Page 8 of Traveling with Gentlemen (Tempting Monsters #1.1)

"Don't shift," I whispered, stepping out of the shadow of the room to join him on the balcony.

His golden gaze still glowed in the cool light of the moon, a warm and fiery contrast to the rest of the world. "You should be abed."

I arched an eyebrow. "So should you."

Amon remained still as I stepped out onto the balcony, the tile still warm from the sun's glow earlier in the day.

He was enormous, his sphinx body and wings taking up the majority of the balcony.

A long rope of a tail with a tuft of Amon's inky black hair at the tip beat against the floor as I approached, but the look in his eyes was wary.

I sank to my knees at his shoulder, sliding one arm over his warm and coarsely furred back, the soft roots of his feathers tickling my skin. Amon's head turned to me as I buried my face in the wild dark hair of his mane.

He cleared his throat and started to speak. "I can—"

"You can stop hiding this form from me," I said before he could finish. His back tensed under my arm, his voice cutting away abruptly. I leaned back and found those amber eyes on me. "You have been hiding it, haven't you? That's why you're out here now, rather than in bed."

"I'm not hiding," Amon growled, wings rustling.

I sat up on my knees, shuffling to face him and scooting in between his paws. My hands cupped his face and Amon's eyelids drooped softly, a deep purr rumbling out from his huge frame.

"Does a sphinx not like to be touched?" I asked, trying to hide my smile.

"You know that's not true," Amon laughed as I stroked my hands down from his face over his shoulders and arms.

"Do you not like to be seen?"

Amon's eyes skirted away briefly and then his chin lifted proudly. "I'm not ashamed, little star."

"Good. You shouldn't be. You're beautiful," I said, shifting closer until I had to hike my nightgown up to my thighs so I could wrap my legs around Amon.

He blinked at my declaration, eyes flashing down to my lap briefly. "I am…different than the others. In this shape."

I snorted, and Amon's gaze flashed away again. Oh. He wasn't ashamed. Amon's pride would never allow it, or at least never admit to it, but he was…insecure? My sphinx?

"Amon, do you avoid spending time in this form because you think I have a preference for men standing upright on two legs?" I asked, leaning to catch his eye. "Should I tell you again about my favorite performances at the theater Jonathon and Auguste took me to?"

"I am not an act for entertainment," Amon said, a touch sharp.

I sighed and leaned in, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. Behind me his paws moved, circling closer and holding me in place.

"Of course you're not. I'm sorry, that was careless," I murmured. Amon purred again, turning his cheek against my head to kiss my ear. "I chose you Amon, regardless of form."

He hummed, claws pricking dully at my nightgown. "I am used to maintaining my man's form."

"But…?" I prompted, sliding my fingers into the fluffy, delicate feathers at the base of his wings.

Amon sighed and his feathers rustled, muscles shifting under my grip. "But it is like…wearing pants. Always."

I hid my grin in his mane. "I can't relate to that particular experience, but as a woman who's suffered time in a corset, I object to your captivity."

Amon laughed. "I've seen the marks a corset leaves on your skin. It's not the same."

"But it is some kind of discomfort," I pointed out.

Amon nodded slightly. "Sometimes it is preferred. But not always."

"Not at home after a long trip away," I guessed, stretching to kiss Amon's jaw.

He purred again. "You really aren't unsettled?"

"Amon, I am intrigued, if it doesn't offend you that I say so. My lover has a body I've not learned yet." I allowed my hands to wander further as I watched Amon's expression shift. He was still shy, which was as tender and sweet to me as it was exciting.

"It does not offend me," Amon said slowly, lips curving into a smile at last. "You're not the first to be intrigued."

It was my turn to frown, and Amon's smile grew. "Are you trying to make me jealous?" I asked.

He laughed and shook his head. "Only ever other monsters. I didn't expect a human to…"

"Well, you were wrong," I said, arching my back as Amon's head lowered. His lips met mine in a slow caress.

"We should discuss the vampiress's invitation," Amon whispered.

"Do you still have your hook in this form?" I asked.

Amon chuckled. "Yes, my star. Now focus, if you will. Sofia will be very jealous of you. Auguste is right to object to taking you."

I blinked, distracted from my mission of seducing my sphinx. "Jealous?"

Amon cleared his throat and nodded. "She's always been particularly vicious with beautiful young women. But the invitation for all of us is pointed. She will be jealous of the woman who captured my heart, Esther."

I sat up straighter, eyes narrowing. "Oh? She wanted it for herself?"

Amon scoffed. "She wanted something of me. Not that. But sphinx are not to be collected."

My breath caught in my chest and my arms tightened around Amon. "No, they are to be cherished," I said.

Amon's gaze softened on mine, and I was ready for his next kiss, surrendering into the embrace, marveling at the gentle pinch of his claws against my hips.

There were those who might think I'd collected Amon, one of several of my gentlemen.

But the fact that he knew we were more—our family was not just a woman with her lovers, but a tangle of hearts who'd grown to care for one another in unique ways—meant a great deal to me.

"I love you," I mouthed into the kiss, and Amon purred in response.

"She will be dangerous, little star," Amon said softly.

"I can be dangerous too, my love," I answered, echoing his smile with my own. "She will simply have to suffer without you."

I snuggled into Amon's chest, his thick, rumbling purrs soothing the nerves our conversation had stirred up.

"She will ask for a boon or a prize," Amon said, so quietly I suspected he might be speaking to himself, thinking out loud. "We should consider our limits."

I ran my nails over the dense muscle of his shoulders, the thin layer of fur whispering as he growled gently.

I knew my limits already, and it was anything that might touch, harm, or disturb my men.

The vicious vampire countess might learn what a queen and her consorts did to those who crossed them, if she wasn't careful.