Page 44 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs
“Been a long time, Cath? I figured you’d give me five minutes before you needed me a fifth time.”
I guide my breast back to his mouth. “Less talking, more of this.”
He laughs but sucks at it again. When he pops off my nipple, he shoots me a wry grin. “I still haven’t fed you yet, woman.”
I return the saucy expression. “You know, for a succubus, cum is a legitimate food group.”
His dark brows shoot up. “Have I unleashed you, my sassy little forest maiden? Romance leading to no-strings-attached sex, and now you can’t get enough of me? You're in serious danger of agreeing to yet another date.”
I pause, because he’s right. I agreed to this one, but emotionally I’ve held back for obvious reasons. What we just did is all this is meant to be. But as he strokes giant fingers down the front of my neck, between my breasts, down to the curves of my belly… I feelcherished.
I feel desired. And more than that, I feel supported, like I’m not alone, like whatever needs to happen, Manorin will take care of it. In this moment, the rules we created don’t matter. They’re as forgotten as my demand that we focus on just fun.
When I don’t answer, crimson eyes flash to mine as he continues stroking my body. “You know, losing you nearly broke me. But being with you now feels right, Cath; it feels good in a way I haven’t felt since you.”
His words flay something open inside me, my mouth slightly parted as I try to suck air in without looking like his commentary’s giving me heart palpitations. He rolls over, pulling me on top of his huge body. He nestles my legs on either side of him, then pulls my arms up around his neck so my face brushes against his snout.
“I didn’t date for a long time after you declined my tattoo. Eventually, I dated a bit, nothing ever serious until more recently.” He sighs. “There was a lovely pixie woman I dated seriouslyfor a decade or two. We had a lot of good times, but something was missing, always missing.”
His fingers trace a trail along my jawline.
“She and I didn’t fit together in all the right ways. She was deeply submissive, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I could never really push and pull her the way you and I did. I wasn’t right for her, either. She eventually left for a troll Dom in Arcadia who could give her what she needed better than I could.”
He waves between us. “I share that all to say, chase the good feelings with me, Cath. Let me spoil the fuck outta you, if only for a little while. Otherwise, our Pine Gulch weekend might be awkward—I only booked one room, and it’s only got one bed.”
Laughing, I press forward and rub my cheek along his, loving the way his soft fur feels against me. He brings both arms around my body and strokes, his touch reverent.
“Thank you for sharing that with me.” I rub the underside of one of his fuzzy ears. “I’m sorry she wasn’t right, but I’m glad I have time with you again now.”
As we lie there talking about everything and nothing, I can’t help but feel a mix of elation and dread. This date has been everything I could have wanted.
But I’m already afraid to lose it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MANORIN
Saturday morning, Catherine’s eyes are saucers as we step out of the portal to Pine Gulch and into the vintage western-style train station.
I laugh at the look on her face as I squeeze her fingers. “I take it you’ve never visited, despite your…role?” I can’t speak of how she architected the magic that holds the haven system together. I’m not even supposed to know that, although she confided in me when we dated. It would’ve been hard to hide that secret, serious as we were at the time.
She shakes her head as she spins a slow circle, taking in the wood-paneled floor, giant plate-glass windows and the wood plank ticket counter on the far end.
“I painted so many places into existence,” she whispers, staring around before bringing her gray gaze to mine. “I’ve only ever seen most of them on canvas, though, and even those are in safekeeping at HQ. And I never know how they actually get developed.”
“Well,” I stroke gray waves away from her cheeks. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Pine Gulch, pretty girl.”
The Pine Gulch portal station’s bustling with monsterscoming to visit for this weekend's moving of the herd and the associated festivities. It’s busier than usual, though, I’m guessing because it’s easier for folks to travel here with the new portal station. I’ll admit, it was really fucking nice to take just two portals to get home. That’ll make it easier for me to visit more often without planning two days of portal travel.
Not to mention dealing with my nephew Alarion, yet again.
I’m not gonna let him sour my mood today, though. I’ll have to handle that soon enough. I sling Catherine’s bag high over my shoulder and guide her toward the magic-powered train that’ll take us into downtown.
I get my fair share of looks from the locals, but other than a few friendly nods, they don’t crowd me the way monsters usually do when I travel. It’s one of the things I love about coming home to the Gulch.
Here, I’m just Manorin Longhorn, Yet Another Minotaur.
We exit the portal station onto the train platform. Waving at the giant black and red locomotive, fashioned after human steam engines of old, I look at Catherine.
