Page 27 of Monster Daddies

Silence stretches for a beat before Viraat steps forward, crouching in front of me with surprising gentleness.

"Then we change the plan," he says simply, all no nonsense. "What you have here... it's not just charm, cookies and folded towels. This place ismagic.You're magic. And the manor is ready to be shared with the world."

Jodrick nods, before taking a seat on the floor, tucking me in his lap, like me having a mini-meltdown is the most natural part of his day. "Viraat's right. What you're doing here? Openingup Stonebound Manor? It's the right thing to do. So if you're worried that the current idea won't work, then we change it up."

Viraat sits in front of us, reaches across to hold my hand, and if I didn't know any better I'd say he suppresses the urge to steal me from Jodrick so I could sit on his lap.

"What if you turn the manor into a retreat? A place where people of the BSDM community can come and relax?"

I can't help the giggle that slips out. "You mean, BDSM, Daddy V," I inform him.

If gargoyles could blush, he probably would have. Instead he frowns, and a low growl builds in his chest.

That just won't do.

So I move from my spot on Jodrick's lap and tuck myself into Viraat's hard, safe, wonderful arms. His posture is stiff at first, as if he doesn't know what to do with me, but it doesn't take long before he smooths his hand down my back.

"Do you really think people would come here for that?" I whisper, getting the conversation back on track.

"I don't know, little one," Jodrick says. "We'll have to look into it, but to my mind, from the research Viraat and I have done, it seems like there's a market for it."

Everything shifts.

The nursery doesn't feel silly anymore. It feelsright. Like it could be the first room of many.

This might bemine. But who's to say I couldn't make a few more like it, while also making different kinds of rooms.

I wonder what kind of permits I would need to do something like this?

This is exactly what I needed.

These two gargoyles are exactly what I've been looking for my entire life.

Viraat's hand continues to glide down my back in long, grounding strokes. I can feel the way his body is still slightly tense beneath me but his touch is all calm, steady.

I think that's part of what makes me feel so safe—how he chooses to be gentle for me.

"I like it when you hold me like this," I whisper, hoping it doesn't bring the big gruff grump out again.

His fingers pause, just for a second before resuming their soothing path.

"That's good," he murmurs. "I like holding you. Even if I'm still figuring out the best way to do it without breaking you."

From behind me, Jodrick's big hands come up to rest on my shoulders. He presses a kiss to the crown of my head and then leans his cheek against my hair. I'm surrounded. Sheltered. Wrapped in the arms of two mythic creatures who've somehow taken up all the room in my heart.

"Is that why you've not pushed for any more kisses?" I ask him, my voice betraying my vulnerability.

Viraat tenses again, but thankfully doesn't pull away.

"I don't think you understand how delicate you are compared to us," he tells me, his tone somehow soft and growly at the same time. "I could snap you in half without a thought. And you're too precious to not be handled with care."

I shrug in his arms before tipping my head back to look at him. "I mean the care is great. But I could use a little less of it… and a lot more spice.”

He growls but doesn't make a move. Nor does Jodrick.

Dammit.

Guess I'm taking matters into my own hands.