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“Y-yeah,” Ren croaks, his eyes unable to meet mine. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

“Show me,” I say, ignoring his apology.

“What?” He looks back up at me in confusion.

“You didn’t scare me. Well, I mean for a second you did. But I need to see you again.”

He blinks at me, uncomprehending. “Why… why would you want that?”

“Maybe because I don’t like feeling crazy!” I snap. “I need to know that I didn’t hallucinate last night.” That and I’m really into the idea that monsters are real, and I met one that could be the total package and he lives within driving distance.

“You should show her,” the redhead says, backing me up with a strained expression on his face that looks like he’s trying to keep himself from smiling. Like he knows how I’m getting oddly turned on at the thought of seeing Ren’s enormous body and single eye again.

“Here?” Ren asks in alarm, eyes darting around the bar.

“The bathroom,” I say, gesturing for him to get up andfollow me. When he obeys, sliding out of the booth to stand beside me, my stomach does a dramatic swoop at his proximity. He’s already big like this. Will he even fit in the bathroom with me when he shows me his true self?

I make a beeline for the restroom, holding the door open for him to go inside, before following behind and locking the door behind us. For a second, my nerves spike. I’m being crazy. I’ve locked myself in a room with a monster I know nothing about. But Ren gives me a slightly terrified smile, rubbing the back of his neck, and I relax.

The strange connection and ease I felt through our private last night tugs at my chest, reassuring me. As preposterous as it sounds, I somehowknowthat he’s safe.

My heart hammers in my chest in excitement and anticipation, not fear.

“Please don’t be scared,” Ren says. “I know I’m a monster, but I would never do anything to harm you.”

“I know.” I say, giving him a smile.

“Oh. Okay. Uh, well, here’s me…” Ren mutters something under his breath and runs his finger across a small tattoo on his forearm, and a moment later, his formexpands. Body lengthening and growing even wider, until his head is almost brushing the ceiling of this suddenly cramped room. Face morphing into the one I saw last night—a single, large hazel eye with impossibly long lashes replacing his pair of human eyes.

It’s beyond weird, but it’s fucking magical. “Wow,” I whisper, tilting my head back to look him in his eye. I take a step forward, mesmerized by the incredible, impossible sight of this monster here with me in a bar bathroom. “Can you?—”

“I’ll go back. Give me a moment,” Ren interrupts, flinching at my approach.

I hold my hands up and shake my head adamantly. “No!”

“No?” His single eyebrow scrunches down, making me giggle at how oddly adorable this gargantuan man is.

“No.” I smile up at him. “I was going to ask if you’d bend down for a moment so I can get a closer look at you.”

He blinks, eyelashes fluttering in a surprisingly delicate way for a monster. “Why? Why would you want that?”

“Because I’ve never seen a monster before.” I wince. “Sorry, I hope that isn’t offensive! I don’t mean it in a bad way. I, uh, I like monsters. Or at least the concept of them. I’ve never met one before.” I laugh at my confession. Hopefully, he doesn’t think I’m a pervert who has a monster kink. Even though I absolutely do.

Ren hesitates, and I step closer. His breath hitches, the sound echoing against the walls of this small room. “You like monsters?”

“Yeah. I also likeyou, Ren.” I reach out and touchhis forearm, trailing my fingertips across his warm skin. “Do you like me?”

“Of course I like you, Emma.” He doesn’t even stumble over calling me my real name, like he instantly committed it to memory. “You’re wonderful.”

“Then bend down so I can get a better look at you,” I murmur.

He obeys and drops to a knee so I can look him in the face without craning my neck. “Hey,” I say softly, now that we’re eye to eye.

Ren flushes. “I can’t believe you’re here. I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“Nope. I’m here.” It sure as hell feels like a dream to me, too. I’m floating from the exhilarating confirmation that monsters are real and my proximity to the one inches away from my face. “What should we do now?” I ask, wetting my lips as my eyes drop to his mouth. His mouth that’s got to be twice the size of mine, with surprisingly pillowy lips.

“I don’t think you’d be interested in what I want to suggest,” Ren groans, some of the roughness from last night bleeding into his tone.