Page 35 of Minding the Minotaur (Monsters of the Labyrinth #1)

A RLO

We find the portal cape draped over the wooden bench next to the golden nymph fountain.

“I never left it there,” I say, scratching a horn.

Otis picks it up. “It’s going back into the deepest level of the Vault, where it can’t cause any more mischief.”

“You’re talking like it has a will of its own.”

He gives me a funny look. “It’s magic, Arlo. Don’t underestimate it.”

I stare at it, shimmering over Otis’s arm. Maybe that’s why it landed me repeatedly in awkward situations, like women’s toilets, and piles of trash.

Maybe that’s why it landed me in that parking lot…

Maybe it wasn’t an accident.

What if the cape meant for me to meet Sammy all along?

As we walk back inside, it lets out a burst of shimmering little sparks. Almost like it’s winking at me.

Whatever its intentions, the portal cape introduced me to Sammy, and then it helped me to save her. And for that, I will always revere it.

When Jax and Otis finally take their leave, Tippy follows close on their heels, chatting to Jax about the latest elixir she’s made him. Otis holds the cape tightly in his fist, declaring darkly that he’s going to “hide it where you’ll never find it”.

I salute him with a grin. “I won’t need it ever again.”

I close the door and turn to Sammy, and we hug for long moments. Then I drop to my knees, push up the shirt she’s wearing and lay kisses on her belly.

She holds my head there, and sighs softly.

I am not expecting anything, but as she starts to press her sweet pussy into me, I scent her unmistakable arousal.

I glance up at her to see her eyes wide, her lips parted and swollen with lust. She bites the juicy, enticing pillow of her lower lip, and I groan with longing.

“Make love to me, Arlo,” she whispers.

“You sure, pet? I mean, in your delicate condition?”

She laughs softly, huskily. “My delicate condition seems to be making me horny as hell. And we’ve been apart way too long.”

I need no further encouragement. With a growl, I lift her into my arms and stalk to the bedroom, lay her down gently on the coverlet. She pulls me down next to her, and in a swift move I lift her on top of me, so as not to crush her, or our tiny little youngling.

She laughs as her legs splay over my bulk, and she brushes her long, beautiful hair in my face.

Then, slowly, she unbuttons the shirt to reveal her naked breasts, more beautiful and, I swear, bigger and lusher than before, her nipples swollen.

I wonder if that’s from the pregnancy. Whatever it is, I’m not complaining.

“Can I?” I pant, my hands already hovering.

“Arlo, I won’t break.” She grabs my hands and cups them over her breasts. “Pinch my nipples,” she gasps as she grinds her pussy onto my already engorged cock.

I do, and she whines and presses harder along the rod of my cock, which is now painfully hard against my zipper.

She unzips me and watches as I spring free.

With a growl, I rip off my jeans and boxers, then hoist her back onto my tackle.

Already I can feel her juices joining with mine as she slides and rotates over my cock.

I suck her tits and she’s rubbing her slit along my cock, moaning softly.

I take my member in my hand and rub it over her clit, and her grip on my shoulders intensifies.

I wonder if we’re both going to come like this, not even fucking, too desperate to hold out, and sure enough she arches back and cries my name, and I know she’s reached her peak already.

Except I also know that Sammy’s orgasms build on each other. She is so wet I wonder if she even needs lube, but I grab it anyway.

“You’re sure you can take me inside you?”

“I’m sure.”

“I’ll be gentle.”

She nods, biting her lips, her eyes dewy from her first release.

But still needing more.

I’m needing more.

I slide into her easily with the lube on my dick and she moans softly, widening her hips over me.

I pump gently and it’s like heaven as her internal muscles lock around me. Together, we find our rhythm, staring into each other’s eyes.

“Oh gods, I’ve missed you so much,” I murmur.

“I missed you too. It felt like a part of me was missing.”

She bends down and our tongues tangle, dancing a rhythm in sync with my cock thrusting inside her, and it seems like our bodies are alight with beautiful flames. I increase my speed, still careful, my breath coming in pants as I feel her locking on tighter. I’m not sure I can hold out any longer.

And then she comes again, forceful ripples that grip my cock like a velvet glove.

And that’s it—stars explode behind my eyes, my hips cant as I give one final thrust, and then together, we tumble.

I think I screamed her name; she might have screamed mine—I can’t recall much, except the ecstasy of her being mine and I hers. Totally and absolutely. Together, joined by love and our miracle youngling.

Afterward, she slumps against me, panting.

“The earth moved, but no rocks fell.” She laughs softly in my ear, kissing my sweat-sheened neck.

“Fuck I love you babe,” I murmur huskily.

As we come down from our high, I cradle her against my big chest.

“Sammy, I will never let them take you again.”

“I know Arlo. But what happens if they come after us down here?”

“Shhh.” I try to silence her, but then realize she needs to talk as she props herself up and looks at me out of those big eyes. “I need to know what we do if they come looking for us, Arlo,” she pleads.

“We’ll take off to a lower level. There are places down there where humans would never dare go. The wolf dens, for a start.”

Her blue eyes grow even wider. “Would we be safe around wolves?”

“There are some decent wolves down there, fierce warriors. Tough, but fair. Once they know you’re pregnant, believe me, they’ll do everything to protect us and keep our family safe. They’d tear human invaders limb from limb.”

She lets out a little sigh, and I feel her relax.

“But it won’t come to that, Sammy. I have confidence in Otis—even in Jax, though I never thought I’d say that. ”

“Me too.”

I kiss the top of her golden head. “You know what, I’m going to run a bath, and this time we’re both going to get in it. “

She dimples. “Just don’t fill it too full.”

“Are you implying I’m too big?”

“Never too big for me,” she says, her blue eyes dancing, then she rolls onto her back and yawns contentedly. I pad to the en suite. At the door, I turn to see her stretched out on my bed— our bed now—with a blissed-out smile on her face.

Her beauty takes my breath away, and I’m awed that she’s mine.

All mine.

I can’t let doubts or fears take hold, not in this perfect moment.

One thing I know, I will never regret barging my way into Sparkle City in that portal cape. Even if it brings the wrath of humans down on us monsters all over again. Even if I sense there is another epic battle still to come.

That we will have to fight for our right to exist all over again.

And yet… courage swells in my chest.

Because I know with absolute certainty that me and Sammy meeting, and now our miracle youngling growing inside her, will somehow turn the tides of destiny.