Chapter 10
The scent of sawdust and wood stain permeated the air in Monte's woodworking barn, mingling with his rich earthy musk. Kiri stood amidst a sea of handcrafted furniture and intricate wooden sculptures, her eyes alight with excitement as she tried to determine what would be the hottest items to sell.
Now that she was able to move around, with the aid of the walking stick Monte had crafted her, she was able to appreciate the items around the barn more.
Shelves lined the walls, filled with his exquisite creations—intricately carved figurines, polished serving bowls, sturdy furniture pieces. She dragged a hand along them all—to feel their textures and take in their impressive staining.
"This is going to be amazing," she said, practically bouncing on her toes. "You have so much potential here! You'll have customers from everywhere appreciating your craftsmanship and clamoring to get their hands on a genuine Monte original."
Monte tilted his massive, horned head, his dark eyes studying her with a mix of skepticism. "I don't know, Kiri. I've always just sold locally to the monsters around here. The internet seems so... impersonal. I still don't think humans would be interested in my things."
She smiled reassuringly, placing a hand on his muscular, fur-covered forearm. The sharp points of his horns glinted in the sunlight beaming through the window, casting shadows on his thick fur.
His presence alone commanded attention—making her want to cling onto him like those harlequin romance book covers and feel his arms around her once more, his hands working their magic on her again.
She swallowed hard, as brief images of what she'd done last night to get off flashed before her.
"I understand why you're worried, believe me when I tell you that having nerves is normal." She let out a gentle laugh, the corners of her lips lifting. Her hands trembled slightly as she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "Trust me. I know it seems daunting, but after a few live launches, you will start to get the hang of it. I won't let you struggle and will be by your side. With my tech skills and your craftsmanship, we'll make an unbeatable team, and you'll sell out in no time… Each and every time."
Monte's deep brown eyes softened for a moment, glancing at the meticulously crafted items around him. His shoulders relaxed slightly under her touch, flexing his rough, callused hands as he considered her words. "I trust you… I'm just afraid I won't be able to do it without you."
Once I'm gone.
He didn't think he would be able to continue once she left—and truthfully, with how he was treating her, she didn't know if she wanted to go.
It would be easy to just remain here, away from the memories, away from the harsh busy city life. Life in these mountains seemed to move slower… allowing her to relax and reflect on what she wanted with her life.
And maybe have a chance to start over.
"Don't cut yourself short," Kiri replied, brushing a long strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "You'll get used to it with time."
"Maybe I don't want to learn how to do it." Monte huffed, leaning close into her touch. "If things work out how you believe it will, what would it take for me to hire you to do it and take part of the profits?"
His towering form hovering over her didn't scare her.
Instead, Kiri felt a strange warmth spreading through her.
His muscular brawn, covered in dark fur, and the pair of impressive horns that crowned his head stirred an unfamiliar sensation in her. She could feel the warmth radiating off his body, a living furnace that only amplified the tingling sense of need coursing through her veins.
His dark brown fur looked soft under the sunlight beaming down from the skylights, casting long shadows that somehow made him look even more alluring.
There was an undeniable strength in his sturdy body, but it was his eyes—those soft, understanding eyes—that truly held her captive.
The room was filled with the heady scent of his masculinity—a wild, untamed fragrance that made her heart flutter uncontrollably. It was an intoxicating blend of wood, earthy leather, and the faintest hint of something filled with raw power. It was a smell unique to Monte. A smell she found herself growing fond of.
Despite the strange circumstances that led to their association, Kiri found herself spellbound by Monte's unexpected tenderness. Yet even as she felt a budding kinship with him, she couldn't shake off a lingering uncertainty.
She was realistic, acknowledging the insurmountable differences between them. Would it be fair to either of them? The prospect of life alongside Monte was enticing but not devoid of challenges. But then she looked up into his warm eyes again, seeing an echo of her own loneliness resurface there and felt an irresistible pull.
Her mind kept circling back to one daring question: Could she be a Minotaur's mate?
She wanted to say that she could, but she had her doubts.
Would he become tired of her, like her ex? Would he start to resent her because she was human?
Could they even make love? Or bring children into the world?
She didn't know if she could go through another heartbreak, especially after the drastic change of life she would have to make in order to live here.
"Let's see how we work together first." Kiri cleared her throat, her cheeks flushed as she grabbed her vidtablet and began tapping away. "And then we can discuss our future plans."
Monte's eyes narrowed as he scanned her face, and then nodded. "Okay."
"First things first, we need to choose a platform for your store." Kiri gestured for him to join her at the workbench.
His large frame loomed over her, their bodies brushing against each other as they focused on the screen before them. Goosebumps prickled across Kiri's skin, but she forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand.
"Now, I've been researching e-commerce platforms, and I have my favorites. I believe I've found the perfect one for us." She clicked open a webpage, explaining animatedly, "See, this one is super user-friendly, has great tools for organizing inventory, and offers lots of customization options so we can make the store reflect your unique style."
His brow furrowed. "Customization?"
"Yeah." She nodded, fingers dancing across the screen. "We want the online store to reflect you—your brand. Look at this one." She tilted her laptop, highlighting a sleek interface. "It's intuitive, has great customer support, and offers tons of design flexibility. It's perfect for highlighting each piece's uniqueness, especially with its 3D imagery and room projection placement."
"How's that possible?" he rumbled, genuinely intrigued as he leaned closer. "Show me."
"See here," Kiri continued, swiping through features. "We can organize your inventory by categories—furniture, sculptures, custom orders. And the best part? We can include stories behind each piece. People love knowing the history and inspiration behind what they buy."
"Stories, huh?" Monte's voice softened further, a hint of nostalgia creeping in. "Customers are interested in them?"
"You would be surprised. People like feeling connected to pieces they buy, especially unique ones." Kiri grinned, locking her gaze onto his. "Now, let's talk logistics. Photos, descriptions, pricing—all crucial. But first, setting up the basics."
"Basics," he echoed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'm trusting you, Kiri, because I feel like you're tossing me in the deep open water with no life jacket."
"If you listen to me, I won't have to do that," she teased, elbowing him playfully. "Now, let's get down to business. We'll start by setting up the store's layout. I'll handle the techy bits, and you can provide input on the aesthetics."
"Sounds fair," Monte agreed, crossing his arms. "Just don't make it too fancy."
"Rustic charm, got it." She winked, diving back into her task. "Just the way you like it."
Hours flew by as they worked side by side, with the angle of the sun moving from sunrise to sunset, letting her know that the day had passed away. Kiri's fingers flew across the keyboard, efficiently navigating through setup screens while explaining every step. Monte watched intently, occasionally offering suggestions, or asking questions that revealed a surprisingly sharp eye for detail.
They'd carefully staged and photographed each piece, adjusting the lighting to highlight the unique grain patterns and elegant curves of his handiwork. She worked with him crafting compelling descriptions, price points, and any interesting information that Monte had about each piece.
As they huddled together over the laptop, sorting through his inventory and deciding on the pieces to feature, Kiri felt a growing sense of partnership, of connection that she hadn't felt in a long time.
She missed working alongside someone else and hadn't done it ever since…
The accidental brush of Monte's hand against hers, the rumble of his voice in her ear as he described the backstory of a particular carving… every moment seemed charged with an underlying intimacy between them.
And she was able to learn more about him, and how he saw the world around him through his passion—how he pictured what a piece of wood would become just by peering at it.
It was becoming harder to focus on the task at hand… but she forced herself to remain vigilant, afraid of ruining whatever was blossoming between them.
She wanted to help him the best way she could, as repayment for all the aid and hospitality he'd shown her.
"How about this for a homepage banner?" Kiri asked, displaying a template featuring a stunning photo of Monte's finest dining table, bathed in warm, natural sunlight with the mountain lake behind it.
"Perfect," Monte said quietly, admiration evident in his gaze. "You've got an eye for this."
"Thanks, I've been doing this for years," she murmured, feeling a blush creep up her neck. "It's easy when the products are so beautiful and have the potential to practically sell themselves."
"Beautiful, huh?" His voice dropped, rough yet tender.
"Yeah," she breathed, meeting his intense gaze. "I'm thinking we call your online shop something like ‘Mountain Monte's Woodworking Wonders'—emphasizing the artisanal, handmade quality. What do you think?"
"I like it. It has a nice ring to it." A slow smile spread across Monte's face, revealing a hint of his sharp teeth. "But don't you think it's too long of a name?"
Kiri grinned up at him, a flutter in her stomach at his approval. "You can make fun logos with M2W2 on them, which would help with promotion."
"I never needed a logo."
"Well, you do now."
She knew Monte was trusting her with his livelihood, and his life passion. Putting themselves out there for the world to see for the first time was frightening to many, especially those who didn't spend that much time online.
But by doing this, she could shape his life for the better, and set himself up for a more successful future.
Every day, the world got smaller thanks to technology and the internet. By having Monte as the first—or one of the first—monsters to have an eCommerce, he could carve a market for himself, and lead the way for other monsters on the island.
She was determined not to let him down in this venture. If there was one thing she could do for him, before she left, it was to set him up so he wouldn't fail alone.
Kiri's fingers danced across the keyboard, the glow of her laptop screen illuminating her focused expression. Monte stood behind her, his large frame casting a comforting shadow over her shoulder.
"Done," she announced, her voice barely above a whisper. "We did it, Monte. Your eCommerce is ready to launch."
"Thanks to you," Monte replied, his voice low and sincere. His dark eyes filled with gratitude and something more—an unspoken longing that mirrored Kiri's own desires. "None of this would have been possible without you."
"I only want to repay you for the hospitality you've given me," she confessed, setting up the tripod for her vidphone. "If I'm able to allow you to reach a larger audience, then I can rest happily knowing that your future would be secure."
"But what about your future?"
"I don't know about my future yet," Kiri admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "It's something that is undetermined at the moment. I kinda feel like a plastic bag in the wind, floating wherever the breeze takes me." Her gaze dropped to the floor. "I'm thankful that my job allows me to travel and have the freedom to try and discover myself."
His large hand covered hers, cradling it gently as he gave a comforting squeeze. The reassuring touch sent a jolt of warmth spreading through her body as she looked up at him. Their eyes met, filled with concern and something unspoken, their faces drawing closer until they were mere inches apart.
"I never thought I'd find myself building an online store for a Minotaur on an island filled with monsters." She chuckled lightly, trying to defuse the sudden tension between them. "But being here," Kiri continued, pulling her gaze away reluctantly from him to focus on setting up their first live video on the newly established online store. "It makes me want to take one day at a time."
"All right," Monte conceded and nodded, stepping away. "I understand that you still need time."
"Thank you." She sighed, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. "I think we're ready for the live video."
"Are you sure I should do this?" His tail whipped wildly as she stared at her vidphone setup. "I'm not good at speaking to a crowd. How am I supposed to speak in front of who knows how many people?"
"Hundreds… Thousands… Millions…" She flicked her gaze in his direction, taking in his worried stunned expression and chuckled. "Really, it can be any amount, but usually the first live video is your smallest viewership."
"Millions?"
"You would have to be blessed by your Moon Goddess herself if you get millions of views for your first time," she soothed. "It's easier if you just pretend that you're talking to yourself in a mirror."
He snorted and frowned deeply, brow creased. "The last time I did that, I broke it."
"How?"
"I don't know!" He threw his hands in the air. "Perhaps this is a mistake. What if I'm too ugly and break your vidphone?'
"You aren't ugly." She rolled her eyes. "You need to stop letting your nerves talk and relax. All you have to do is follow my lead. I won't let you fail."
"You promise?"
"I promise. I will begin the live feed, and introduce us," she offered, scanning over the details of the website to see if there was anything that needed changing. "And then I can help you with selling the first few pieces until you get a hold of it. You won't need to go live often, only when you have new collections, but once you've established yourself and become popular, word of mouth and announcements on your social media will be enough."
"Truly?"
"Truly." Satisfied that she'd hadn't missed a thing, her hand hovered over the confirmation button. "Are you ready to launch your website?"
"All right." Monte huffed, attempting to appear as if he weren't nervous, but Kiri could tell by how his shoulders were slouched and the lack of movement of his tail that he was. "Let's show them what we've got."
As she hit the final upload button with a flourish, Kiri sat back with a satisfied sigh. "And we're live! Mountain Monte's Woodworking Wonders is officially open for business."
Monte blinked at the screen, looking awed and a little overwhelmed. "I can't believe it. You're incredible, Kiri. I never could have done this on my own."
"I'm happy to help. I believe in you and what you do." Kiri nodded, though her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the camera angle. "We'll start with an introduction, then go through each item. Be yourself; people will love your authenticity."
"Be myself," Monte repeated, his deep voice laced with both doubt and hope. He positioned himself beside her, the warmth of his body a comforting presence.
"Ready to go live?" she asked, her heart pounding, breath catching in her throat.
"Ready as I'll ever be," he replied, his eyes locking onto hers, seeking guidance, a trace of nervousness underlying his gruff exterior. He moved closer, their shoulders brushing, a subtle spark igniting at the contact, glancing at the camera with obvious discomfort. "I still can't believe I let you talk me into this."
"Hey." Kiri reached out, laying a reassuring hand on his furry arm. "You've got this. Your craftsmanship speaks for itself. Once people see the quality of your work, they'll be lining up to buy."
Monte's dark eyes met hers, softening with gratitude. "Thank you, Kiri. For everything. I couldn't have done any of this without you."
"That's what partners are for," she murmured, her heart giving a treacherous lurch at the word.
If only…
Ruthlessly shoving the wistful thought aside, Kiri focused on the task at hand. "Okay, here we go." She took a deep breath, hitting the button to start the stream.
The screen flickered to life, and as the countdown began.
Three… Two … One...
"Hello everyone," she began, her voice gaining practiced confidence. "I'm Kiri, and this is Monte, an incredibly talented woodworker and artist from Monster Island."
"Hello," Monte rumbled, his large hand waving awkwardly in front of the camera. Kiri stifled a giggle, finding his shyness endearing.
"Today, we're here to introduce you to Monte's incredible inventory of handcrafted items and to promote our new online store," Kiri continued, her cheeks flushing with pride. "Each piece is unique and made with love by Monte himself from the fallen wood around the island."
"Thank you, Kiri," Monte said, offering her a warm smile that sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "It's true; every item I create is inspired by the beauty of nature and the magic of Monster Island. Each piece has its own grain and character. Then I craft it by hand, using traditional joinery techniques to ensure strength and durability…"
As he spoke, his natural passion for the work overtook his camera-shyness. Kiri watched, captivated, as he gestured animatedly, describing the painstaking care and attention to detail he poured into every item.
They took turns showing off different pieces, their easy banter and obvious chemistry keeping the audience engaged. Kiri snuck frequent peeks at the comments section, noticing the increasing number of viewers expressing their admiration for Monte's craftsmanship.
It was clear that his creations were capturing the hearts of their audience.
"Monte, you're getting quite a fanbase here," Kiri whispered with a teasing smile, her heart swelling with pride for him. "People are loving your work."
Her excitement mounted as the first orders started rolling in.
"Thank you all so much for your support," Kiri said as they neared the end of the live video, her voice thick with emotion. "We're truly grateful for your enthusiasm, and we can't wait to share even more of Monte's creations with you. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on our socials for updates on our next live stream. Until next time, signing off."
She reached out with a trembling hand to end the live stream.
Their eyes met and held, the air between them crackling with unspoken potential. Kiri felt her heart hammering against her ribcage, certain Monte must be able to hear it. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and she licked her lips unconsciously.
He took a step closer, his fur brushing her skin. "Kiri," he said roughly. "I..."
Just then, a chime from the computer made them both jump. Kiri turned to look at the screen and her mouth fell open.
Another chime. Then another. And another.
"Cheese and crackers, Monte!" She grabbed his arm excitedly. "Look!"
Kiri's fingers trembled with excitement as she pointed to the screen.
Stunned, they both watched as the orders began flooding in, the inventory numbers plummeting faster than either could have anticipated. Kiri couldn't remember the last time she'd felt such a rush, a bubbling giddiness fizzing through her veins.
"You did it!" She launched herself at Monte, throwing her arms around his neck in elation. He caught her easily, large hands spanning her waist, and suddenly they were nose to nose, panting and beaming at each other. "We're sold out!"
Monte's eyes widened. "I can't believe it," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief, hauling her tight against him.
Kiri could feel the rumble of his words against her chest and she found herself drawn to the curve of his mouth. Unthinking, she surged forward, slamming her lips to his.
The world stilled for a moment as surprise sparked between them before Monte reciprocated with equal fervor.
Monte's strong arms swept around her and hoisted her onto the workbench, scattering papers and packing materials. Clutter collapsed on all sides as she was placed at the center, as he responded to her kiss with an urgency that left her breathless and craving more. His lips were rough but tender, moving against hers with a hunger that equaled her own.
Kiri looped her arms around Monte's thick neck, pulling him down for a deeper kiss.
Monte kissed down along Kiri's neck, teeth grazing lightly over sensitive skin, making her arch against him as a sultry moan escaped. His strong, labor-roughened hands wandered lower to her blouse, deftly unbuttoning it with a speed that told of restrained desire bubbling beneath the surface.
Finally free, he slipped his hand inside her blouse to cup her breast. Kiri's breath hitched as his thumb grazed over her nipple through the thin lace of her bra, sending waves of pleasure ricocheting throughout her body.
"Stay," he whispered, his voice rough and raw. "Stay here...with me." His large hand cupped her face gently, thumb tracing her jawline in a tender caress that sent shivers down her spine.
In this moment, Kiri knew that she wanted nothing more than to give herself over to his desires completely.
Monte leaned his forehead against hers; his hot breath fanned her face in rhythm with the quickened pace of their heartbeats. His eyes searched hers intensely.
"I'm... I'm scared, Monte," she admitted, her voice was barely above a whisper as she pulled back slightly to glance away from the intensity of his gaze.
Confusion crossed his features. "Scared? Of what?" His voice was low, deep with concern.
"Of you," she confessed, wringing her hands nervously, "Of... this." She gestured vaguely between them.
His eyes softened with understanding. He reached out to draw her closer again, but she resisted.
"I'm scared that if I stay with you," she began hesitantly, her gaze flickering up to meet his, "that you might grow tired of me. That you might realize you don't want a human for a mate...and I..." The words tumbled out in a rush. "I don't think my heart can handle another break."
"Kiri," he said softly. His rough hand found hers and their fingers intertwined tightly as he spoke with a sincerity that tore at her defenses. "Ever since you've crashed into my life, you're all I can think about." His free hand rose to gently brush away a stray tear running down her cheek. "Every morning when I wake up… and every night before I sleep—it's always you."
"I'm not like you humans," he continued, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in a half-smile full of tender affection. "I don't have whims or fleeting desires. When I chose you, it wasn't a decision made lightly or without thought. It meant accepting you as my mate for life."
He brought their intertwined hands up to his chest, pressing them firmly against his thrumming heartbeats.
"I won't lie," he said, his gaze softening even further, "there were times when I thought I'd be alone forever. But then you came and turned everything upside down."
His hand slipped from her cheek to cup her chin delicately, tilting her face upward until their eyes locked once again.
"But what if I can't provide you children?" She licked her lips. "What if I don't want any?"
"I don't need children to be fulfilled," he replied gently, shaking his head. "I've lived my whole life alone, thinking I'd never have a mate. But then you came along...you came along and filled that void."
"Are you sure?" she asked, unable to believe what she was hearing. "You want me even if I don't want any children?"
"What I need..." He paused, swallowed hard and his grip on her chin tightened just slightly in reassurance. "What I need is you, Kiri."
Her heart stuttered from his sincere declaration. The intensity of his gaze was almost too much to bear—the desperate longing, the deep-seated affection, every emotion laid bare.
"I want us to build a life together—just you and me. I want to wake up each morning knowing that I'll get to hold you close. I want to take care of you, to spoil you, and share everything with you." He paused again, his gaze flickering down to her lips then back up to meet her eyes.
"I want us to continue with what we've started here," he murmured, waving his free hand at their bustling online shop set up on a nearby table. "You can start a firm here, work for yourself and sell your services to help other monsters sell their talents to humans… and travel around Monster Island so you could continue promoting it for the firm that hired you. Whatever you want to do, as long as you stay with me… be with me."
His thumb brushed gently against her lower lip, his gaze never straying from hers. "I can't promise it will be easy…" Monte's voice dropped a notch. "But I'm begging you to choose me… I want you to stay with me, Kiri. Pick me. Pick us."
Kiri looked at Monte—this towering monster who had somehow burrowed his way into her heart—and she realized the depth of her feelings for him. She saw the future he proposed, full of potential and possibilities, and she found herself wanting to explore it… with him.
She wanted to be cared for and loved… by him.
"You want me to be your mate?" she asked, needing confirmation to ease her heart.
"By the Moon Goddess, I do."
"Then yes." She nodded, locking her gaze with his. "I will be your mate."