Chapter 31
31
A riana is uncharacteristically quiet as we drive to Caleb and Tomas’ house for the “new relationship” party the monster support group is throwing for us tonight. It took them months to pi ck a date, so the strange celebration is even odder since we’ve been together for three months now.
The best godsdamn three months of my life.
We park on the street behind Nik’s car, and I reach over to squeeze Ariana’s thigh. “You okay, sweetheart?”
“What?” She looks up at me like I startled her. “Oh. I’m fine. Well, actually…I’m nervous. I’ve met the people from your monster support group, but I don’t really know most of them. What if they don’t like me?”
I blink at her in confusion. “Doug and Caleb are going to be there, and you’ve spent plenty of time with Tomas. Plus, Kelly is coming, right?”
She sighs. “I know it’s ridiculous. I’ll be fine after like five minutes, but that doesn’t make me any less anxious about tonight.”
My poor sweet ball of nerves. I take her hand in mine and bring it to my lips. “I’ll stay with you the whole time. You have me, always.”
Her eyes grow a little glassy at my words, and after a moment she nods. “Thank you.” She steels herself with a deep inhale. “Okay. Let’s go in.”
We hold hands as we make our way around the side of the house toward Tomas and Caleb’s backyard. They’ve gone all out with the decorations tonight, with votives lining the cobblestone path, and flower-shaped lanterns on poles swaying gently in the evening breeze.
I didn’t think that it would be so fancy, but I guess Ariana’s beautiful blue cocktail dress and heels should’ve been an indicator that this wasn’t just a backyard barbeque. “Damn, did Caleb set all this up?” I ask as we approach the tall wooden fence that blocks the backyard from prying eyes so monsters can shift or drop their glamors.
“I’m not sure, I think so—oh!” Ariana lets out a little cry as her heel gets stuck between two of the stones in the path, and I curse, my lumbering body too slow to catch her before she falls.
“Shit, are you okay?”
She doesn’t look like she landed hard, but she’s clutching her hip. “I’m fine! Just give me a second while I die from embarrassment.”
I glance around. “Don’t worry, no one saw. Even if they did, I’ll say it was my fault.” I reach a hand out to help her up, but she doesn’t take it. “Are you sure you’re okay? What’s wrong with your hip?”
“I’m okay,” she says dismissively, but then mutters, “at least I hope so,” under her breath. She gives me a weak smile and attempts to get up on her own, but can’t seem to do more than get on one knee.
“You don’t look okay!” I go to bend down to hoist her up, but she scowls at me and bats my hands away. “What the hell, Ari? Why are you being so stubb?—?”
“Wesley, just shut up for one second . Jesus, you’re so dense sometimes!”
My brow furrows in confusion and I open my mouth to ask her why she’s being so damn weird when everything clicks into place. Ariana looks up at me from one knee, the hand down by her hip pulling something out of the pocket in her dress.
Not something—a ring box.
“Yes,” I say, my voice suddenly hoarse.
She rolls her eyes at me and scoffs. “You didn’t even let me ask you!”
A huge grin spreads across my face as I beam down at her. “Yes.”
“How do you know that I’m not about to show you a cursed gem and ask you for your blood to bind its power to me?”
“My answer is still yes, baby girl. Anything I have, it’s yours. Yes, I will give you my blood. Yes, I will find a way to break the curse and save you when the binding inevitably fails.”
Ariana laughs as tears spill down her cheeks. I offer my hand to help her up and this time she takes it. Once we’re on even ground again, I clasp her hand and the ring box with both of mine. “Most importantly, yes, I’ll marry you.”
She sniffles and gives me a watery grin, her jade eyes sparkling with hesitant excitement. “Really? Are you sure?”
I snor t. “Give me the damn ring, Ari.” She laughs and allows me to take the simple, elegant metal band and put it on. “‘Am I sure?’ Like you even have to ask. I was sure from the moment I met you.”
Our mouths meet, and the empty ring box tumbles from her hand as I haul her up against me and she wraps her arms around my neck. I pour all my love and reassurance into each swipe of my tongue against hers, and she moans softly as my hands knead into her ass.
She’s breathless when we part, but I know if we keep kissing like that, we’ll never make it to the other side of the fence, where everyone is waiting for us.
“Wait, so does anyone else know?” I ask. She nods sheepishly, and I frown down at her bare hand. “Dammit, why didn’t Doug tell me? I’ve had a ring picked out for you since the first week we started dating. I could have brought it!”
Ariana’s eyes widen. “You’ve had a ring for that long?” She swats my arm. “What the hell, Wes? Why didn’t you ask me? I’ve been nervous for weeks psyching myself up about this. I’m going to kill Doug! He never said anything to me about you having a ring.”
I catch her hand and bring it to my lips, pressing a kiss to her finger where my ring should be. “Don’t murder your brother. I made him promise not to tell you when I mentioned it to him. I was worried you’d think I’m nuts for wanting to get hitched so fast.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Ariana wipes her tears away and smooths a hand through her light pink tresses. “All that matters is that you said yes. If you said no, this engagement party would’ve been really fucking awkward.”
I help pick a leaf off of the hem of her skirt from when she “fell”, then register her words, my mouth falling open in surprise. “This is an engagement party?”
“Yeah, of course it is. You think I’d just randomly propos e to you at Caleb’s house? I was going to do it at home before we came over, but I was freaking out too much. Then you said such sweet things in the car, and I knew I had to be brave.”
She’s so damn sweet, but I can’t resist teasing her a bit. It’s truly absurd that she’d have any doubts about my willingness to be with her forever. “Can you really call it brave if it’s obvious to anyone with a pulse that I’m crazy about you?”
“I know, but anxiety isn’t logical! Just let me have this, okay?” She crosses her arms over her chest with a huff.
“Yes, baby girl.” I tug her back into my arms, my chest swelling with so much love I worry I might burst. “You’re brave and smart and beautiful, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
I barely get through the gate into Caleb’s backyard before I’m bursting into tears again. Doug gives Wesley a death glare when he sees me, but I wave him off. “H-happy te-ears,” I manage to get out through my ugly sobs. I’m embarrassed to have everyone see me like this, but I can’t stop. The relief, excitement, and love flooding my system is too much for my body to handle without being a blubbering mess.
Wesley cradles me against his chest, dropping his glamor as soon as we’re within the privacy of the backyard, so there’s more of him to hide me from the concerned view of the partygoers. I wasn’t actually nervous about hanging out with Wesley’s friends, but now I am.
Caleb hesitantly approaches after a minute, and I force myself away from the safety of my minotaur’s chest to give him a wobbly smile. “W-we’re engaged. Thank you s-so much for your help. This place looks b-beautiful.”
“Aww Ari, of course. Congratulations!” Caleb hesitates for a moment, then pulls me into a hug, and it takes all my willpower to not start crying again.
I’m not as successful when Doug crushes me against his chest, but if anyone can deal with me getting tears and snot on his shirt, it’s him. After a moment, he releases one of his arms and gestures for Wes to join us. Then we’re both being squeezed by my surprisingly strong brother, who doesn’t let go for a solid minute.
His eyes are wet when he finally releases us. “I’m so happy for you both,” Doug says, swiping at his tears.
Soon there’s a parade of people coming up to congratulate us. Kelly teases Doug about the bet he lost with her, while tearfully proclaiming that my love with Wesley was written in the stars. The monster group leader, Nik, gives Wes an enormous hug that leaves both of them misty-eyed.
Things go by in a blur, but eventually I find myself standing alone in the quieter corner of the yard. Wesley wanted to stay by my side, but his friends were eager to talk to him, and I don’t mind a moment alone to breathe.
I watch as Wes throws his head back in laughter at something a confused-looking cyclops says, while Doug pats the cyclops’ shoulder in what looks like reassurance. I can only guess what they’re talking about, but whatever it is, it warms my heart to see my family looking so happy and relaxed.
A soft voice pulls me from my observations. “ Mind if I join you?”
I look up to see Mona, Max’s partner. Damn, she’s so pretty. Caleb was right. She introduced herself when we first arrived, but I was too weepy to notice. Her deep purple dress hugs the ample curves of her body, looking like it was made with her form in mind. She’s holding two glasses of champagne, and reaches out with one as an offering.
“Oh! Not at all.” I take the champagne flute from her with a smile. “Thank you!”
“Of course.” Mona smiles, momentarily dazzling me with how that makes her look even prettier. “Sorry for interrupting your solitude, but I wanted to say ‘hi’ again now that things have calmed down a bit.”
“That’s so sweet of you. It’s wonderful to meet you. Caleb has sung your praises many times.”
Mona lifts a dark brow. “He has? I thought he didn’t like me. He always finds an excuse to go somewhere else when I’ve tried talking to him.”
I laugh, then take a sip of the champagne. “He’s anxious around you because you’re so hot and cool.”
“Wait, what ?” Mona’s eyes widen comically, and she snort laughs. “That’s ridiculous! I’m so far from cool it’s not even funny.”
“I don’t know…you seem pretty cool,” I reply with a shrug.
This makes her snort again, and she covers her mouth with her hand as she flushes at the sound she made. “See. Not cool. But, thank you. You also seem pretty cool,” Mona says with a genuine smile.
I like her. Caleb would get along great with her too, if I can help him get past his nerves with Mona. I catch his eye from across the yard and wave him over. Caleb’s brows shoot up when he notices who I’m talking to, but he joins us and gives Mona a shy smile.
“Hey Caleb!” Mona says brightly, and Caleb looks surprised by her excitement to see him.
“H-hey Mona,” he says back, already looking anxious.
“I think we should induct her into our monster fucker society,” I blurt out, trying to cut through the nerves hanging in the air.
“Monster fucker society?” Mona asks, raising a bemused brow.
“It’s not a society!” Caleb clarifies quickly. “We just… We were talking about some of the stuff that happens with our monster partners and if it’s, uh, normal or not.”
“Oh hell yeah, I’m in.” Mona claps her hands together in excitement. “Though I don’t know if Max is quite as…different as Wesley and Tomas are. I mean, he knows a little sex magic and has a tail that he can use for stuff. But no two dicks or anything.”
“Are there monsters that have two dicks? I ask in a shocked whisper.
Mona shrugs. “I don’t know for sure, but I think so. Max’s sister has mentioned some really wild stuff, but I can’t tell if she’s telling the truth or not.”
“So does Max… does he like to mark you with his…?” I trail off, suddenly feeling nervous about asking a stranger such a personal question.
Luckily, she doesn’t seem weirded out or offended. “Hmm, not that I’ve noticed, really. We, uh, a lot of the stuff we do is…unconventional. But that doesn’t have to do with the fact that he’s a monster.”
“Oh! Yeah, Wes and I have, um, an…. unconventional dynamic, too.”
“Unconventional?” Caleb asks hesitantly, his face flushed from the risque topic of conversation.
“We’re going to need a lot more champagne before I tell you details,” Mona says with a laugh, her cheeks darkening as she toys with her gold necklace .
“Same.” I’m dying to know if she means kink, and if so, what kind. I’ve never met someone besides Wes who I could talk to about that sort of thing, but there’s no way I’m prying.
Caleb looks between the two of us, coming to a similar conclusion as me. “Ah. Okay. Got it.” He rubs the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. “I’m pretty vanilla, so the wildest thing I’ve done is sex while Tomas is flying.”
Mona and I turn in unison to look at Caleb in surprise.
“Whoa! Is that safe?” I ask.
He blushes. “Probably not, but it’s worth it.”
“Damn,” Mona says with a laugh. “You’re a lot braver than I am. I wouldn’t trust Max not to drop me. Alright, fuck it. If you both promise not to divulge any information revealed to the society of monster fuckers, I’ll grab more champagne and we can swap some stories.”
Caleb grins, looking much more relaxed now that the ice is thoroughly broken with Mona. “Sure.”
I should probably say no, but screw that. This is a rare chance to bond with people who understand what it’s like having a monster partner. “Alright. I’m in.”
“Hey sweetheart, sorry that took so long. Ren wouldn’t stop asking for human dating advice, and Susan made Kelly cry, and then Nik kept wanting to give me advice for a happy marriage. I think I may need a full memory wipe after some of the things he described.”
I look up to see the slightly blurry, but always glorious, sight of my handsome minotaur. Who’s so big and beefy, I want to lick him all over. “That’s oka y, daddy,” I say with a bright smile.
Mona and Caleb erupt into a fit of giggles and I turn to shush them, but end up laughing too as Wesley raises an amused brow. “Having fun over here?”
I wrap my arms around his thick waist and lean in to inhale his intoxicating scent that makes me wet every time I smell it. God, he’s the best. I love him so much . “Mmm, yes. But maybe we can go home and have some more fun,” I murmur.
“Alright, baby girl. Let’s put some food and water into you to help balance out the…” he glances over at the table littered with champagne flutes, “four glasses of champagne?” He chuckles and squeezes my hip, warm affection pouring from every inch of him. “Then I’ll take you home.”
“I know something else he can put in you,” Caleb stage whispers, and Mona snort-giggles before covering her mouth with her hands.
Wesley laughs, undisturbed by Caleb’s uncharacteristic remark. “I think I should get Max and Tomas to check on you two.”
We bid the pair goodnight, and Wesley loops his arm around my waist, guiding me over to the snack table. I appreciate his help, because it’s become a lot harder to walk in my heels. He points out the giggling pair we left behind to their monster mates, but I don’t pay attention to what happens after that. All I care about is the minotaur holding me up and passing me a cup of water, which I gratefully drink down.
Everything feels fizzy and soft, and my heart surges with so much love for Wesley that I tug him down into a kiss as soon as I’ve finished my water. A few people nearby laugh and let out a whoop for us. And why shouldn’t they? We’ve found love that most people will never have a chance to experience. We’re together and we’re getting married and…
“Wes, I love you. So, so much,” I murmur between kisses .
“I love you too, Ari. So damn much.”
Everything fades around us into nothing as we share this moment. I go up on my toes to kiss him even harder, but the bubble pops when Doug groans and yells at us to get a room. I flip Doug off and pull Wesley down so I can whisper in his ear. “You heard him. Take me home, daddy.”
Wes lets out a soft groan. “Alright, baby girl. Let me just say goodbye to everyone.”
By the time Wesley gives our thanks and farewells to the rest of the partygoers, and he’s coaxed me to eat a bit, the buzz from the champagne fades into a gentle warmth. I nod off for a moment in the car ride home, awakening to Wesley scooping me up into his arms and carrying me inside.
“Mmm, I can walk. I’m fine,” I mumble, still half caught in sleep, but he holds me closer and kisses my hair.
When we get to the bedroom, he sets me down with a soft smile. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
“Perfect. Sorry, I had a bit too much to drink… I wanted to induct Mona to the society of monster fuck—” Wesley raises a brow at me and I giggle, “Whoops, that’s supposed to be a secret.”
He chuckles in amusement at my slip up, and begins undressing. “You don’t have to apologize. Seeing you relaxing and having fun makes me happy. But what’s this about a society?”
My eyes follow his fingers hungrily as he unbuttons his shirt, loving every inch of his broad chest as it’s revealed. “Hmm?”
Wesley laughs harder as he tosses his shirt into the hamper. “Never mind. I’ll ask you when you’re less distracted.” His hands drop to his belt with a dirty grin, but he pauses.
“One second.” He dashes out of the room without another word.
“Where are you going?” I call out after him, but he doe sn’t reply. I unzip my dress and tug it off over my head as I wait for him to return, hoping he doesn’t take too long doing whatever the hell he’s up to.
There’s a muffled sound of crashing and a curse from down the hall, and I’m about to go check on him when he returns, slightly flustered but grinning. “Sorry, had to grab something.” When he sees the lacy white lingerie I’ve picked out for tonight, he lets out a low whistle. “Godsdamn, baby girl.”
My cheeks heat as I flush with pleasure. “You like it?”
He joins me where I’m sitting on the edge of the bed and sinks to his knees, hands kneading into my hips as his snout nuzzles between my thighs. A choked giggle bubbles out of me as he takes a deep inhale and groans before pulling back to look up at me. “I fucking love it.” His eyes shine with lust and adoration. “Just like I love you.”
He kisses my thigh. “My sweet baby girl.”
Another kiss further down my leg. “My clever, amazing Ari.”
One more kiss right above my ankle, and then he dips his hands into his pocket and pulls out a small box. He opens it and gives me the most heart-melting smile. “My future wife.”
I blink in surprise at the rock he’s presented to me. I knew he had a ring, but the diamond on that thing is enormous. “Wes…”
“If you don’t like it, we’ll pick out a different one.” He squeezes my thighs reassuringly.
I shake my head at him. “No! It’s gorgeous. I’m just surprised by how…big it is.”
He snorts. “I thought you liked big.”
“I do! I’m a little shocked, but it’s perfect” My vision blurs as he slides it onto my finger. It really is perfect .
“Looks good on you, baby girl,” he murmurs.
I tug on his horns to guide his mouth to mine, sending all of my adoration into the kiss. He returns it with the same fervor, guiding me further back onto the bed and moving into the space between my spread thighs.
When we pause to catch our breath, I give him a coy smile. “It’ll look even better when my hand is wrapped around your cock, daddy.”
He releases a rumbling sound that’s halfway between a laugh and a growl. “I bet it will. But tonight, I want to show you just how well I can take care of you.”
He tugs my panties down and brings his mouth between my thighs to taste me, and my emotions threaten to overwhelm me as I think about how much the care of my monster has transformed me.
I’m remade by Wesley’s touch. Reawakened by his love. I was lost before that fateful, ridiculous night in the escape room, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with the minotaur who helped me find myself again.