“Get a grip, Kiri,” she muttered to herself, running her fingers through her hair. “You can’t go falling for him so quickly. You barely know him, and yet, you were foolish enough to kiss him.”
The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls, mirroring the turmoil within her.
Kiri moved to the small window, her fingers tracing the cool glass as she stared at the blanket of stars in the night sky.
She let out a shaky breath, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions Monte had stirred within her. His kindness, his understanding—it was more than she had ever expected to find here.
Her mind raced with thoughts of him—the way he looked at her, the feel of his hand on hers, the sincerity in his voice when he told her she deserved better. A wave of desire washed over her, and she tried to remind herself that they barely knew each other.
She pressed her forehead against the window, the coolness soothing her flushed skin. The memory of Monte’s touch lingered, a phantom sensation that refused to fade.
Her mind raced, replaying their conversation: the way his eyes softened when he spoke to her, the way his touch sent sparks through her veins. Her heart pounded in her chest, an erratic rhythm that matched the chaos of her thoughts. She wanted more—more moments like tonight, more of his comforting presence…
She had never expected to feel this way about anyone again, let alone a Minotaur creature like Monte.
“Damn it,” she whispered under her breath, frustration bubbling within her. Why did matters of the heart have to be so complicated? She chewed on her lip, her thoughts racing with uncertainty.
“Kiri, you’re overthinking this,” she chided herself, shaking her head. “Just go with the flow and see where it leads.”
Sighing, she began unpacking her suitcase, carefully placing each item in its designated spot, as she tried to clear her roaming thoughts. As she folded her clothes, she couldn’t help but wonder what Monte was doing at that moment. Was he thinking about her too?
“Don’t be foolish,” she muttered, folding a sweater with trembling hands. But even as she tried to distract herself withthe mundane task, her mind kept drifting back to him—to his strong arms, his warm touch, and the tenderness in his voice when he spoke to her. “He was just trying to cheer me up.”
She folded the plaid shirt and tucked it away, closing the drawer with a soft thud.
Her fingers traced the delicate embroidery on the bedspread, the threads whispering stories of its maker.
She eased herself onto the bed, the mattress giving under her weight. The scent of Monte had subtly invaded the corners of the cabin and now clung to the blanket cocooning her. Earthy. Pine and musk. A hint of something wild yet oddly intimate—his essence in its rawest form. She closed her eyes, letting it envelop her, wrapping around her like a phantom embrace. Her heart fluttered at the thought that he was here with her in some tangible form even when they were apart.
She turned on her side, hugging her pillow closer as if seeking solace from its soft warmth. Her thoughts took flight; fantasies filled with tender moments between her and Monte started to paint themselves on the canvas of her mind.
Images came alive—sharing meals together under starlit skies; Monte’s strong arms around her as they danced around a bonfire; flashbacks of their conversation during dinner came back to her in vivid detail and tantalizing what-ifs.
Rationality told her that such dreams were folly—but her heart dared to dream, dared to hope.
“Monte,” she whispered into the darkness as his scent surrounded her, providing a sense of security that lulled her into a peaceful sleep.
Nine
Monte
Monte stepped outside the cabin, needing to clear his head after finishing cleaning up after dinner.
Kiri’s scent still clung to his nostrils—that intoxicating blend of a field of flowers that made his pulse race. It lingered, clinging to him like a second skin, igniting a fire in his loins that refused to be extinguished. Her presence had become an almost unbearable temptation, a constant reminder of what he could not have—or perhaps, what he dared not reach for.
Out here in the midst of nature, he tried to breathe in lungfuls of crisp mountain air to drive it from his mind.
But it was no use, not even the night air could help him—the tension in his body remained stubbornly knotted.
The sky was a tapestry of stars, each one glistening, as if they were trying to outdo each other to grab his attention. The approaching full moon hung low, its silvery light washing over his fur, whispering promises of lust and power.
He could feel its ethereal pull deep in his bones, heightening every sense, every desire of his—transforming his body into its mating prime.
Monte gripped the porch railing, his claws digging into the weathered wood as he fought against the primal urges surging through his body.
Images of her flashed through his mind—the way she smiled at him over dinner, the swell of her breasts straining against her sundress, the curve of her hips as she walked to her room using the stick he’d carved for her.
Monte shook his head, trying to banish the torturous thoughts, but they persisted, fueling the ache in his groin.
