Page 20 of My Monster’s Keeper

Becky

W e check in, but I don’t think any of us are ready to be locked in that room so quickly.

It’s huge, with a massive bed and huge glass windows.

Everything is cream and gold. It’s pretty and expensive, and I feel like just being in the same room makes it dirty, but I think that’s a life of poverty talking.

And did I mention the massive bed?

The issue for me was the bed, in the middle of that room, like a work of art or a statement piece screaming the elephant we’ve all been trying to avoid. Or I have, especially after that conversation with Hartley.

I back out quickly with a mumbled excuse of needing clothes.

I take us down to the closest store and set about getting enough clothes for all of us for two weeks.

Puppy walks beside the trolley, touching fabrics and grabbing anything that is shiny. He’s got a bit of magpie tendencies. But he keeps quiet.

I almost ask him what’s wrong, but he seems ill at ease, and I don’t want to make him feel worse.

Stix is quiet, too, but in a peaceful way. He’s standing more confident, and when he looks at me, his gaze holds a softness that makes my stomach flutter.

Frost and Wilder have disappeared, but I just grab what they need.

While I’m in line, I show Stix and Puppy how to pay for things using the card. Then I hand Stix the card and point to the shop.

He walks into the bakery, points to five items, and pays for them. When he comes back, there is such a sense of accomplishment that I lean into his arm, giving him a one-sided hug.

I take the card and give it to Puppy. He stares at it like it’s a snake and hisses.

“You don’t want to try? ”

The growl is all the answer I’m going to get. I’m disappointed but not surprised. I can see the effort he’s putting in to stay here with me and not attack everything that moves.

He grabs my hand and holds it tight enough to make the bones ache. I carefully pull my hand free, hating the rage and hurt on his face. Before he can pull away, I thread my fingers with his and hold lightly.

“Softly, you’ll break my fingers.”

“Softly does not keep you shackled!” Puppy snarls.

“Sure, it does.”

He blinks down at our joined hands and licks his bottom lip. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but it’s obvious that he’s pleased.

“Fine. No one will steal my meal from me.”

I roll my eyes, but I’m starting to like the way he calls me meal. Someone send help.

Frost and Wilder come back and exchange a long, meaningful look with Stix.

“I take it you just checked the perimeter and evicted some poor unsuspecting visitors?”

“I asked nicely,” Wilder says with a grin that makes my knees weak.

I snort and angle the trolley to the supermarket. Puppy still has hold of my hand and crowds closer, putting his free hand on the trolley and completely taking the weight of it.

“Now, we’re not looking for food to cook, just snacks and not much that needs to be cold or frozen.”

I let them do their thing while I go and grab some important items like razors, my favourite soap, shampoo and conditioner. I only have to put a couple of items back, but I do point out that Stix can get coffee at the café, already made.

Heads turn towards us and watch us as we walk. I notice a couple of women attempt to talk to my guys when they walk away from me. The women are left standing with confused expressions, wondering what the hell happened.

I try not to smile too smugly as I watch a particularly lusty look from a guy as he melts into a puddle as Puppy growls in my ear.

Frost takes the card this time and, with no instruction from me, rings up our groceries. We carry them all back to the hotel room, and I spend half an hour slowly, meticulously putting everything away and ignoring them.

It’s different now.

Because of what Diablos and Hartley said and because of the fact that I’m thinking really hard about it .

I take my toiletries and go into the bathroom, closing the door. I fill up the bath, chuck a whole heap of Epsom salts in, and get in with a razor in hand.

I grab the razor and reach for my leg when my wrist is seized.

“What are you doing?” The sharp accusation startles me.

I peer up at Stix, willing my heart to calm down and answer simply. “Shaving?”

“Cutting your perfect skin? I think not.”

“No, it’s shaving. Removing the hair.”

Stix tilts his head to the side, and I think, I really do think, that I might die from humiliation right now.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like hair.”

“I like it.”

“It’s not your body, it’s mine. I don’t want it there. I like my legs smooth and soft.” When he doesn’t let go, with burning cheeks, I add, “It grows back!”

Stix considers this. “Are there other places you shave?”

I choke. “Yes,” I finally get out.

“Where?”

“Between my legs and under my arms.”

He strokes a hand down my leg, from knee to ankle, before possessively holding my foot

“Let me do it.”

Every thought slips away, leaving me speechless with my mouth hanging wide open.

Stix reaches over and takes the razor. He inspects it carefully before leaning towards my leg.

“We need to soap my leg first so there’s less chance of nicks.”

Stix looks at me from under his lashes and sweeps up the bottle of body wash.

He shifts to his other form, and long, spindly fingers soap my legs, pausing to massage the deep muscle until I’m almost boneless in the tub.

When he picks up the razor, I’m almost surprised.

The smooth glide of the blade has me gasping.

“You okay?”

Am I? No, not by a long shot.

“Yep. Fine. ”

Stix chuckles and deftly drags the razor over my skin. He’s thorough, and within seconds, I’m alight with need. One single touch could set off a chain reaction of orgasms.

It’s like I’m being edged, except all he’s doing is shaving my legs.

I obey soundlessly, trying to control my gasps and moans.

Hartley said to think it through. I’ve got no thoughts left in my brain. At all. Sign me up!

“Now, lift your arm.”

I obey before I can think, and, in just a few quick minutes, he’s removed the stubble.

“Okay. Now stand up.”

My eyes get really wide, and I realise there is almost no chance of me being able to stand up right now.

Stix pulls me up and climbs into the tub fully dressed, causing the water to slosh over the side.

He tilts his head and looks intently. I shiver and bite the inside of my cheek so I don’t beg or plead. He’s quick, I’ll give him that. But his touch has my legs weak, my whole body shaking.

By the time he steps back, his eyes are big and black, and he bites his bottom lip. I’m on the edge of screaming.

“There. Perfect.”

My breath rasps out of my lungs.

His eyes flick up to my face.

“Don’t look at me like that, Becky.”

I close my eyes.

I swear, I can feel his fingers run down my chest between my breasts that feel heavy and ache. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted like this.

“Enjoy your bath, pretty Becky.”

My eyes snap open in time to see him slip out of the bathroom, pulling the door closed behind him.

DAMNIT!

I sit back down, but the temperature’s too hot now. I writhe in the water before I finally drop my hand between my legs. Smooth and even through the water, I can feel the difference between the viscous slick of my arousal and the water .

My index finger grazes my clit, and my whole body reacts, shuddering. I throw my head back and do it again, pressing hard, spreading my legs, and burrowing my fingers into my channel.

One more stroke of my finger, and my body tightens. I grit my teeth, but a grunt gets out. Imaging his face between my legs, his long fingers pressing into me. My pussy wall clenches tightly on my fingers, squeezing. It’s not enough. I need a cock. It’s been too long.

An odd thought occurs to me. I normally get wet, but I’ve never ever gotten wet like this. It seems excessive.

I lay back and catch a scent. It’s spicy and floral, pretty and complex, but it doesn’t mean much to me. I close my eyes, letting the small dying ripples of water lap at my chin.

This is nice.

I open my eyes and find Puppy staring at me.

“Hi.”

“Get up and get me food or I will eat the meal who keeps trying to clean the room.”

“Puppy,” I snarl, frustrated. “You can’t eat her.”

He hisses at me, narrowing his eyes as he flicks his hair out of his face.

“I can.”

“No!”

He just walks silently out of the room, leaving me scrambling for a robe.

“FINE! What do you want to eat?” I shout.

I crash into the hotel room and blink when I see Stix and Wilder asleep on the bed. Frost is glaring down at the street, and Puppy is pacing, staring out the same window in a way that reminds me of a hunting cat. All I need is for him to start chirping, and I will lose it.

“Right, food. What do you want?”

Puppy looks at me, and I hear the answer loud and clear.

“I’m off the menu!” I snap.

“Chinese,” Frost says. “Order the spicy meat dishes for the cannibal.”

Puppy hisses and switches shapes, scurrying up the window to sit on the ceiling.

“How the hell does he stick to glass? No, wait. I don’t want to know.”

I sit down with my phone and find the closest Chinese delivery place so I can order a massive amount of food and stop this giant pit from eating anymore people.