him and observing him. I feel the weight of their eyes, just as I feel the weight of the Minotaur's gaze.

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