Chapter Nineteen

I'm awakened by the warmth of the sun on my shoulders, birds chirping in the trees, and her pussy wrapped around my cock.

The fire blazing in my blood is gone but the want for her is still there like always. I kiss the groove of her neck, rubbing my knuckles down her arm to wake her up, but my mate sleeps like she's dead.

"Mmm, fuck," I groan, slipping out of her, and come begins to trickle out of her.

Immediately, I push it back in with my fingers. I need to get her a plug so that at all times she's full of me.

I know she has to be sore from the mating last night, so I refuse to take her again if she's in pain. She might not even be in her right frame of mind. Whatever fever happened last night, what if Mickey wakes up, the fog lifts, and she realizes what I really am?

There's so much to talk about and I don't want to talk. I'm too afraid to lose her. I slip my arms under her, stretch my wings to get the aches out and roll my neck.

The sound of glass breaking has me turning to look up. The solarium is ruined. I watch as another sheet of glass falls, shattering on the ground. I'll have to fix that for her. Luckily, we only need the supplies and I'll be able to do the rest.

I miss working with my hands. If I don't use them, I can't fail though. This isn't about my life anymore. It's about Mickey's. I refuse to give her anything less than the best life possible.

Gently, I hold her on my chest, a purr of contentment building from her cheek against my pec, and I lightly flap my wings. Ever so slowly, I lift us higher in the air, taking us to her bedroom.

My feet land on the new floor, glass crunching under me, and I have to breathe in to relax my body at the memory of her bent over, pressing herself onto my cock, and taking every inch so beautifully.

She mumbles something incoherent, burrowing her face into my chest. I brush her hair out of her face. Mickey is too beautiful for the likes of me. Every angle of her face, every flutter of her eyelashes, every small puff that leaves her lips proving she's alive, I'm obsessed with.

Mickey could sit there with a lampshade on her head and not move a muscle all day, yet I'd be fascinated with her. Taking my eyes off her would be like someone deciding not to look at a shooting star.

You simply don't miss the opportunity to see something extraordinary.

"We are filthy, My Brave Little Flower. We have mud all over us. What do I do with you?"

"Let's shower and then take a bath so we can talk?"

She startles me. I expected her to still be asleep and I nearly fall backward out of the giant hole in the wall that is completely my fault.

"You're awake."

"Barely." She yawns, blinking those big beautiful blue eyes at me.

I turn away, not wanting her to look at me. Fear replaces all my confidence and now she might reject me because of my appearance. I can't say I would blame her.

My eyes remain forward walking us to the bathroom. I sit her on the toilet seat and prepare the shower, letting it warm up before we wash the night away.

I don't want to wash away the best night of my life, especially if it's the only one I'll ever have with her.

"You won't look at me. Do you regret what happened?"

I spin around, lowering myself to my knees as I take her hands. "No. I could never regret anything when it comes to you. You're my mate, my beloved, you're meant for me. I'm just…cautious. I know I'm not what you expected." I continue to look down at the floor, nervous to even take a peek at her.

Mickey's fingers slide under my chin, forcing me to look at her and apprehension has me swallowing.

Her eyes travel all over my face. Her fingers brush my ears, rubbing the pointed tips, and those vibrations sound in my chest.

She giggles. "You like your ears scratched?"

"I love you touching me. Anyone else, I would kill them."

Her hands continue to wander, tracing every scale she comes across.

I snag her hand and kiss her inner wrist. "Come on, let's shower, then take that bath."

She nods, standing up on trembling legs which makes me puff my chest a bit.

The floorboards creak under my weight as I step into the stall. Her eyes can't seem to leave my body. It's impossible to miss the curiosity in her gaze. She has a lot of questions and I have so many answers.

To my surprise, she doesn't seem upset at me.

Yet.

This must be the calm before the storm. She's going to yell at me soon, curse me, and probably kill me with all the guns she has in the house.

"May I?" I ask her when she grabs the shampoo bottle. I pick a few pieces of grass from her hair. She nibbles her lip in uncertainty before handing it over to me.

Squeezing the bottle it spurts into my hand, making an awkward noise.

"Um, that… that wasn't me. That was the bottle. I swear—"

She snickers, holding her hand over her mouth to laugh. "Likely story."

"Playful little mouth on you, isn't there?" My claws scratch her scalp. I'm careful, sudsing the shampoo through her hair.

She tilts her head back, moaning softly. "That feels so good. I've never had anyone wash my hair before."

"You'll never have to wash your hair again now that I'm here. I enjoy taking care of you."

"Don't make promises you won't keep, or I'll be very disappointed."

"I don't make promises. I make vows. I make oaths." I tug her head by her soapy hair, forcing her to meet my gaze.

"What's the difference?" she asks, eyes closing from how relaxed she is as I wash her hair.

"Promises are for children. Vows and Oaths are for the ones who put their hearts, and their lives on the line. Not even death is safe from vows and oaths. A soul is tethered to them once they are made. Break it, and I believe the soul is damned."

I rinse her hair out, grab the loofah, and squeeze the come-ridden body wash onto it. I debate on telling her it's tainted.

I decide not to.

The rest of the shower is in silence as we wash, when it's my turn, she snags the loofah from me.

"I want to."

I lift a brow. "And how will you reach my shoulders, mate?"

"You'll figure out a way." She washes my entire body, and I realize I'm being bathed in my own come.

I don't care.

When she slides the loofah to my wings, they jerk in response, and my cock hardens.

"Does that hurt? I don't want to hurt you."

"The opposite. Don't stop." I turn my chin to my shoulder. "It feels good."

She starts from the bottom of my wing, the loofah adding the perfect scratch, My hands slap against the wall, my claws digging into the new tile. I growl with every stroke she gives.

"You have to stop," I grit.

One more swipe and I'll come.

"Why?"

I show her why by turning around. "That's why."

She looks down and her eyes become fucking moons. She points, opening and closing her mouth. "That's a jellyfish."

"I am. I'm many things, Mickey. And that's something we need to talk about."

In a coy gesture, she slides her attention to the left, not looking at anything in particular, and toys with the loofah in her hand.

"I like that you're not human." Her attention slides to my cock and she steps forward, wrapping her hand around my shaft. "And I love how unique your cock is." She strokes it and I moan.

I try to step away but my back hits the wall. There's nowhere for me to go.

"Mickey," I growl her name in warning. "You don't understand—" I stop mid-sentence when her thumb rubs over my slit.

"—No, I don't think you understand me." She strokes me harder and faster. The tentacles sting her hand, naturally, nothing I can do to stop that, but the stings don't seem to bother her.

Her blue eyes become hard, a bit darker, a raging sea in a storm, and I'm caught in the middle of it.

I wrap my hand around hers, snarling at her insistence. "I'm trying to be good, Mickey. I'm trying to make you see what I am— who I am. You're making that difficult."

"Good." She nips my chin, tightening her fist.

Her fingers can't touch around the girth. It's a gorgeous fucking sight to see.

I stop her, my jaw clenching with the need to come, but I can't do that to her. "Mickey—"

"—Rhett."

My head thuds against the wall. I can't seem to remember my argument with her hands on me.

"Turn around?" she asks in a soft voice.

Who am I to deny when she sounds so unsure? I smell the anxiety from her and something else, something… sweeter that hasn't been there before. My mouth waters for her blood.

I want to show her that I'll always listen to her. I'll never fight her for something she wants to do to me. I don't care what I have to do to prove she can trust me, I'll do it.

She deserves trust. It's a powerful emotion.

One she's never had before, and I am happy to be the first to give it to her.

"You really turned around," she whispers, rubbing her soft fingertips down my spine.

Every muscle flexes as her touch passes over every nerve.

"I'll do anything you ask me to," I answer, still waiting for her to realize who is truly in the shower with her.

One hand squeezes the base of my tail, then glides down, stroking it just like she would my cock. Simultaneously, she scrubs the loofah over my wings.

It's stimulation I had no idea would push me over the edge. My knees buckle and I groan, pressing my cheek against the wall as she has her way.

"Are you going to come for me, Rhett?"

"Yes," I rumble.

"Good. Consider it payback for all the times you've made me come, but at least you're aware."

"I'm— I'm—" I try to apologize, but my orgasm silences me. I stand on my tiptoes, roaring my release as it paints the walls. "Mickey," I moan.

I expect her to say something, to say anything. Silence falls over us instead, my heart still racing from the pleasure she gave to me. Spinning around, I try to apologize again, but she rinses me off, then the evidence on the wall.

I take her lead. I know she'll talk when she wants to, and I want to listen. I want to give her time to gather her thoughts. Her life hasn't been easy, and while I want to make it easier, I know as of now, I'm not helping.

I'm new to her.

I'm still getting used to myself and it's been months. It might take her forever to get used to the mere idea of me.

And I'll be here, patiently waiting for her to sleepwalk again.

We take turns washing off. When we are done, I step out and hold my hand out to stop her.

"Let me get the bath ready." I sit on the edge of the giant tub, twist the gold handles, and hot water begins to fill the emerald bath quickly.

"Don't forget the bubbles." She points excitedly, the slight bounce she does jiggles her tits, and my eyes are locked on them. She giggles, covering herself playfully, and kicks my shin. "Rhett. The bubbles."

I shake out of my trance, smirking. "You can't expect me to focus when you're standing there, wet, naked, and beautiful."

"I do because I want bubbles." She gives me big, playful, yet somehow pouty eyes, blushing as she twists back and forth.

"And I'll always make sure you get what you want."

"Always?"

"For eternity, Beloved." I pour the bubbles in, placing my hand in the water to slosh it around. I hold out my hand. "Come on. Sit in it while it fills. Do you need anything before I join you?"

"My phone? Just in case my brother has called. And get us a glass of wine?"

"I'll bring a bottle. Can you imagine these claws wrapped around a wine glass?" I lift my hands, wiggling my fingers.

Her cheeks redden, unknowingly licking her lips as she stares at each finger. Can she remember how they felt when they were inside her? Mickey sinks into the tub slowly, inhaling when the hot water engulfs her, and the bubbles hide the body I so much desire.

I snag her phone on the nightstand, then head to the kitchen, grabbing the bottle of wine from the small stand she has on the counter. I put a pep in my step to get to her quicker, the bland walls capturing my attention. I imagine us filling the bare bones of her house with pictures of us and of our kids.

The floor creaks under me and I wince when I see the hole I made to peep in any time I want. I'll have to fix that now that I'm allowed in the house when she's actually conscious.

"Here you go." I set the phone on the ledge of the window where she can reach it, stab my claw in the cork of the wine bottle, then twist it free.

"That's handy," she notices, grinning at the sound of the cork popping.

"I think so too." I hand her the bottle first and she takes a very long gulp.

I slip into the tub, my knees piercing the bubbles. I probably look like an overgrown child.

She passes the bottle to me, and I take a swig, hoping it calms my nerves. The last time I tried to get drunk, the alcohol didn't do its job. I think my new form burns it too fast.

"So now that all that—" she blushes. "—is out of the way. I have many questions."

I tap my claws on the tub. "I know. I'm ready for them."

"What are you?"

I snort and look out the window, wondering how to answer that. "I— don't know what I am. I do know what I was created from. I don't know what to call myself except a monster."

Her hand lands on my knee. "You aren't a monster."

"I am," I correct her. "I am very much a monster, Mickey. I fucked you while you were sleepwalking. I fucked your mouth while you were sleepwalking. I've fingerfucked you." I grab her arm and point to where her birth control used to be. "I took that out because nothing was going to get in the way of binding you to me."

"I don't remember you doing that."

"Because you were asleep. You wanted me when you were sleepwalking. There was one time, you came outside when I was in gargoyle form, and you fucked my stone cock. You loved it too. I knew right then, if I could only have you in your sleep, I would be happy. I burrowed under your house and watched you through small holes I created in your floor. I broke into your house and smelled the blood on your tampons." I lean forward and growl. "And I sucked every drop from them. I pulled your cup out once too and shot it back like it was my favorite fucking drink because I am a monster. No normal man would do that."

"You'd be shocked at what normal men do," she whispers, her voice small and distant.

I rub a hand over my face and shake my head. "Why aren't you angry?"

"You never answered my question. What are you?"

I sigh, rubbing my thumbs across her ankles. "I'm a vampire, gargoyle, crocodile, jellyfish— obviously—"

"—Obviously."

I smirk. "—And ghost."

She stays quiet for a minute. "I had no idea vampires, gargoyles, and ghosts were real. What happened? You must have been so scared." Mickey places her chin on my knee, not running out of fear which only confuses me.

"I was. I remember a little about what happened, but all the experimenting really fucked with my mind. I'm very much more beast than man. The urges I feel are animalistic and controlling them seems impossible. I still feel my humanity, at times, especially when it comes to my feelings for you." I gulp down more wine and my mind wanders as I look out the window again, not wanting her to see the anguish in my eyes. "I had a mechanic shop. I owned it— back when I was human— and things were going well. Then, the economy changed, and my business went under. I couldn't climb out of debt. This salesman," I snort, shaking my head more in anger at myself than anything.

"This salesman," I sneer with a curl of my lip, doing my best not to squeeze the bottle until it breaks. "Says he was looking for volunteers for a clinical trial. He said he was searching for failed businesses to give people a chance to get back on their feet. One hundred thousand dollars. It was hard to say no to, but I did because while I couldn't make it as a business owner, I'm not fucking stupid. He drugged me. I woke up in some unknown place and they did…" I blow out a breath. "They did things to me that made me scream." I finally look at her, tears welling in my eyes, and her lips tremble as she clutches onto my legs.

Her brows pinch together as she listens.

"I screamed for help every time they strapped me down. They cut me, beat me, prodded me, fucked me, had women fuck me, and had men fuck me, all for their ‘data.'" I make sure to point that out in quotes. "All of it hurt so bad, but then I evolved into this thing." I flex my wings that are hanging out of the tub. "They didn't like that I could shift into my beasts separately, that I wasn't just one mixture that could do everything without shifting. They tried to kill me, and I broke free. I used my paralytic on the guard, who had come into my cell to fuck me—"

"—Oh my God, Rhett."

"—Don't feel bad for me when I did the same to you," I reply. "I won't apologize. I can't. My beasts—" I tap my chest. "They won't let me. You are a primal, feral need of mine, Mickey. You are my mate."

"What does that mean?"

I raise my brows and toss my head back, bellowing my laughter. Water sloshes over the tub.

"Ahh," I sigh on a half groan. "I have no idea. I just know it means something profound. You are meant to be mine and no one else." I lean forward and touch either side of her neck. "I've marked you. Those are my claiming bites."

She reaches for her neck, and I know she's going to be furious. Another man scarring her for life, another man claiming her as his, just another man taking advantage of her.

I wouldn't blame her if she killed me.

"So you see, I'm no better than Ty."

"You know about him?" She rears back.

"I do. I've watched you from afar." I tap my pointed ears. "I listen. You thought he was dead, but he isn't," I growl, wanting to rip his throat out.

"So you did kill Steven."

"You remember? I didn't think you would."

"Hard to forget a knife to the back."

I take a swig of wine. "That's very true."

"You shifted into your crocodile? If I remember correctly."

"I death-rolled that mother fucker until he couldn't breathe."

She bites her lip again, her eyes falling to my chest then my face. "And then I think I told you I loved you."

It's my turn to blush. I adjust my sitting position in the tub. "You did, but you were dying, and how could you? You don't know me and now you know I'm just as bad as Ty."

She frowns and leans back, taking her hands from my legs and I miss her touch immediately. "Why would you say such a terrible thing? You're nothing like him. You never have been. Even when you were in your statue, I was drawn to you, and I thought I was crazy. Actually, you made me believe I was losing my mind. You would talk to me in your ghost form. I think that's what I'm mad at you for the most." She splashes water on me, and it hits me right in the face. "I'd wake up so confused. Dirty. Bloody— which I understand now— but why— why would you let me believe you were a voice in my head?"

She splashes water on me again.

Some gets into my mouth, and I spit it out immediately, rubbing my hand down my face.

"I believed I was losing my mind."

"I was afraid to reveal myself. I didn't intend to but when that man was there and he stabbed you, I knew I couldn't hide myself any longer."

"Afraid? But—"

"—Look at me, Mickey. Why wouldn't I be afraid? Am I supposed to reveal myself to the woman who I love, who my beasts yell at me in mind that you are my mate, mine, that you belong to me, and have you look at me with disgust?"

"Am I looking at you in disgust now?"

I swallow, playing with the bubbles to form a shape. "No."

"And I said I loved you, so I obviously fell in love with you in my head, while I was asleep. I fell in love with you before I could overthink. I've always wanted someone who wasn't a man. I'm afraid of men. I won't lie to you."

"Most of my human DNA is gone," I add.

"I love that," she whispers.

"How can you love me? I'm a monster. I've done unforgivable things."

"But they aren't unforgivable. You didn't chain me, beat me, rape me, torture me, whip me, throw me in the closet for days, starve me, and so many other things. You… protected me. And while you made me feel crazy, I understand. You're forgiven."

"But I scarred you too. I—"

"Marked me because your beasts wanted it, to show everyone I'm taken, right?"

"Yes," I growl. "Mine."

"You didn't do it to punish me."

"I'll never punish you." I pull myself forward by the edges of the tub. "Ever."

"And you'll never beat me, scar me to inflict fear and pain? Starve me?"

I snarl. "Never. You'll never go hungry again."

"Then I love you."

"But…" I lean in closer. "I'm a real monster. The kind people warn their kids about."

She cups my jaw, and a sad smile pinches her lips. "No, you aren't. I've lived that life, and you are nowhere near the warning my parents gave me."

"I'm not… human. I won't act human."

"Good. I've had enough of that in my life."

"I'm…" I'm finding it difficult to express myself, to find the words necessary. "But I'm a beast, Mickey. I look like a beast. I won't ever be able to work a normal job."

"And I love you anyway."

"But—"

She silences me with her finger. "No buts. And if anything, you can just rob a bank again." She quirks her brow when she takes a drink of wine. "That was you, wasn't it?"

"All the cash is under the house in my burrow."

"Because crocodiles burrow, right?"

I tap my claw on her chin. "That's right."

"You'll love me anyway?" I tuck her hair behind her ear, suddenly serious.

"I'll love you anyway."

The moment is perfect. Everything is right until the front door slams.

"Mickey!"

I growl, sneering. "Milo really likes to interrupt."

"Mickey, you haven't been answering your phone."

"Oh my God." Mickey's hand grabs the top of my head and pushes me down.

"What are you doing?" I ask, stopping myself from going under.

"I don't want my brother seeing me naked with my also naked mate."

"Right. Probably not a great introduction. You won't remember this, but I can hold my breath for fifteen minutes. You happened to like it in your sleep."

"Oh?" She pushes my head down. "Help me remember it then."

I hold my breath and go under, wrapping my wings under her. Her pretty pussy is right there for the taking so I spread her legs and latch my mouth onto her clit.

Her thighs clutch my neck in warning, but I don't stop.

"Mickey! What happened to the window?" Milo's voice is closer now, easily heard in the shallow water. Luckily, the bubbles hide me.

I get lost in her taste. Sliding my tongue down, teasing her hole before licking my way up to wrap around her clit. I ignore their conversation, listening to Mickey's heart instead.

It's beating faster.

Her body heat rises.

I'm not sure how much time goes by, but she's patting my shoulder in warning.

A second later, I hear her whimper and moan my name, running her fingers through my long hair before she grips it. Mickey grinds on my face as she comes.

I kiss her lips before coming up for air.

"You almost had me orgasm in front of my brother." She tilts her head back, throwing her arm over her eyes. "That would have been horrible."

"I had a great time."

She peeks under her arm, takes her free hand, and splashes me with water again. "You should use that talent more often."

"Happily, Mate," I snarl. "I'll happily go down again."

She pushes my head down again just as her phone rings. "Let me get that first. It's probably Minnie. Hello?"

The smile on her face fades.

"What?" I sneer. "Who is it?"

"This isn't funny stop calling me." She puts the call on speaker and heavy breathing has my murderous instincts come to the surface.

"Stupid Girl. I told you your family would die if you ever left me," the voice mutters with a dark promise. "You. Are. Mine."

The call ends, the dial tone louder than Mickey's cries.