Epilogue

Kiri stirred awake, a contented sigh escaping her lips as she stretched languidly in bed. The silken sheets caressed her bare skin, still carrying Monte's warm, musky scent. His side of the bed was empty but the indent of his massive frame remained. Slipping out of bed, she pulled on a sheer robe, the gossamer fabric floating around her curves.

The aroma of sizzling bacon and brewing coffee wafted in from the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled with anticipation. Padding across the hardwood floor, Kiri smiled to herself, marveling at how much her life had changed since meeting Monte.

Their eCommerce store had taken off beyond her wildest dreams. Handcrafted goods, custom metalwork, and artisanal foods from Monster Island were now being shipped worldwide, putting Lone Lake Pack on the map. The boost to the local economy warmed her heart. She'd been able to leave her soul-crushing corporate job to start her own marketing firm, one dedicated to helping monster-owned small businesses thrive.

Kiri ran her fingers through sleep-tousled blonde locks as memories of the past year flickered through her mind. Late nights pouring over web design and social media strategies. Weekends exploring the island's hidden wonders with Monte by her side as her guide.

Stolen kisses in the moonlight as he fulfilled his promise of claiming her all over their land, thoroughly.

She bit her lip, pulse quickening at the delicious images. Never in her wildest fantasies had she imagined falling for a monster.

And yet, Monte never failed to make her feel cherished, desired, like the only female in the world.

As Kiri entered the sunlit kitchen, Monte's keen ears twitched at her approach. In one fluid motion, he set down the mixing bowl and whirled to face her, a wide grin spreading across his bovine features.

"There's my sleeping beauty," he rumbled, dark eyes twinkling with mischief and adoration. Before Kiri could respond, he closed the distance between them in two long strides and swept her into his burly arms, lifting her feet off the ground.

Kiri let out a surprised squeal that melted into laughter as she looped her arms around Monte's thick neck, burying her face in his downy fur. "Mmm, good morning to you too, my Mountain," she purred, inhaling his earthy, masculine scent—a heady musk tinged with hints of maple and spice from the pancakes sizzling on the griddle.

Monte nuzzled into the crook of her shoulder, his nose grazing the sensitive skin of her throat. "I missed you," he murmured, planting a trail of soft kisses along her neck that sent delicious shivers racing down her spine. "You could become a morning person..."

"You know I can't." Kiri smirked, running her fingers through the coarse hair on his broad chest. She pressed herself against him, reveling in the solid wall of muscle that held her close. "I'm the night owl, you're the morning bird."

She captured his mouth in a claiming kiss, all playful nibbles and teasing flicks of her tongue that left them both breathless. Monte growled low in his throat, one large hand splayed possessively across her lower back as he deepened the embrace.

They lost themselves in each other, tongues dancing and hands roaming, until the acrid scent of burnt batter jolted them back to reality.

"Shit! The pancakes!" Monte hastily broke the kiss and rushed to the stove, using his spatula to scrape the blackened discs from the griddle with a sheepish chuckle.

Kiri couldn't help but grin at the adorable sight of her hulking minotaur, so fierce and commanding in the woodworking barn, getting flustered over ruined breakfast. She leaned against the counter and watched as he expertly flipped a new batch of fluffy golden cakes, admiring the tantalizing flex of sinewy muscles beneath his aproned form.

"Voila! Breakfast is served, my flower." With a flourish, Monte set two heaping plates on the table, complete with glistening berries, a dusting of powdered sugar, and a drizzle of warm syrup. He pulled out a chair with exaggerated gallantry, eyes gleaming with impish delight.

"Why thank you, my morning mountain minotaur." Kiri favored him with a coy smile and slid onto her favorite chair, stomach rumbling at the mouthwatering aroma. She snagged Monte's hand before he could withdraw it, lacing their fingers together. "Seriously though—thank you. For all of this. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm so grateful to have you in my life."

Monte squeezed her fingers, his gaze soft and earnest as it met hers. "I'm the lucky one, Kiri. You've brought so much purpose to my world." He raised their joined hands to his lips, brushing a tender kiss across her knuckles. "I love you, more than anything."

"I love you too." Kiri blinked back the sudden prickle of happy tears, heart full to bursting. She knew she would never tire of hearing those words from him.

Clearing her throat, she gestured to the other chair with an impish quirk of her brow. "Now park that cute furry butt and dig in before it gets cold. I want to run a business idea for you."

As Monte settled into his chair, Kiri's phone buzzed insistently, breaking the intimate moment. She glanced at the screen, Margo's name flashing across it. With an apologetic smile at Monte, she swiped to answer.

"Hey, Margo, what's up?"

"Kiri, you'll never believe the opportunity that just landed in our laps!" Margo's excitement was palpable, her words tumbling out in a giddy rush. "You know that orc family who runs the Starlight Resort? Well, they want to hire you to revamp their marketing strategy!"

Kiri's eyes widened. The Summer Starlight Resort was a new sprawling, luxurious retreat nestled in a secluded private island separate from Monster Island, where only monsters went to vacation until recently. Securing them as a client would be a major coup.

"That's incredible, Margo! Did they say why they picked me?"

"They were super impressed with the work you did for Monte's shop and the other local businesses. Word's getting around, girl! They want the full package—branding, web design, social media, the works."

Kiri's mind was already whirring with ideas, color schemes, and slogans percolating as she mentally envisioned the resort's transformation. This could be huge, not just for her fledgling agency, but for the wider integration and acceptance of monsters.

She hoped that one day, they would be able to go to the mainland, to where humans lived.

"I'm so in," she said, unable to contain the grin splitting her face. "Set up a meeting with them asap, okay? I want to hit the ground running on this."

After hashing out a few more details, Kiri ended the call, practically vibrating with eagerness. She swiveled to face Monte, who was watching her with a wide grin.

"Babe, you'll never guess what that was about!" The words poured out of her in an exuberant torrent as she filled him in on the resort's offer and all the potential it held. Monte's eyes crinkled at the corners as he beamed at her, pride and love warming his gaze.

"Kiri, that's amazing! I'm so proud of you," he rumbled, reaching across the table to enfold her smaller hands in his massive ones. "You've worked so hard to build your business, and it's really taking off. You're going to kill it with this resort project, I just know it."

Impulsively, Kiri rose from her chair and plopped herself in Monte's lap, looping her arms around his neck. His embrace enveloped her automatically, pulling her flush against his broad chest.

"I couldn't have done any of it without your support and belief in me," she murmured, nuzzling into the soft fur of his throat. "In fact... What would you say to taking a little celebratory business trip-slash-vacation to check out the Summer Starlight in person? We could make a long weekend of it, mix a little pleasure with business..."

She trailed suggestive fingers along the sensitive skin behind his ear to the curve of his horns, gratified to feel him shudder beneath her. Monte's hands flexed on her hips, his eyes darkening with rising hunger.

"I say that sounds like an offer I can't refuse," he growled playfully, nipping at the elegant curve of her neck and drawing a breathy giggle from her. "I've never left Monster Island before... But for you? I'd follow you anywhere."

Kiri's heart swelled at his honest declaration, tightening her arms around him. "You already make me happier than I ever thought possible, Monte. I can't wait to show you the world away from the mountains."

She sealed her promise with a kiss, pouring all her love and desire into the press of her lips on his. As Monte responded, and picked her up, their breakfast lay forgotten, as he carried her back to their bedroom, the only sustenance they craved being each other.