Page 32 of My Monster's Keeper
I explain, and, to my surprise, he, Wilder, and Frost get the shopping sorted with my guidance in just under an hour. Stix then carries me upstairs to my room and opens the door.
“I like that you are feeling poorly,” he murmurs.
“Why?”
“Because I like to carry you and feel you like this.”
My cheeks heat up, and I have this desire to wiggle free and put some space between us. Or turn my face slightly and kiss his jaw. Either would be good. I don’t move. He sets me down, and, after having a quick shower, I lay down on my bed, hoping the dizziness will fade.
I hear a nose and look up to find Puppy crawling down the wall. He studies me, and I wait to see if I have to shoot him tonight, but he lies on his new dog bed and curls up in a ball.
Within minutes, he lets out a disturbingly peaceful purr that drags me deep down into a slumber. It’s only later, I rise from sleep enough to realise that Wilder is asleep on my left and Stix on my right.
The weirdness of that stuns me, but I’m too tired to care. I slide back under with Puppy’s purr, my powerful lullaby drug.
***
I jog down the stairs and answer the door with a smile. “Gimme, gimme, gimme.”
The man scoffs and shakes his head. “You are adorably rude when it comes to your weapons.”
“It killed me to get rid of them when I joined the force.”
“And aren’t you glad I held them for you? I never pictured you working for them, anyway.”
“Really?”
“Really. They are as corrupt as they come.” The guy has short blond hair, big blue eyes, and a smile that’s charmed the knickers off far too many girls and the boxers off far too many guys. He’s an equal opportunity lover. But, luckily, never mine.
“How does everyone know that?” I wail. “I had no idea. You know this is on the down low. I’m officially dead, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
Stix pushes the door open and glares out. “Who are you?”
“Freddy Pine,” Freddy says with a seductive purr as he looks Stix up and down. “And who are you?”
“Can we eat it?” Puppy asks from the shadows.
“No!” I shout. “This is another delivery person. Puppy, no eating.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can arrange some eatin-”
I slam a hand over Freddy’s mouth. “Do not finish that sentence.”
“Is it? What food is it delivering?” Wilder bellows from deeper in the house. “Did it bring bagels?”
“Not food!” I say excitedly. “Weapons.”
“She gets excited about weapons. I like this human,” Puppy says and leans against the side of the house, looking intimidating and sexy and nothing like the monster that I know.
Freddy is watching the conversation like he’s watching a tennis match. I can see the questions rising to the surface like air bubbles on a lake. But his lust-filled eyes are pinned to Stix and Puppy. He’s not sure which one to flirt with first. I can see it. I rub my temples and snap my fingers in front of Freddy’s face.
“Don’t ask, Freddy. I’m serious.”
Frost walks out without a shirt on and scratches his chest. “What are Pop-Tarts?”
I tilt my head back, staring up at the sky. “Why? Why me?”
