“Hey, big guy, it’s alright. If you start making it again, I would love to play with it. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“It’s not?” he muttered, his lower index fingers tapping together.
“No! You DO not be ashamed of who you are. In fact, we should talk about you opening up your own live stream. Everyone would love to talk to a person who thinks of themselves as THE Mothman.” I winked.
Atlas tilted his head, his antennae twitching. “Truly? You think so?”
“I know so. But we will have to limit it, because I still want a lot of you to myself. Since we are matched now, I consider us on our honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon? What is this term? I am not familiar with it.”
I rubbed my hands together mischievously.
“I do not think I like this look. Maybe we should head back to town.” Atlas leaned away from me, his clawed foot hanging off the edge of the branch.
“No, no, why don’t you stay awhile?” I cackled.
Atlas let out a chirp that sounded like laughter. "By the Darkness, what have I gotten myself into?" he murmured, gathering me against his chest with multiple arms before stepping off the branch. We plummeted for one heart-stopping moment until his massive wings unfurled and caught the breeze.
Chapter Thirty-One
Atlas
My wings folded as I touched down outside the cabin, cradling Kassie against my chest. A warmth spread through me unlike anything I'd felt since drinking from the waters. Whatever came before that, those memories I'd buried deep, seemed to matter less with her in my arms. She never pressed me about that time, as if understanding some doors were better left closed.
She never pushed me to cross that river, to venture into those shadowed memories that I could hardly remember. As ifshe sensed that what lay on the other bank I'd worked hard to escape.
Kassie kicked her feet playfully as I carried her across my territory. The sprigs of grass tickled between my talons as we reached the door.
“The honeymoon is where we spend some time together, all alone,” she said, twirling a tuft of my hair around her finger near my neck. “And do naughty things together until we know every inch of each other’s body.”
I swallowed heavily and already found myself becoming aroused. Who was I really kidding, though? My dick was already hard. The only reason it hadn’t slipped out of my slit was because I had her plump ass right in front of it.
My soul didn’t care; my perfect match cared for me the way I was.
I hesitated at the door. "I must warn you..." My voice trailed off as I pushed the door open. Like all monsters’ homes in the forest, we never bothered with locks. After all, what idiot would trespass where creatures like me made their homes? Any intruder would quickly become prey. Our claws and fangs ensured that.
A terrible thought came to mind. My female did not have my strength. No human did. Not in this forest. She couldn’t defend herself.
Locks! I needed to get locks. Giant, huge monster locks.
Any monster could overpower her easily. I could overpower her easily, pin her down and rut her until she submitted to me.
Woah! I just derailed there for a second.
Lucien’s scent overpowered the doorway. It lingered near the door, remnants of him still clinging to the cabin. “Your things have already been cleaned out of your home and brought here.”
Kassie gasped and gazed around the living room. Her bookcases, boxes of books and belongings, and her computerhad all been packed with care and placed in the corner of the room, ready to be set up. All we had to do was unpack everything and arrange it the way she wanted.
“I could even add on to the cabin, give you a bigger space all your own. And don’t worry, I asked about the internet speed, and it’s fast. I don’t know the fancy words.”
Kassie’s mouth opened several times, and I began to panic. “Is this not right? Are you upset?” I rushed toward her things, eager to show her that nothing was damaged. “Is this not what you want?” My panic grew. “I know we’ve moved faster than human relationships, but…”
This is it. I fucked up. She’s going to want to move back in with Harlow. I knew I shouldn’t have just assumed, but the mayor was pushing it. I didn’t want the fox shifter trying to take her either. It was my selfishness that moved her in. I needed her here, where I could keep her safe, where I could have her with me at all times. Kassie was mine, a part of me, and I couldn’t let someone try to take her from me. She was part of my soul.
Kassie closed her eyes, and a faint smile graced her lips. Her hand cupped my cheek. “If you keep flapping your wings, we are going to start flying in our house.”
I stood there, heart hammering against my ribs, certain she was about to tell me I'd crossed a line, until her words finally registered.
