Page 95 of My Monster’s Keeper

Chapter 29

Becky

Akiss from Puppy is terrifyingly erotic. It’s like jumping off the side of a cliff while you’re unsure if you have adequate safety gear. There’s danger and beauty and so much sensation. It’s a high that’s addictive. I open my mouth, and his tongue invades, pressing in. Much bigger and thicker than a humans. I suck on it, and he thrums, his chest vibrating. Abruptly, he peels away and darts out of the room, leaving me rolling in the hammock to peer below.

A moment later, the doorbell rings.

I jump from the hammock down to the bed, grab one of Wilder’s huge shirts, and pull it on while I race for the door. I don’t even know what to think of what happened or how melty my mind is right now. But what do they say? Saved by the bell? Sure, I’ll take it.

“Do not eat anyone, Puppy,” I shout as I see him beat me to the front door.

He glances back at me and slams the door open. On the other side, Diablos glowers.

“Becky, we need to talk,” Diablos says.

Hartley pushes him aside and slips into the kitchen. He goes to the kitchen cupboard, flips the kettle on, and starts opening and closing doors until he has six mugs and a jar of instant hot chocolate. He checks the fridge, finds a block of plain chocolate, and starts chopping it up.

Stix walks into the room and surveys what’s going on. I can see he isn’t pleased, but he’s hesitant because of Hartley. Humans for the win!

“What are you doing here, Diablos? I thought we had an understanding,” Stix says coldly.

“Yeah, yeah. I heard your understanding. I knocked on the door, as was proper. Then I waited to be admitted to the kingdom. I followed all the instructions.”

Hartley hands a cup to Frost. My Fae prince raises an eyebrow at me from where he leans against the wall. I nod. He takes a sip, and his eyes light up. Wilder takes the second cup but puts it down. I cross to him, pick it up, and put it back in his hands.

“Try it.”

He grunts but obediently sips. That encourages Puppy, who takes his cup and downs it in one go. Within seconds, he’s back, stealing the chocolate that’s left in the wrapper. We all pretend not to notice.

I take my cup and Stix’s, handing it to him, while Hartley hands Diablos his mug. Hartley gives me a slow nod of approval, and I realise I’ve done something right without even being aware.

Tension de-escalation, I believe the force called it.

“I have another assignment for you,” Diablos glowers at Hartley and glances back at Stix, “Your Highness.”

“Plural,” Stix snaps. “We are all kings here. You will use our honorifics when you come to beg forgiveness for invading our territory.”

Diablos rubs his forehead and then his horn. Which makes me think of Stix and his horns. I find myself looking at that spot. Wilder nudges me, and I jolt, breaking away from where my thoughts are heading.

“I am sorry for invading the property that I gave you,” Diablos snaps.

“Yes. Ours. You do not seem sorry,” Puppy hisses. “Grovel, horned one, or face my endless hunger.”

Diablos appears to be lost for words. His frown snaps down, and his fists clench as he drags a foot back in a way that is far too reminiscent of a charging bull. “You ungrateful, assholes.”

“Wait!” I cry, getting in between them. “You both have a point. Let’s just, uh, settle this in a way that we can keep the decor.”

Stix lifts his chin and lets out a deep sound, half-way between a growl and a snarl. “Outside then, and I shall hear your apology.”

Hartley groans. “There’s a couple of your kind living in the river. We’ve heard they are talking women off the path. It’s an ambush trap.”

“Ugh! What is it about water?” I stand up and set my cup in the sink, shooting a ‘help me’ look at Hartley. “Right, let’s go.”

“I think not,” Frost says icily to me. “You will garb yourself properly.”

I look down at my bare thighs and snicker. “Is there a problem, Frost?”

He stalks towards me, and I find myself backing up. Jeez, he’s tall. He reaches out, slowly, gently, and puts his hand on the wall beside my head. He’s not touching me when he leans in, his lips beside my ear. I’ve lost sense of the rest of the room. All there is arethose white and black eyes. His fair skin has almost a shimmer that is hypnotic. But it’s the broad chest and shoulders that almost enclose me to the wall that makes me melt.