And maybe have a chance to start over.
“Don’t cut yourself short,” Kiri replied, brushing a long strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “You’ll get used to it with time.”
“Maybe I don’t want to learn how to do it.” Monte huffed, leaning close into her touch. “If things work out how you believe it will, what would it take for me to hire you to do it and take part of the profits?”
His towering form hovering over her didn’t scare her.
Instead, Kiri felt a strange warmth spreading through her.
His muscular brawn, covered in dark fur, and the pair of impressive horns that crowned his head stirred an unfamiliar sensation in her. She could feel the warmth radiating off his body, a living furnace that only amplified the tingling sense of need coursing through her veins.
His dark brown fur looked soft under the sunlight beaming down from the skylights, casting long shadows that somehow made him look even more alluring.
There was an undeniable strength in his sturdy body, but it was his eyes—those soft, understanding eyes—that truly held her captive.
The room was filled with the heady scent of his masculinity—a wild, untamed fragrance that made her heart flutter uncontrollably. It was an intoxicating blend of wood, earthy leather, and the faintest hint of something filled with raw power. It was a smell unique to Monte. A smell she found herself growing fond of.
Despite the strange circumstances that led to their association, Kiri found herself spellbound by Monte’s unexpected tenderness. Yet even as she felt a budding kinship with him, she couldn’t shake off a lingering uncertainty.
She was realistic, acknowledging the insurmountable differences between them. Would it be fair to either of them? The prospect of life alongside Monte was enticing but not devoid of challenges. But then she looked up into his warm eyes again, seeing an echo of her own loneliness resurface there and felt an irresistible pull.
Her mind kept circling back to one daring question: Could she be a Minotaur’s mate?
She wanted to say that she could, but she had her doubts.
Would he become tired of her, like her ex? Would he start to resent her because she was human?
Could they even make love? Or bring children into the world?
She didn’t know if she could go through another heartbreak, especially after the drastic change of life she would have to make in order to live here.
“Let’s see how we work together first.” Kiri cleared her throat, her cheeks flushed as she grabbed her vidtablet and began tapping away. “And then we can discuss our future plans.”
Monte’s eyes narrowed as he scanned her face, and then nodded. “Okay.”
“First things first, we need to choose a platform for your store.” Kiri gestured for him to join her at the workbench.
His large frame loomed over her, their bodies brushing against each other as they focused on the screen before them. Goosebumps prickled across Kiri’s skin, but she forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand.
“Now, I’ve been researching e-commerce platforms, and I have my favorites. I believe I’ve found the perfect one for us.” She clicked open a webpage, explaining animatedly, “See, this one is super user-friendly, has great tools for organizing inventory, and offers lots of customization options so we can make the store reflect your unique style.”
His brow furrowed. “Customization?”
“Yeah.” She nodded, fingers dancing across the screen. “We want the online store to reflect you—your brand. Look at this one.” She tilted her laptop, highlighting a sleek interface. “It’s intuitive, has great customer support, and offers tons of design flexibility. It’s perfect for highlighting each piece’s uniqueness, especially with its 3D imagery and room projection placement.”
“How’s that possible?” he rumbled, genuinely intrigued as he leaned closer. “Show me.”
“See here,” Kiri continued, swiping through features. “We can organize your inventory by categories—furniture, sculptures, custom orders. And the best part? We can include stories behind each piece. People love knowing the history and inspiration behind what they buy.”
“Stories, huh?” Monte’s voice softened further, a hint of nostalgia creeping in. “Customers are interested in them?”
“You would be surprised. People like feeling connected to pieces they buy, especially unique ones.” Kiri grinned, locking her gaze onto his. “Now, let’s talk logistics. Photos, descriptions, pricing—all crucial. But first, setting up the basics.”
“Basics,” he echoed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’m trusting you, Kiri, because I feel like you’re tossing me in the deep open water with no life jacket.”
“If you listen to me, I won’t have to do that,” she teased, elbowing him playfully. “Now, let’s get down to business. We’ll start by setting up the store’s layout. I’ll handle the techy bits, and you can provide input on the aesthetics.”
“Sounds fair,” Monte agreed, crossing his arms. “Just don’t make it too fancy.”
