50. Margo

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Negals handsome face. He looked so peaceful in repose, almost boyish if not for the dark blond shadow over his jaw.

Margo wanted to cup that stubble-covered cheek and kiss those firm lips, but she also wanted a few more moments of just basking in his perfection and thinking about the night they had shared before she woke him up.

Negals chest was still rising and falling with the same rhythm as it had when Margo had first opened her eyes, but she had a feeling that he had sensed the moment she had awakened and was pretending to sleep for some reason.

Maybe he was afraid that in the light of day she would freak out about last night?

That wasnt going to happen. The toughest part, which was garnering the courage to get intimate with a male shed met only two days ago, was over, and it hadnt even been all that tough.

In fact, it had been almost easy.

The storytelling, the shared laughter, and then their fictional tale intertwining with reality—it had all led to their joining and culminated in Negals bite.

Frankie was right, no drug could ever compare to the intensity, the sheer exhilaration of the venom bite, let alone what had followed. The memory sent a shiver of longing through Margo. She wondered if Negal would bite her every time they made love.

The bliss was indescribable, but she couldnt black out again and be out of commission for hours.

Frankie and Mia had warned her about that, but shed thought they had been exaggerating.

If she awakened him right now, made love to him again, and he bit her, she would be out for half of the day, and as much as she craved Negals body, she also didnt want to lose time just talking with him.

A smile curved her lips as she imagined them continuing the story they had started creating last night. She hadnt expected Negal to be such an imaginative storyteller.

It dawned on her then that he tended to undervalue himself. Negal identified as a god of humble origins, a trooper in the interstellar fleet, and a nothing-special guy.

There was so much more to him than he realized, and if the Fates smiled upon them and she transitioned, Margo would make it her mission to explore all of Negals hidden talents and abilities.

It wasnt about trying to change him or make him strive for more than he was comfortable with. That was totally up to him. It was about self-discovery and not putting limits on himself, and if the newfound confidence led to different choices, they would be Negals, not hers. Being aware of a talent for storytelling didnt mean that he should become a writer if he had no patience or passion for it.

Margo had watched Mia work for months on one short childrens book, and she knew she would never have had the patience to work on one project for so long and then do all the revisions that the publisher had demanded, especially given that success wasnt guaranteed.

At least in advertising, things happened quickly. Usually, it took a few days to develop the concept, get approval, and then a few weeks until the campaign was ready to launch.

Despite working on the fringes of the process and not having much say in the creative part, Margo loved the fast pace and the immediate results, provided that they were good. No one liked failure, but thankfully the agency she worked for had rarely produced a campaign that flopped.

Hopefully, though, that part of her life was over, and she would get to do what she loved in Perfect Match.

But why was she thinking about the advertising campaigns when she was lying next to a naked god?

Well, she knew why. Work was simple, and thinking about it was a distraction, a way to avoid thinking about the big L-word that was pushing up from her heart and demanding to be heard.

The rational part of her screamed that it was too soon, and even though the circumstances were unlike any she had faced before, she shouldnt let herself fall in love with Negal, at least until she transitioned.

To fall in love and to be made to forget about it was too terrible to even think about. Her mind might be forced to forget Negal, but the ache in her heart would remind her that she was missing a vital part of her life, and not knowing what it was would drive her insane.

The problem was that Margo had a feeling that she had already lost the battle and just hadnt admitted it to herself yet.

Her feelings for Negal couldnt be boxed into a timeline, and they couldnt be compared to any of her past experiences or even to Frankies or Mias, which were similar and yet as vastly different as the three of them were different from each other.

It was like stepping into a Perfect Match adventure, where everything was condensed into a few hours but felt as if it had lasted weeks or even months.

Negal stirred, and as his eyes fluttered open to meet hers, a smile bloomed on his face. Hello, beautiful. He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek.

She leaned into it and covered his hand with hers. Good morning.

How are you feeling? he asked.

She laughed softly. Like Ive returned from the best and most restful vacation in heaven. I cant even describe the things I saw after shooting up to the sky.

His grin broadened. Its something else, isnt it?

Have you ever experienced a venom bite?

He nodded. Getting bitten during a fight is not the same as being bitten during sex, but the effects of the venom are similar enough. I was loopy the rest of the day.

Margo pursed her lips. Im not loopy at all. In fact, Im incredibly clear and feel on top of the world.

Im glad. He let go of her cheek and wrapped his arms around her. No regrets about last night?

None. She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. I would love to stay and cuddle, but I need to visit the bathroom quite urgently.

Margo had more than cuddling in mind, but only if Negal could refrain from biting her. She didnt want to spend the next several hours passed out in bed.

Reluctantly, he released her from the cage of his arms. Go, but come back quickly.

I will.

She got out from under the covers, unconcerned about her nudity as she sauntered to the bathroom, giving Negal a great view of her ass.

The hiss he emitted was followed by a groan, and both were deeply satisfying.

In the bathroom, Margo took care of the most urgent need first, and as she washed her hands, the reflection staring back at her was that of a happy woman. She had experienced many happy moments during her life, but shed never looked so vibrant.