Aubrey
My keys jingle traitorouslyas I try to sneak into the apartment at—I squint at my phone—9:47 AM. Today is one of Maggie’s days off. Maybe she’s still asleep. Maybe she won’t notice I’m wearing yesterday’s clothes, or that my hair is a disaster, or that I’m pretty sure I have scale imprints on my—
“Well, well, well.”
Shit.
Maggie’s leaning against our tiny kitchen counter, coffee mug in hand and unholy glee written all over her face. Her current hair color, a bold mix of purple and teal, somehow makes her knowing smirk even more irritating.
“Late night at work?” She raises her eyebrows. “Must have been quite the inventory count. Your shirt’s on inside out, by the way.”
I glance down. Double shit.
“I, uh…” My brain scrambles for an excuse, but it’s still foggy from this morning’s goodbye kiss. Who knew nagas could do that thing with their tongues? Focus, Aubrey! “There was this really complicated… filing system… thing.”
“Uh-huh.” Maggie takes a long, deliberate sip of coffee. “And did this filing system happen to involve your boss’s extremely impressive tail?”
The heat rushing to my face could power a small city. “I need a shower,” I mutter, making a strategic retreat toward the bathroom. “And sleep. Not necessarily in that order.”
“Oh honey,” Maggie calls after me, “you are not getting off that easy! I want details!”
I slam the bathroom door, but I can still hear her cackling. As I turn on the shower, waiting for the ancient pipes to produce something resembling hot water, I catch my reflection in the mirror.
My lips are still slightly swollen, and there’s definitely a mark on my neck that my shirt won’t cover. But it’s my eyes that give me pause—they’re bright, almost glowing, like I’ve swallowed starlight.
The memory of Sundar’s golden gaze floods back, how he had whispered, “Mine.” The way his tail had wrapped around me, possessive yet gentle, scales smooth and cool against my heated skin…
The mirror’s starting to fog up, and it’s not just from the steamy shower.
As I step under the hot spray, my body reminds me exactly how thoroughly we spent the night together. There are slight impressions from his scales along my thighs and hips, each one a memory of where his tail held me.
They don’t hurt—if anything, pressing my fingers against them sends little shivers through me. God, the way he’d moved, the feeling of being completely surrounded and wrapped up by him…
But now, in the harsh light of day, and with my brain actually functioning, doubts start creeping in like unwanted houseguests.
What if this was just a heat-of-the-moment thing for him? I mean, he’s literally centuries old. He’s probably had tons of lovers, including that gorgeous naga ex of his. And I’m just… me. The girl who still can’t figure out how to fold a fitted sheet and sometimes has cereal for dinner.
By the time I finish my shower and collapse into bed, my mind is spinning faster than our ancient washing machine. I set an alarm for a few hours’ nap, but sleep comes surprisingly easy. Maybe it’s the emotional exhaustion, or maybe it’s the lingering comfort of how safe I felt wrapped in Sundar’s coils.
When I wake up, the afternoon sun is streaming through my window, and the apartment smells like a fresh batch of coffee. I’m wearing my comfiest sweats as I begin heading to the kitchen before I remember what’s waiting for me.
Sure enough, Maggie’s stationed at our tiny kitchen table with two mugs and an expression that says I’m not escaping this time.
“So,” she says, sliding one of the mugs toward me. “Spill. And I don’t mean the coffee.”
I slump into the chair across from her, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“How about you start with why you’re walking like you rode a horse? Or should I say, a snake?”
“Maggie!” I sputter coffee everywhere while she cackles. “It wasn’t… I mean, we didn’t… Okay, fine, we totally did.”
“Look, this is strictly best friend concern here,” Maggie insists, though she’s already reaching for her phone where I know she keeps her “Monster Match” notes. “Though, you know, if you happened to want to share any logistical details…”
“Oh my God, I amnota case study for your monster dating consultancy!”
“But think of all the lonely humans out there, desperately wondering if naga anatomy is compatible with—”
I chuck a dish towel at her head. “Focus! I’m having a crisis here!”
