“You smacked me!” I accuse.
“And I’ll do it again.”
“I need to cook-”
Another hard crack.
“Mei, can you hunt?” Canto asks softly, like the voice of reason. I don’t trust him at all.
“Of course, I can.”
“Can you do lots of other things, like cross worlds, give out incredible orgasms, and tame six of the most stubborn ocean monsters that ever existed?”
“Well, yes, but-”
“That was a yes or no question. You can’t cook, but you can do other stuff. Why don’t you allow us the pleasure of providing you with food?”
I open my mouth to argue when Reed hisses.
“One more ridiculous word, and I’m going to smack you with Canto’s electric cock and make sure you can’t sit for a week.”
I consider that and decide wisely to stop arguing. “I just wanted to do something nice for you.”
Reed groans. He cups my cheeks and presses his lips to mine. “You saved us; it doesn’t get nicer than that. But if you really must know, you make us better. You make us kinder, happier, and more tolerant of the world. You make me curious and excited and content. Mei, I fucking love you. We all do. That’s all we need. To love you and be loved by you.”
He pauses while I try and wrap my head around everything he’s said.
“Do you love us?”
“I came and rescued you. I love you. Yes, so much,” I stutter out.
“Good. Now let us make you feel good while Ronit and Leaf go and get food,” Reed says dismissively and stalks out of the room.
I’m spun around and shoved over the kitchen table. Canto runs his hands up the back of my thigh and over my ass.
“You are fucking perfect, Mei. Everything about you is perfect.”
He hesitates.
“Now change shape.”
I tense. “What?”
“I want to see that beautiful monster.”
When I still hesitate, he leans forward and kisses my shoulder.
“Trust me?”
It’s not even a question. Of course, I do. I let myself change shape, my limbs growing longer, my horns tearing into existence. The mask changes to fit perfectly, which I’m grateful for, but then Canto has me up and facing him, and he reaches out, and he takes the mask off.
I don’t try to stop him, even though I feel naked.
“You are beautiful,” Reed whispers as he returns from the other part of the house.
I believe he means it, and I glow inside.
Canto presses his body against mine. We’re the same height now, and his lips graze mine. Touching, tasting.
