I stoop down to collect the female’s weapon and hand it back to her, handle-end first. “Perhaps you desire to be the one who delivers a permanent end to his being?”
2
DODIE
My hand shakes as I accept my machete back, and I stare at the very large, gray, horned beast before me. His physical presence is huge, but his energy is entirely overwhelming. It surrounds my in dense cloak of what feels like heavenly protection, but I don’t entirely trust it. He keeps looking at me like he knows me from somewhere but can’t place me and desperately wants to. It’s as if he’s both curious and annoyed by it, but I’ve definitely never seen him before. I’d know. He leaves the kind of impression that lingers.
I knew his kind were traveling the earth to deliver justice to the wicked. I’d felt them coming before they arrived — of course, they hadn’t show up before I was ridiculed and outcast for predicting such a thing. People aren’t fond of being advised to behave better. In my experience, it’s often makes them behave worse, which is why I isolated myself a long time ago.
Most of my time in the woods has been solitary, so I haven’t seen many people or monsters up close. Until today. I mostly try to stay out of everybody’s way, and I definitely wasn’t expecting a monster to catch me in such compromising circumstances. The second he caught me threatening to harm another human, I thought for sure it would be my last moments alive, but here heis, putting the machete back in my hand. I don’t know if I should be worried or relieved, but some part of me understands it was my fate to be here in this moment with him.
Why?I don’t know. That’s where my confusion begins, because justlookingat this robust and handsome creature fills me with the kind of feelings I probably shouldn’t be having about a non-human male.
Sheer power rolls off him in waves that make me a little lightheaded — though that side effect could come from any number of things I feel in his presence. The well-defined muscles of his bare arms and chest, his dark shining pelt that feels like velvet against my skin, and the low, rich tones in which he speaks definitely have me flustered inside. As do his intense gazes, intoxicating scent, the fact that he’s undoubtedly lethal and has my enemy by the throat, plus there’s the impenetrable aura of safety he’s wrapped around me like a warm cloak. I find every one of these things unbelievably attractive on their own, but here they are in combination. The old me would have been on her knees begging to suck his cock for attention, but I’m not her anymore — thank God. I’ve experienced far too many betrayals to believe in love at first sight these days, though I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit to finding this monster more appealing than any man who has ever crossed my path.
He’s…everything.
The beast stills. He meets my gaze, and my face flushes with heat. I quickly push all inappropriate notions from my mind and act as nonchalant as I can.
He narrows his gaze, tilts his head slightly and scents the air. A low rumble reverberates from his chest, and he looks me over with even greater interest before he closes his eyes and emits a soft, subtle hum. He mutters something I would swear sounds like a prayer, and then he dangles my now purple-faced attacker in front of me and nods at my machete.
I gulp, lower the blade, and shake my head before gesturing for him to continue the justice he’s been tasked to deliver.
He bows graciously and gestures for me to turn away.
I do so willingly and cover my ears in preparation for any screaming, but there is none. When I turn back around, there is no body, no blood spatter, just the gorgeous monster with the dark brown eyes, watching me.
I grow hot under his gaze, and though I know I shouldn’t entertain the fantasies entering my mind, I lack the strength to fight them or look anywhere else. He is magnificent. From the tips of his twisted horns, to the dark, bloodied gash on his tidy-clawed toes.
Oh. I cover my mouth.
A pang of guilt hits me, and I step closer. “I really am sorry about your foot. Can I clean it up for you? My place isn’t far,” I say, pointing in that direction.
His expression suggests confusion, and I gesture at his injury before crouching to the ground and drawing a picture of a house in the dirt.
He grunts as if he understands and looks me up and down again.
Is that hunger in his eyes? What do monsters eat? Not people, that much I know — though to look at him, I could swear he wants to devour me. In a way I think I’d very much appreciate. I’m more convinced of it than ever when he wets his lips and motions for me to lead the way, but if he thinks I didn’t catch him adjusting his crotch before I turned, he’s mistaken. There was no missing the size of the bulge in his pants.
I sling my machete over my shoulder and start back toward home. A deep inner knowing assures me that I’m safe in his company, but that doesn’t mean I’m not nervous about the unknowns of the adventure I’m embarking upon. All I understand right now, is that my heart is unusually light andtingly, so I know I’m going in the right direction. Determined to trust the intuition that has kept me alive so far, I do my best to hide any reservations caused by overthinking, but it’s hard to tone down those thoughts.
Am I really doing this? Taking a monster back to my house? Where I can touch him, and perhaps hope he’ll touch me? Have I reached the peak of my loneliness and am so desperate for a safe, enjoyable interaction it no longer matters if it’s with a human? Am I hoping toacton my inappropriate thoughts? That would be…inappropriate, my mind insists.
I mean, it’s not like I have to do anythingwithhim, I argue back. I could simply clean and bandage his foot and then send him on his way. I nod to myself, quickly scale the cliff face, and hold back the brambles at the top to let the monster pass without gaining further damage to his beautiful pelt.
He watches me as if fascinated by everything I do, but he’s taking too long. If he stays exposed on the side of the small cliff as he is, my secret hideout won’t be so secret anymore.
“Hurry up,” I urge him, coaxing him upward with an urgent wave of my hand as I scan the forest below.
He frowns, closes his eyes a moment, and then shakes his head. His eyes open again, and with one hand clinging to the rocks, he makes a sweeping gesture with his other one. “Nah bre spavenzana.Frand.”
I stare down at him. Does he meanfriend?
I point at him. “Frand?”
“Tah-nes,” he says with a grin as he nods. He touches his chest. “Frand.” Then he gestures at the forest again. “Frand.”
I shake my head and make the same sweep of my hand at the forest. “Notfrand,” I correct him. “Full of assholes.”
