Page 39 of By Rude Strength

“Yeah.” LA offered out his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“You look like you could use a hug,” LA said. “You know, one of those award winning type ones, right? I mean, mine probably aren’t that great, but—” He grunted as Cass wrapped him up in his powerful arms. “Agh, Cass. Back, watch my back.”

“Oh! Right. Sorry.” Cass relaxed his grip.

LA closed his eyes, letting himself enjoy the gentle embrace. Cass’s wings curled around them next, adding a unique level of warmth. He swore that Cass’s tail was even teasing down by his legs, and he hugged Cass’s neck tighter. “Thank you.”

Cass shivered. “O-oh? What, what for? Exactly?”

“For not giving up.” LA breathed in Cass’s fur, finding it oddly sweet. It was almost like cotton candy. “If you weren’t here, I’d probably already be begging Gavin to take me back and I wouldn’t have made things right with that girl at the towing place—”

“Anna. Her name is Anna.”

“Yes, Anna. Whatever. Look, I just…” LA rubbed Cass’s fur. “I guess it’s been a long time since anyone has believed in me, that I could be better, so… Thank you.”

Cass lightly squeezed LA’s middle. “That’s my job. To lift you up, to help you find that strength, and uh…”

“You never did answer me.”

“About what?”

“Do you snuggle all the people you help?”

Cass’s arms tensed. “I did answer it. Perhaps not very well, but I did!”

LA pulled back to grin up at Cass, but he forgot what he was going to say. He was lost in Cass’s bright eyes, his crooked little pout, and the sweep of his horns. Cass was very handsome and LA had always thought Belle looked pretty disappointed when the Beast turned into Prince Adam.

Maybe LA’s problem was that he’d kept giving the same asshole countless chances when he should have been willing to give one to someone else.

Perhaps even a monster…

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Cass whined.

LA’s face instantly ignited. “I’m not staring.”

“Is there something on my face?”

“What? No!” LA coughed. “There’s nothing.”

“Are you… okay?”

“I’m fucking fine, shut up.” LA stared at the bowls. “Uh, are we ready to keep stirring or what? We got a cake to make.”

“Yes! Let us continue, Elly.”

“Still not my name,Cassie.”

“Aw, I like that! A nickname! Yay!”

“Ugh.”

Chapter six

“So.” LA sat atthe kitchen table with his drink, grunting as he tried to get comfortable.

“So!” Cass had just pulled the cake pans out and set them on top of the stove to cool.