Did humans possess magic?
There was no other reason for his body to react the way it did to her touch… or whenever her gaze fell upon him.
She had somehow put a spell on him, and he was utterly enchanted by her…
Monte returned to the bathroom, her luggage rolling smoothly behind him and Lyall’s meticulously packaged medication tucked securely under his arm. As he pushed through the door, his gaze fell on her, as she stared at her surroundings, with a look of stunned awe etched into her features.
“This bathroom… it’s gorgeous, Monte,” Kiri murmured, her gaze tracing over the rustic charm of the stone tiles and carved cabinets, up to the skylight that filled the room with its natural sunlight. It was like a piece of outdoors had been cut from nature and placed into a bathroom, only more luxurious.
“Does your entire cabin look like this?”
A swell of pride overtook him, breaking through his stoic guard. And yet, his reaction was tinged with nervousness at the thought of her judging him… inadequate. “Um... yes... The rest of my home is similar. Is something wrong?”
She laughed, a chuckle that bubbled up from deep within her chest. It was a sound that filled the room with warmth, causing Monte’s heart to beat harder in his chest—a reaction only she could awaken from his body.
“No issue at all... I love it,” she said sincerely, causing Monte’s muscles to relax. “It’s beautiful.”
When she looked back at him, her eyes twinkled with newfound respect or maybe admiration. He couldn’t quite tell. But whatever it was, it made him feel more appreciated, even though she was a human.
A female Minotaur would declare whether his home was worthy and demand for him to take her, to seal their lives together—to create a family.
A mate and a family—two things he thought he would never have, and yet…
Regardless, Monte knew that he was once again letting his instincts and thoughts run wild.
Kiri wasn’t a monster, and it was clear she was from the city, and thrived there, by her lack of survival skills when it came to scaling the mountain. The evidence for this came from what he had acquired about her, as well as how she had traversed on foot from her rental.
Everything she owned screamed trendy businesswoman, from the designer brand named clothing that he had only seen on the vidscreen to all the accessories that went with the outfits he’d found.
Why would she be interested in staying with him, in the middle of the mountains, when she came from a more active place?
Monte carefully applied the salve onto Kiri’s ankle while gently securing the cold compress with bandages. Every wince from her made him twitch with concern as his large fingers worked delicately, making sure he didn’t accidentally hurt her with his brute strength.
Her scent mixing with the peppermint from the salve was an intoxicating concoction that made his head spin, while her blush intensified in contrast to her fair complexion.
Every squirm she made beneath his touch, stirred a surge of something primal deep within him. He was torn between the desire to aid the fragile human female under his care and the need to respond to her implicit calls for more than just physical aid.
“It would be easier if you kept still,” Monte rumbled, struggling with his beastly instincts, attempting to concentrate on the task at hand. Her hazel eyes met his, wide and full of an unnameable emotion that made his heart clench. Grunting, he forced himself to continue his work, fingers kneading her smooth flesh with utmost care.
Her grasp tightened on the edge of the bench she was sitting on, and her fingers turned white as they dug into the wooden edge. His gaze flickered over to her face as her body began to relax as she leaned against the wall, her breaths becoming slow and rhythmic—soothing even.
“Monte,” she moaned softly, biting down on her lower lip as he continued applying the salve to her swollen ankle. The noise was like a punch to his gut. His pulse quickened at the sound of his name slipping so effortlessly from between those tempting lips. A wave of heat washed over him; it was a reaction he never thought he would experience.
A female moaning his name.
Her cheeks darkened further under his intent stare, but he noticed how she didn’t pull away. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and gave him a determined look. It was as though she was daring him, challenging him in a way that sent another tingle down his spine.
“Don’t you dare stop,” she growled, reaching out to grab one of his curved horns. “You don’t understand how good it feels after feeling nothing but pain.”
As her fingers traced the curvature of his horn, he felt a jolt of electricity shoot straight to his core, making him shudder. Thismere human was stirring feelings in him—forbidden desires—that he hadn’t thought possible. But as she looked at him with an intensity that matched his own, Monte wondered if maybe—just maybe—she was as affected by him, as she was affecting him—that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“Yes, Female.” He huffed, his tail swinging wildly behind him as he adjusted his stav, which sprung to life and stiffened as it hung between his thighs. Something about her command made him want to please her more—to earn his name from her lips again.
Her hand dropped to his arm, and she began to idly trace circles. Her touch ignited heat onto his arm, an unfamiliar sensation that made him crave more—to feel more.
As he worked on her foot, Monte found himself lost in the sight of her. From the way her hair shone, glowing under the natural sunlight from the skylight to her slightly parted lips that drew him in like a sailor lost to a siren’s song.
He was already on his knees, tending her body, it wouldn’t take much to get him to worship her.
