Beauty’s Monstrous Demons (Fairy Tales With A Monstrous Twist)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

LORELEI

Y awning, I head out the back door of the club to walk to my car. My pepper spray is attached to a keychain, and I have that tightly in my hand, with the thumb hovering over the button as I hurry.

I’m exhausted after the long day, and I’m dreading driving home. My feet drag despite the fact that I’m trying to walk quickly. Samael is leaning against the new SUV that he bought, smiling when he sees me.

“Long night?” he asks, taking me in.

“Long everything,” I breathe, feeling every bit of exhaustion begin to crash down on me.

“I’ll drive,” he says immediately, tugging the keys away from me. “First, come give your alpha a hug, Baby Girl.”

I immediately melt into his body, enjoying his strong arms as they wrap around me. We’re the only ones out here at the moment, because I leave an hour before close due to school.

Hailee said that she didn’t mind, and I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I also think that things continue to get kinkier the last hour the club is open. I don’t think my libido could take being surrounded by all of that sexual energy.

“Don’t cry,” he whispers. Fuck, I’m so tired, I’ve started leaking everywhere.

“Long day,” I sniff.

“Baby, you don’t have to work this hard,” he reminds me.

“Yes, I do,” I argue.

Unlocking the door, Samael eases it open with me still against him and lifts my ass onto the seat.

“I’m going to firmly disagree, while still understanding that you think differently,” he says.

“Do you know how to drive?” I ask, changing the subject.

Snorting, he tugs on one of my curls.

“Yes, brat, I do. Though I honestly don’t do it often. I understand the mechanics of it and the rules of the road,” he says.

“At least if we crash, you can save us both,” I grumble, letting go of him to pull my legs into the car.

“Fuck, you’re feisty and tired tonight,” he mutters, closing the door as I smirk.

The tears are starting to dry, and I feel a little silly as I swipe one of them away. The exhaustion of doing so much every day is getting to me, but I still need to work so I can have a nest egg for when the shit hits the fan.

It always happens in some way. That’s the way life is. I need to plan for the “what ifs”, even if they never happen. There’s an anxious energy that fills me when there’s not enough money in my dresser drawer. Right now, I have five hundred dollar bundles wrapped in rubber bands hidden in a shoe box in Phenex’s closet.

It’s not a great life plan.

“Home we go,” Samael says, getting comfortable in the driver's seat as he adjusts everything. Our size differences are hysterical really, there’s no way he’ll be able to drive us home otherwise.

Finally, he puts the car into reverse and turns to look over his shoulder as he drives the car back out of the parking spot.

“How was work?” he asks once he’s finished and puts the vehicle into drive.

“Busy,” I admit. “Fridays typically are also theme nights, which brings in more people.”

“What kind of theme does a strip club have?” Samael asks with a surprised laugh.

“It’s Valentine’s Day, so it was a ‘Love Hurts’ type of theme,” I explain with a giggle. “The girls all dressed up in red and black leather.”

“I should have expected that,” he mutters. “You’re off Sunday, right?”

“I am, but I’m going to use the day to get ahead. If this past week is any indication, it’s just going to get more intense,” I say.

“That’s fine, but you’re sleeping in,” he insists. “Do you like French Toast?”

“When I’ve had it, I have,” I hedge, wondering where he’s going with this.

“I’ll tell Phenex to make some, and you can at least be fed before you go off,” he says.

I wasn’t expecting that. My lips widen into a smile as I nod. Well okay then. “Has the mechanic called you yet?” Samael asks.

“No,” I say, watching as he drives. “I was going to call tomorrow to see what the status is.”

He’s actually very intent on the road, maybe a touch nervous, but a good driver. Even though I know he doesn’t drive much, I don’t want to continue borrowing his car. I hate imposing.

“Take a deep breath for me, okay? I have bad news about Bertie. I’ve been calling Joe pretty regularly to check on the old girl,” he says.

“Ugh, she’s going to cost a fortune to fix, isn’t she?” I wail.

“Worse,” he says. “She’s going to need to be scrapped because of how much work she needs. A lot of her bodywork is rusted, and she’s going to need a new transmission.”

“I can’t afford a new car,” I groan, the tears welling up again.

Fuck, I was really hoping for a different verdict.

“Due to this,” he says, raising his voice slightly to be heard over me. “I have a present for you.”

“Present?” I ask, blinking.

“Yes. You’re sitting in it. Happy Valentine’s Day,” he says smiling.

Looking around, my eyes widen.

“The SUV?” I ask.

“Yes. I suppose she’s going to need a name, though. Don’t you think?” he asks.

This is…

“Samael,” I breathe. “A car is a huge gift, Valentine’s Day or not.”

“I believe in large, sweeping gestures,” he says.

You’d think that I would know that by now. My jaw is practically on the floor regardless of this.

“But, but. Samael, seriously?” I ask, shaking my head.

This is the safest vehicle that I’ve ever driven. The gas is better too, and I’ve been kind of sad to give her back.

My mind is reeling.

“ Can I accept a car from Samael, Phenex?” I ask through the bond, knowing he’ll hear it.

“ He’ll be really sad if you say no. Samael has been very proud of himself for his gift,” he explains. “ I know it’s a big deal, but you deserve good things, baby.”

“Thank you,” I say to both of them. Phenex has a good point. I don’t know how to accept good things, because I’ve never really had them. “This is amazing.”

“You want to tell me no, huh?” Samael teases me gently.

“It’s not that. I think I’m shocked that you’d want to give me something as big as this car,” I explain. “It’s like my brain froze for a second. This is absolutely incredible.”

“You work your ass off, and I want you to be safe,” he says, taking my hand to squeeze it. “You’re important to me and I love you.”

Throwing caution to the wind, I say, “I love you, too. So much. It’s overwhelming, huge, and kind of scares the shit out of me.”

That was more than I expected to say.

“Breathe,” he purrs, the rumble deep in his chest. I love when he does this. When I’m really stressed out, it always helps so much.

My lungs release the clenching pressure they’ve been holding, and I take a deep breath for my alpha.

“Again,” he encourages, nodding as his eyes remain on the road. “That’s my girl. I love that you love me so much. I know it’s scary, especially with so much up in the air. We’re in this together.”

I think that’s what scares me. I hate that my fate is tied to his because I don’t want him to get hurt.

Yet, I nod and let myself release some of that anxiety. I need to learn to enjoy the present, or else I’m wasting my life. I never want to do that.

Not when it could be gone in an instant. Fatalistic? Possibly, but it’s also practical.

“So what are you naming your new car?” he asks. “I already transferred everything into your name.”

No more tears. Nope. Fuck, Samael is a rare breed.

“Street Demon,” I tease him, smirking as he snickers. “There’s no way I could call my car that with a straight face. She’s definitely more reliable than Bertie. I’ll call her Miss Daisy.”

“Your mind is fascinating,” he mutters, turning into the university. “You had an entire conversation with yourself.”

“It’s a gift,” I say with a shrug.

“Alecto was still at the apartment when I left. I don’t know if he’ll still be there,” Samael says. “We finished going through the wagon of everything I packed from your dorm.”

“I’m sure a lot of things needed to be trashed,” I sigh. “As you can see, I’m terribly attached to things.”

“If there were holes in things, they did go into the trash,” he says. “Unless they were things that obviously had sentimental value. Your boots are also back from the cobbler, and ready for you. They’re perfect now.”

“You’re going to spoil me,” I tell him, grinning.

“Good, you deserve it.”

Samael finds a parking spot near the apartment building, and chuckles to himself.

“By the way, Miss Daisy has a teacher parking permit,” he says. “Now you won’t have to park so far away from home.”

“Now that’s a fucking present,” I say, happiness bubbling inside of me.

Often, I have to park a lot farther away, and then Samael will transport us to the apartment since it’s so far of a walk. I love that I’ll have the ability to park right next door.

Opening the door, Samael and I get out of the vehicle, linking hands as we walk to the apartment building. Home has a really nice ring to it.

No one is around since it’s so late, and we walk together to the apartment. Samael and I both have keys now, but Phenex must have been waiting for us, because he opens the door immediately.

“Welcome back,” he says, tugging me into a hug. “All of your things are clean and are hanging up or in a closet. I feel like you’re fully moved in now.”

“I do too,” I mumble against his chest.

“Pretty sure you’re suffocating her,” Alecto says as Samael closes the door behind us.

“She’s fine,” Phenex says, though he steps back and looks down at me to check.

“I’m tired, but good,” I agree.

“I want to give you something, and then I fully support going to bed,” he says.

“I’m staying over,” Alecto adds from behind Phenex. “I don’t feel like driving back to town, and I miss you.”

“Phenex snores,” Samael says with a shrug.

“You’re staying as in you’re staying?” I ask, stumbling over my words.

“If you mean that I plan to fight the bed hogs, yes,” he says.

Even though it’s happened a time or two before, I bounce on my toes with a nod.

“Good,” I say, yawning. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Alecto says. “I brought you roses. I didn’t catch you before you went to work.”

Glancing at the table by the door, I see them. They’re not just a few roses, they’re a huge bouquet.

“Wow,” I whisper. “They’re beautiful, thank you.”

Phenex had left while I was speaking to Alecto, and returns from the bedroom with a garment bag in his hand.

“There’s a party in a couple of weeks, and it’s for a university fundraising event,” he says. “Would you like to be my date?”

“Is that appropriate as your student?” I ask immediately, feeling dumb.

“It is when you’re going as my girlfriend,” he says. “I will be speaking to President Christa soon about the change in our status. The rules in our bylaws state that as long as I explain to her that we’re seriously dating, that there’s nothing the university can do.”

“Even if you’re my teacher?” I ask, my fingers closing in worry.

“If she decides to say that the inappropriate nature exists due to my position of authority over you, I’ll suggest transferring you to another teacher’s class,” he says. “I’ll hate not getting to see you as my student, but if it evaporates her possible arguments, I’ll do it.”

“Do you want to see the dress?” Samael asks, lips twitching.

“There are shoes too,” Phenex adds, cheeks heating. He’s so cute, and definitely put thought into this.

It’s been one of my plaguing worries. Balancing on the tightrope of hiding my secret as an omega without being a secret is a sensitive subject.

“I would like to see, please,” I say excitedly, despite my exhaustion.

Opening the bag, Phenex shows off a shimmering strapless midnight blue gown. Samael leans over to help, pulling out the shoes at the bottom of the bag that are black leather pumps.

“Wow,” I whisper. “It’s beautiful. Guys, this feels like an over the top Valentine’s Day.”

“Gives us something to strive to outdo,” Alecto says with a shrug. “I have room to stretch my gift giving skills.”

“Those roses are gorgeous,” I remind him, shaking my head. “I think the three of you have more than spoiled me. I am definitely ready to go to bed with you guys. I need snuggles.”

“I have new pajamas laid out for you,” Samael says knowingly.

It’s silly. Alecto and I have had sex, but I don’t think I can starfish in bed with him while naked. Walking past them before giving them each a kiss, I enter the bedroom to find the softest pair of bamboo pajamas that I’ve ever worn. It’s almost like not wearing anything.

I think this is very close to being the best day of my life. Here’s to more of these.