Page 4 of Monsters (Vengeance #3)

Taylor

“ S o I don’t mean to break up the very apt rendition of Sleeping Beauty’s love scene in the forest,” I drawled in amusement as Athens flashed me a smile. I offered him one back because I was genuinely happy he was receiving the love he deserved. Both the twins were.

Gray flashed those stunning tri-colored eyes at me.

“I am not Sleeping Beauty and besides, the bitch pricks her finger on a needle and falls into a magical coma. How weak is that shit? And on top of that, in the real story the prince gets her pregnant while she’s passed out! I mean there are just so many issues…”

In a flash, I sealed my lips over hers as she leaned back into Athens. Her babble of words stopped and when I pulled back from her soft warm scent, she narrowed her eyes.

“That,” she pointed at my chest, “was sneaky.”

Before I could respond, the three of us heard Rhodes calling us back.

Athens squeezed her hand before walking ahead towards Neo.

The two men shared a look that I had to assume related to either their mother, Gray, or both.

I slipped an arm around my baby girl and tugged lightly on one of her midnight blue strands of hair.

“Are you excited about Thanksgiving?” She asked enthusiastically.

How could I deny her anything? How could I ever look into that stunning face and tell her no?

The woman was like a whirlwind when excited.

For the millionth time in my life, I sent out a thanks to the Maker that I’d been chosen to be part of the True Heir Guard.

I mean, sure I hated it at the time, but this right here? It made it worth it.

“I could go for some food,” I responded with a smirk. “Although, I’m not sure how I feel about this pumpkin pie you want. It sounds sort of gross.”

It didn’t. I just wanted to see her get worked up.

“Taylor!” She exclaimed in horror. “What you just said could be considered treason. That is the best type of pie in the world you are talking about.”

I offered her a disbelieving look as she huffed.

“Just try it okay?”

“I guess,” I murmured in an unenthusiastic drawl. “But I should get something in return for my adventurous spirit.”

She snorted with a suspicious look. “What do you want?”

“A date,” I responded quickly.

Her eyes warmed as she tried to hide a smile. “Where would we go?”

“It would be a surprise.”

She nibbled her lip as if she was undecided but then flashed me a wide smile. “Fine. I agree.”

I loved pumpkin pie so this wasn’t an issue.

I was about to tease her more when something chilled the air.

It was an actual sensation that crawled against my skin as the predator within me sharpened its gaze.

Gray’s eyes darkened and it felt like time slowed.

In a movement so sharp I couldn’t believe I’d done it, my body rolled hers to the ground as a low thud hit the tree behind us.

Fuck. I looked up to see a crossbow bolt sunken into the tree.

Holy shit. A crossbow?! Really!

Luckily, Adyen had been waiting for us and he began barking orders.

A call went out around the castle. I just kept Gray under me as her breathing attempted to slow.

I wish I could tell you I wasn’t squishing her but I wanted every single part of her body covered.

I didn’t want any chance of anyone being able to hurt her, even if it was irrational to think my body alone would stop them.

“Who the fuck was that!?” She snarled, struggling under my weight.

I pulled away, smoothing out her hair. My eyes ran over her beautiful face and fierce expression.

I didn’t see any sign of injury. Fury rolled through me.

Gray had been so stressed lately and the one day she has time to relax, someone attempts to fucking kill her.

“Let’s get inside now,” I gritted through tight teeth.

Hellfire jumped through my skin as my demonic nature let out a snarl.

Her magic, like ash on my tongue, struggled against me as I picked her up but I didn’t pay her any mind.

I knew she hated being picked up, but I hated the concept of her dying.

I win. I know she said we were immortal, but I’d rather not risk it.

My baby girl could act as tough or weak as she wanted.

My position didn’t change. I’d protect her until my dying breath and if we're immortal, she better get used to it.

“Taylor,” she snarled as guardsmen ran past us. “Put me the fuck down.”

Instead of responding I crossed into the stone archway and breathed a little easier except for the boiling rage under my skin.

Someone had just tried to kill her. I clutched her tighter as she struggled against me.

Before her magic could react, I wrapped my red smoke around her like a cocooning prison.

She’d have to hurt me to get out and I was hoping she’d realize I was just doing my job.

“We’re inside now,” she pointed out in command. I ignored it, my ears trained on the outside. They had yet to find anything. How had someone gotten across our borders so easily? Unless it was someone from within the kingdom, a possibility I’d hate to consider.

“Let me do my job, baby girl,” I commented lightly, despite my boiling temper.

Her eyes scoped out my face and she must have seen something there because she didn’t say anything.

I carried her through the halls and up towards her quarters.

We had been near her private suite anyway.

This simply made it easier. The stairs were numerous but it felt like nothing compared to the feeling crawling under my skin. I needed to calm down.

This was why I didn’t let myself get upset about things. When I did it was explosive.

“Taylor,” she spoke my name softly. Almost cautiously.

Once inside her room, I sat her down on the velvet couch and distanced myself.

My feet took me towards the windows as I looked down at the clearing nearly seven stories down.

Soldiers scouted the woods. I could see Rhodes and Adyen talking to some of the Red Masques that had been working on the border.

It was odd because the border that backed up to the castle was a mountain range that didn’t even access the Dark Fae lands.

Any attacker would have had to go far out of their way, and besides, how had they known she’d be outside today? Maybe it had been pure chance?

“Taylor,” a soft voice whispered, I shook my head and looked down at our small queen. Her silky hair was loose and free but her red lips were pressed together in concern. I tried to ignore my body’s natural response to how those leather pants fit her hips. I would love to peel those off her…

“Taylor,” she demanded my gaze as I tried to restrain a growl. I wasn’t very often controlled by more basic nature. That was a good thing because demons could be far worse than shifters. Shifters at least respected dominance, no matter the gender, of their mates.

Demons didn’t.

Demons didn’t give a fuck. I tried to breathe through the urge to lock her in this room until every threat was taken care of. It wasn’t that my demon nature didn’t respect her authority. It just considered it his right to protect her. However necessary. A tad possessive? Yeah. You could say that.

Okay. It may have even been past possessive.

“I’m going back out there.” She stated as she turned. In a blink, I had her pinned to the bed as a low sound came from my throat.

See what I mean?

“Dude!” Gray pushed my shoulder as I held myself over her and tried to keep calm.

My voice was rough as I spoke, “Baby girl, I’m going to need you to stop struggling. I’m trying really hard to not lose my shit and go all Neanderthal, but my powers are very worked up right now.”

“Oh.” She whispered, and instantly stopped struggling.

My forehead pressed against hers as her scent washed over me, creating an entirely new hunger that was probably far safer. She released a small sound at the change in my body language as I kept my eyes closed, trying to resist the urge to flip her on her stomach and slam into her.

“Taylor?” she whispered softly.

Her voice calling my name made me groan as I began to trail kisses and nibbles across her jawline. I could feel a shiver break across her skin as my demon gladly traded this for violence. Either way she was protected. Except from us of course. No one would keep her from us.

Yeah, that was probably as fucked up as it sounded. I never claimed that side of me was rational.

My movements were slow but I locked onto her gaze as I knelt between her spread legs and slid the material of her sweater from her waist across her ribs and over her head. I couldn’t contain the pained sound that came out of me at the sight of her tiny waist and breasts covered in black lace.

This woman’s curves were going to kill me.

Honestly, I could spend years kissing and tasting every part of her skin and it wouldn’t be enough.

I never knew where I wanted to look or touch and it really was unfair to make me pick.

The woman was a masterpiece. I kissed her softly on the lips, tugging and torturing the velvety skin, before moving to her neck.

I grasped the back of her head and sucked, feeling the pulse of the blood just below the surface.

“Taylor!” She exclaimed, I kissed the hickey gently.

I was already feeling far better.

“Baby girl.” My voice came out like gravel. “I want to see you.”

Something dark slid behind her eyes and she smirked just slightly. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Hadn’t I said I wanted to peel the leather off?

Her whimper at my heated hands on her cool skin had me moaning.

I almost lost it when I saw that she had a matching pair of panties.

The waistband that rested against her porcelain colored hip bones.

Her leather pants dropped to the floor as I peeled off my own shirt, needing to feel her skin against my own.

Downstairs I could hear the chaos. I knew they would be back up here soon .

I tugged off my own pants, leaving only my boxers, as I completely confused her by tucking us both under the blanket.

She started to speak and I simply pulled her against me so her head was buried in my chest. My thumb stroked over her hickey.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to drill her into the bed.

I just wanted more time and I knew we would be interrupted soon.

Plus, nothing compared to the feel of her against me like this.

Well, besides being inside of her I assumed.

“I’m confused.”She stated breathlessly.

“We don’t have much time alone.” My voice was hoarse as I grabbed a handful of her perky ass. “And I needed to feel you, skin on skin, to know you’re alright.” My magic hummed in contentment as her mouth popped open and a blush filled her face.

“Oh!” She whispered, then looked back up at me with a coy smile. “But later?”

I kissed her hickey to avoid chuckling. “Later, baby girl, you’re all mine.”

I just hoped later was soon. If not it meant we had far larger issues.