After a quick shower, I went to tuck in my little Monkey for the night. He was so excited about his own room, filled with toys and decorated with all the colorful drawings he’d made with Angel, that convincing him to sleep was a challenge.
When the door squeaks open, I look away from a peacefully sleeping August to see Angel quietly stepping inside. So he really meant it when he said I had twenty minutes to lull Monkey to sleep before he came to get me.
I love how clingy he is.
Angel strides to the bed, scoops me up, and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I bite the side of my cheek to stop myself from squealing because my little werewolf has better hearing than most kids his age.
Angel quietly shuts the door behind him and walks down the hallway casually, like carrying me over his broad shoulders is fun for him. This is the second time I’ve been in this position. Should I be worried that Angel enjoys carrying me around like a prize?
“Will you stop stealing my hoodies? I literally just bought this one.”
“Nope.”
As if expecting my answer, he gives me a sharp smack on the butt that makes me gasp.
Did he just—? No, he didn’t. He actuallyspankedme?!
Once we’re inside his room, Angel carefully sets me back on steady ground and disappears into his closet like nothing happened. I keep standing in the middle of the room, unsure of how I’m supposed to feel about it.
Question for Seiji: Should that have felt as good as it did, or have I lost my mind?
Angel comes back a minute later and sits on the edge of the bed, motioning for me to sit between his legs on the floor.
“If this is a sex thing, you’ll have to wait another week. Seiji hasn’t covered that chapter yet.” I don’t say it out loud, but I’m not sure how this position would even work.
I lean my head back to look up at Angel upside down, only to find him staring at me with his mouth wide open. “What?!”
“Yeah… Seiji is teaching me about intimate stuff so I don’t look like a complete idiot when we do… things.” I cringe saying it out loud, but Seiji insists that clear communication is very important in the bedroom.
I’m caught off guard when Angel loosens the messy bun I threw together and gently begins combing my hair with a wide-tooth wooden brush.
“We are not doing anything intimate anytime soon. Definitely not until we’re completely comfortable with each other. And tell me, why is Seiji teaching you about that stuff instead of your mate?”
He is patient as he brushes my hair, even though it’s taking longer than it should because my lazy ass didn’t feel like dealing with my waves tonight.
“The love interest isn’t supposed to do that, Angel. In the movies, it’s always the best friend who helps with these things. And sometimes the guy teases the girl for being a 20-year-old virgin loser,” I mumble, a little embarrassed, but I’ve learned that honesty and good communication make a healthy relationship.
I’m so fucking mature.
“I would never make fun of you, sweetheart.And I don’t mind you asking Seiji, but you know you can come to me for anything, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He kisses the top of my head.
“So, if this is not sexy time, what exactly are you doing withmy hair?” Angel chuckles, pressing another kiss on the side of my head.
Sometimes, I swear he laughs and kisses me instead of saying, ‘Nevaeh, you’re an idiot.’
“I’m braiding it. You usually leave it down because you don’t know what else to do with it, but I know you hate when it gets in your face while you sleep… so I’m solving the problem.”
A lump forms in my throat, making it hard to swallow. I throw my head back, and Angel leans in to kiss my pout. He always knows what I need before I do.
Angel gently smooths down my waves and starts braiding my hair, careful not to tug.
I remember when Visha used to cut random chunks of my hair. She loved using my hair to control me, pulling too hard to demand submission or letting her pets run their filthy hands through it. I still recoil in disgust every time I think about it.
No matter how hard I try to live in the moment, the smallest things drag me back into that familiar, suffocating darkness. I dread the day I’ll have to face Visha again. I torture myself day and night imagining all the ways she could hurt my baby, break him like she broke me.
