Monster
Eloise
This is the part in the movies where the nightmare ends and the female lead wakes up screaming. Needing reassurance, she jumps out of bed and rushes to the kitchen. Where she’ll find her family and tell them about how horrible it was. I want to do the same now that I’m awake. But this isn’t a movie and this monster is still here. Blood pounds in my ears, my heart races, and a shiver runs down my spine.
I’ve read almost every monster romance from accountant gargoyles to billionaire krakens. The ones who profess their undying love and then claim her. But that’s fiction and I’m very much in danger. I could smell him. Sweat and something familiar—blood. The shadows shift, almost bowing to make room as it moves closer. Its claws scraped the floor and I held my breath as it took one last step toward me.
Its face became visible in the moonlight that filtered in. The head of a wolf connected to a furry body. Black eyes, sharp teeth, and unlike the books I’ve read, this one isn’t staring at me with anything but primal hunger. He might also be cute—if not for the sharp teeth protruding from his jaws. My lips parted as he straightened. Up, up, up he went until I had to crane my neck. His ears just about touched the ceiling.
Frozen, I struggled to figure out how I’m going to survive. He could end my life without even trying. Inhaling a lungful of air, I scream. Louder than I have in my entire life. Any second now, my dad would hear me, burst through the door, and come to my rescue. We had guns. My only chance of survival hindered on if he remembered to grab one. The monster opened his massive jaws and saliva dribbled down in thick ropes.
“Useless. No one will hear you,” a low, gravelly voice filled the room. My scream died and I gagged. His breath was foul. I might have actually gone insane. The monster just spoke and I’m more worried about how bad his breath is. Of all the things to focus on, my brain latches onto that. Crazy. This may not be the charming monster I’ve fantasized about, but if he can talk, maybe I can reason with him.
Wait.
“What do you mean? Wh-what did you do?” My voice cracked.
Having a conversation with a monster seemed like the last thing I should be doing. But I needed to get away. A small voice, probably my conscience, urged me to prepare to make a dash for the door. Fear for my family made me do the last thing I wanted. As unnatural as it felt, I forced myself to scoot closer, and did everything I could to avoid looking toward the exit.
Before I could even attempt an escape, I was shoved down and the monster swooped down on me. With nowhere to look but up, I stared into the face of death. The bed creaked beneath his large frame. I was powerless.
At first, I’d assumed he was a four-legged monster. I’d been wrong. He stood on two, and it somehow made this scarier. A normal woman would have begged for her life and made promises to do anything for the chance to live. I had a feeling my pleas wouldn’t make a difference. He wouldn’t let me go. If anything, they’d egg him on. The rumors of monsters had been real. And I had one in my bed. I had to be smart—smarter than the women who came before me.
“My family,” I rasped. The monster snarled and I flinched. He snapped his canines only inches from my face. Bits of spittle hit my cheek. Maybe it was the years I dedicated to reading monster smut, but I felt prepared for this moment: I stilled. It was the right thing to do. He lowered his head and seconds later, his muzzle brushed against my face.
“Dead,” he growled.
My heart sank into my stomach. That couldn’t be possible. I refused to believe it. And yet, I’ve never felt as afraid as I did at this very moment. Not for myself, but for Archie. I opened my mouth and closed it. Wheezing as his weight pushed down on me, the stench of death filled my lungs as I desperately pulled in air. I grasped at his furry biceps, squeezing as hard as I could.
“Should kill you. I know what you are.” At his words, tears blurred my vision. The thought of dying without knowing if my baby brother still lived haunted me.
“Please.”
I wasn’t sure if I begged for death, truth, or both.
He bucked his hip and my mouth dropped open. He was nothing like Cohen. He was nothing like Cohen. To my horror, I realized there wasn’t just one bulge digging into my pelvic bone, but two. The only thing separating me from him was my satin shorts. Not only did I fear for Archie, but I now had something else to worry about as I lay trapped beneath him. His claws trailed up my thigh, across my exposed belly, and up my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
“Mine.”
I have to get out of here.
Hitting everywhere I could, my fist bounced against his chest. It didn’t do anything. I aimed for his snout, and this time, he stopped me. His hand swallowed mine, claws dug into skin.
“Tell me, do you taste as good as you smell?”
I threw my head back, and a sound between a scream and a groan filled the room. I was wrong to think I could reason with him. He moved off me, shifting to his knees, his two cocks bobbed between us.
“You keep those away from m—” Before I could finish, I cried out in pain as he tightened his grip on my hip and the other on my thigh. Spread wide, I was lifted and placed on his shoulders. My legs dangled against his back. Fur kissed the flesh where we connected. I pushed at his snout, but he nudged my hand away and tore through the thin fabric between my thighs, leaving me bare and exposed.
“No!” I screamed, shoving at his muzzle as his snout slid up my core. Claws pierced flesh and hip.
“You did this. Your scent lit the flame. Now I burn for no one but you. If you want out, you will be still while I taste what’s mine or scream while I claim you.”
Reading it and living it were two different experiences. I’ve always wanted to be ravaged by a monster, and right now, I had no choice. There was nothing for me to do but obey. I ran my fingers through his hair and held on. Squeezing my eyes tight, I willed myself elsewhere. I didn’t want to be here. As he slid his nuzzle against me, I envisioned myself waking up to this being a bad dream. His tongue lapping at my core and the jolt that ran through me when he flicked my clit made it hard. I didn’t want to feel the things he did to me.
I will not die tonight.
I need to get out.
I will see Archie again.
His tongue glided up my exposed sex and my body jerked as his chest rumbled in appreciation. I bit down on my bottom lip until it bled. I didn’t want this, and yet, when he dragged his tongue ass to clit, all I could do was moan. I squeezed my thighs as he edged me. My hips moved on their own accord. I shouldn’t have liked it. Having no choice but to feel things, I widened for him. He flattened his tongue and I threw my head back. My mouth fell open in a silent scream as he speared into me over and over again. Thrust over the edge, my orgasm gushed onto his tongue. He didn’t stop. In, out, in, out, in, out . He licked it all up.
“Hard not to bite. Even a small one would damage you.”
My vision goes white and I scream as white hot pain pricks my thigh. When the fog clears, I look down in time to see his canines pulling out from the one untouched by my cutting. Blood drips from the puncture wounds. With a swipe of his tongue, it disappears and then I’m falling. I cry out as he grabs my waist and throws me effortlessly over his shoulder. He kicked the door open and walked past Archie’s room.
“Wait! Put me down!” I pounded on his back but my fists bounced off. Starting down the hallway, I glanced back as the monster walked through the door.
The first thing I noticed was that the lights were dimmed. I kicked my feet and punched his back, but his muscles were so hard they just bounced off. He didn’t feel it as he started down the hallway. I glanced towards Archie’s door, but it was closed. My heart hammered in my chest as I looked over my shoulder to try and see. The hallway felt confined with him in here, and my eyes lowered to the ground.
“You got what you wanted, now put me down!” I screamed.
“I said you would see, I never said, I’d let you go.”