Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“What do you mean a party?” What kind of party was Akai talking about, and why ask now, while they were tangled together and there was no easy means of escape?
“Err…exactly that. It’s for monsters…and humans.”
Cole lifted an eyebrow. “Really, for humans?”
He was sure that if humans went to this monster party, it would’ve been all over the media.
“Humans who know about monsters…” Akai clarified. “Usually those who have monster mates…”
His eyebrows lifted higher, and he was far too aware of the monster dick buried in his ass. “Mates?”
Was he accidentally mated to Akai? He didn’t know him well enough for that. Sure, they were friends…friendly…and he was enjoying the sex. Though ten days ago, if someone had told him he’d be spread by a monster, he’d have asked what they were taking.
“Not that we are mates, but I thought you might like to go as a thank you for letting me stay here. Since you know about monsters…”
“Yellowstone, as in the national park? Several states over?” He struggled to sit up, and Akai quickly offered a supporting hand. His dick was still hard inside him, like it wasn’t going to soften and slide out. That had good points and bad…
“Yes.”
“And how are you getting there?”
Akai glanced away. “Usually I’d fly.”
“And since you can’t, you want me to drive you.”
“Yes, but I also want you there.”
Fuck you. Cole pushed away and stood, wincing as that hard band around Akai’s shaft pulled free. That band also had good and bad points…
Cum slid down his thigh before he got into the water, reminding him that he’d broken a bunch of his own rules because he wanted monster dick. He’d taken Akai’s word for everything—and he never did that. Not with human men.
The water felt colder, and the sun not so bright. He moved to where the water was deeper, and he could sit and ignore Akai. The monster he was ignoring followed him into the water.
“I didn’t mean to ask you like that.” Akai didn’t try to touch him.
“How did you mean to ask me to drive you to your party?” He couldn’t keep the snap out of his voice.
“I don’t know. I need permission to bring you, and I haven’t asked yet.”
Cole turned. “Then why ask me?”
Akai was staring at the water. “Because you were there, looking like…” He shrugged, his wings lifting. “I want to share my world with you.”
“We aren’t mates.”
“I know…I don’t know if I want a human mate. You can’t fly, and you don’t like eating insects, and you are naked and mostly hairless.” He lifted his gaze. “But I like you anyway. I am hoping you like me enough that you want to know more about me and my world?”
No. This is a freaky experiment. An aberration that should never have happened. That was the logical explanation. Hell, maybe he was still unconscious in the hospital, and he’d dreamed the last seven years, and this was his brain doing something weird.
But he was curious about monsters and everything. There was so much more than his cabin and the small town in the valley. “I do like you, even though I shouldn’t. You’re far too hairy, eat bugs, and have the biggest eyes I have ever seen.”
“So we are agreed that this shouldn’t be happening…but that it’s happening anyway?” Akai tilted his head.
“That seems to be the case.” Cole inched a little closer. “Maybe you should tell me more about the party.”
“You’ll come?”
“I didn’t say that. I’d need to take a week, maybe longer, off work.” His dad would hit the roof.
“It goes for over a month.”
“A month?” He couldn’t take that long off work.
“There are stalls and music and reunions. It’s a chance to see friends and family. Not everyone goes every year or even for the whole month. I do, because I sell jewelry and I like to catch up with friends.”
And because his wing was still healing, he couldn’t fly there.
It wasn’t as though Akai could hitchhike either.
Of course, if Akai hadn’t been watching him from the woods and stepped out looking like a massive wolf, Cole wouldn’t have shot over his head.
They had both made this mess, and they weren’t doing a very good job of cleaning it up.
Cole didn’t even know where to start. “I like the idea of maybe going.”
Akai reached out and pulled him close, hugging him tight against his wet, hairy chest.
“I didn’t agree.” Cole fake grumbled, as he didn’t attempt to pull away.
“You didn’t say no, either.”
“I need to figure out the travel time and request leave.” There were plenty of other things he needed to consider before starting the road trip, but it gave him something to do, a new path to follow, even if he didn’t know where it led.
Or was he putting off facing reality?
The one where he needed a job, and monsters shouldn’t exist?
Akai reached out and snatched something off the stream bed. He lifted it up and ate it before Cole even registered what it was.
“That’s disgusting! I’m not kissing you now.”
Akai laughed and kissed the side of his neck. “Then I will kiss you.”