Page 13 of Knotty Bargain (Monster Holidays #3)

CHAPTER 13

LEVIATHAN

I t’s insane how many times every day I wish I had my two other arms. They make everything so much easier and it would have been so much faster to finish this.

I stab the pumpkin, but the knife sinks all the way to the hilt. Again.

Cordelia snorts. "You put too much strength into it. I can't believe you haven't sliced it open yet."

"These pumpkins are too fragile," I shoot back at her.

Sylvia laughs. "No, they're definitely not." She huffs as she seesaws with a tiny knife.

I arch an eyebrow at her. "You need help? Why are you using a toothpick?"

"It's not a toothpick," she says, out of breath. "It's for the details."

"You're just copying me," I tell her, looking at my fairly good skeleton face. For my first pumpkin, and for someone who's using two arms instead of four, it's not bad at all.

Sylvia gasps, turning her pumpkin toward me. "Mine is Jack Skellington, you uncultured brute."

Cordelia sucks air in through her teeth, glancing at Sylvia. "You're aware he could pop your head open like that pumpkin, right?" Cordelia asks her friend.

Sylvia doesn't reply. She's too far gone into her pumpkin carving, her frown so deep I don't think she can unmake it. Miranda laughs.

"Levi wouldn't do that," she says, smiling at me. "He's a guest until the wedding." She shoots an amused glance at Cordelia. "And your boyfriend, as Vivian mentioned."

Cordelia yelps. Her knife drops. She hisses in pain, crimson blood welling up from a cut in her palm.

"Lia, are you okay?" Sylvia's voice rises with concern. She shoots her mother a glare. "Mom, we don't bring Vivian up in this house. It's clearly bad luck."

"I'm so sorry, dear," says Miranda, pushing back from the table. "Let me help you with that."

Cordelia shakes her head, cradling her hand. "I'm fine. Don't get up." She stands, heading for the kitchen.

I follow her, an invisible tug pulling me along. My heart beats strangely fast. I hated the sight of blood in her hand. I hated the way her brows furrowed with pain.

In the kitchen, Cordelia runs the water, pink swirling down the drain. Her shirt is stained with her pumpkin's guts, sticking to her stomach and her perfect tits.

Am I obsessed with her tits? Absolutely.

Do I care about them right now? Not even closer.

I step closer."Let me see." I reach for her hand. She hesitates, blue eyes searching mine. "I won't hurt you, Cordelia. I promise."

Slowly, she extends her hand. I'm surprised by the rush of protectiveness that floods through me as I examine the cut. It's not deep, but still bleeding.

I bring her palm to my lips. Her breath hitches as my tongue glides over the wound, tasting copper. I lick again. Under my ministrations, the bleeding slows, then stops completely. Magic tingles on my tongue.

Cordelia's cheeks flush pink, pupils dilating.

Shit. Now that the cut's closed and I can't smell her blood anymore, things change. The sight of desire on her face ignites something inside me. The air thickens with tension, need coiling tight in my core.

My cock twitches. Fuck, it's been a while.

"That's...you shouldn't..." Cordelia mumbles, swallows, then licks her plump lips.

"Probably not," I murmur, my voice rough with want. But I can't bring myself to regret it, not with her pulse fluttering wildly beneath my fingertips. Not with the way she looks at me, equal parts scandalized and aroused.

What would happen if I kissed her again? Would she kick me? Would she scream? Sylvia and Miranda are right there in the other room. They'd come running and I don't want to ruin this little thing we have going on.

But if I kissed her and if she let me... Would Cordelia get wet for me? Would she moan when I pinched her nipples? Fuck, to hear the way she'd sigh my name as I licked her pretty cunt...

I wrestle control back. Deep breath. Another.I release her hand reluctantly. Already, I crave more—more of her taste, her scent, her warmth.

"Thanks," she says, her voice rasping. "That was amazing."

"Magic can be useful."

We stare at one another. I have no idea what's going on inside her head. Does she think I'm disgusting? Is she disgusted by a monster who's attracted to her?

"I'm glad you fumbled the spell," I admit, holding her gaze. Let her see the honesty in my eyes, the desire. "I'm in no rush to return. Not after meeting you."

Uncertainty clouds her expression. She frowns. "You don't have to pretend when we're alone."

We stare at each other, the silence electric. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips and I barely suppress a groan. She has no idea what she's doing to me.

Finally, Cordelia clears her throat. "We should go back."

Disappointment is a lump in my throat. I struggle not to show it on my face. "Of course."

She takes the lead back into the living room. I linger, watching her go. Not because of her delicious ass, though that's a bonus.

But because... Shit... My heart races when I'm with her. I'm enjoying this far too much. I like talking to her and I like watching movies and hearing her point of view on them. Cordelia is stunning and funny and smart and...

Shit. This can’t be. No way.

There’s no way I’m falling in love with her.