24. Rian

24

RIAN

F lour dusts my apron and coats the fur on the back of my hands as I shape the dough in front of me into intricate twists and swirls. Humming, I finish up the last cinnamon roll, lining it up on the tray to carry it to the oven. Stopping to ring up a customer before I head back to the kitchen, I grin ruefully as the sprite winks at me.

“You’re in a good mood today, Rian,” Lilac says slyly, before grabbing her box of pastries and heading out the door.

I guess there’s no keeping secrets in this tiny town. My mind drifts to Natalie, her blonde hair and bright smile, the soft touch of her lips against mine. A delightful shiver runs down my spine.

The front doorbell rings again, and snaps me out of my reverie. I glance up to see Natalie entering the bakery, accompanied by an older woman who looks so like Natalie—the shape of her face and the color of their eyes is similar enough that this can only be her mother, Elaine.

Natalie wrote to me in the journal last night they’d be stopping by. I was up early this morning, nerves not letting me sleep—so I did what I do best, throwing all my energy into bakery concoctions.

Wiping my hands hastily on my apron, I step out to greet them, a nervous smile spreading across my face.

“Mom, this is Rian, the owner of the Hungry Minotaur and my, uh, new friend,” Natalie says, her hand coming to rest gently on my arm as she introduces us. I quirk a smile at her. We haven’t had a relationship-defining conversation yet, so “new friend” suffices…for now.

“It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Rian,” Elaine says warmly, extending her hand. Her kind gaze appraises me, her smile genuine. “Natalie has told me so much about you and this charming bakery of yours.”

I take her hand in my much larger one, shaking it gently. “The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Russo. Welcome to the Hungry Minotaur.” I desperately want to make a good impression on the woman who raised the incredible person I’m falling for. “Please, let me show you around!”

Guiding them through the seating area, I point out the unique decor and enchanted paintings adorning the peachy pink walls. Natalie leans into me as we walk, her presence both exhilarating and calming. As we enter the kitchen, the scent of baking spices intensifies.

“And these are my latest creations—cranberry orange muffins, using a new blend,” I look at Natalie significantly, “and fresh from the oven. Care for a taste?” I grab two from a cooling rack, presenting them to Elaine and Natalie with a flourish.

Natalie watches nervously as Elaine bites into the muffin, clearly apprehensive about whether her spice mix will have produced an unexpected result. She’s been working hard to learn more about spices since the mishap at the competition over the weekend. This one is a mundane spice blend—no magic, just Natalie using her palate to create something that might taste good.

Her worries are swept away at Elaine’s expression. She closes her eyes, her whole face lit with delight. “Oh my, Rian! These are absolutely divine. The spices, the texture…pure perfection.”

Natalie’s eyes meet mine over her own muffin, shining with pride.

In that moment, a profound sense of belonging and contentment blooms in my chest, unlike anything I’ve felt in years.

Two days later, it feels like the smile hasn’t left my face, even when I’m faced with the near-impossible task of helping Jessa pack for another sleepover.

“Jessa, honey, can you grab your toothbrush from the bathroom?” I call out from her bedroom, surrounded by the organized chaos of packing. Clothes, toys, and books are strewn across the bed as I attempt to rein in her over-packing tendencies.

You’d think she was leaving for a month and not just an overnight trip down the road.

Jessa returns, her small hands clutching her toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. “Got it, Dad!” She grins, tossing them into her overnight bag.

As we continue packing, Jessa’s voice suddenly takes on a more serious tone, and she turns to me, her brown eyes wide and curious.

“Dad,” she begins, her words carefully chosen, “how are things going with you and Natalie? You seem really happy when you’re around her.”

I pause, my hands stilling as I consider her question.

Until Natalie, I didn’t anticipate having a dating life, so I never thought about how much Jessa should or shouldn’t be involved in it. It strikes me as probably not at all normal to have deep relationship conversations with my twelve-year-old daughter.

Our relationship has never fit some arbitrary definition of “normal,” though, since I’ve been raising her myself her whole life. Why start now?

I sit down on the edge of Jessa’s bed, taking a deep breath before responding. Being truthful in a way that respects Jessa is best, I decide.

“Things are going well, Jessa. Natalie is… she’s special. I care about her a lot.” I hesitate, my brow furrowing as I grapple with how to express my emotions without worrying my daughter. “But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, too. Scared of what it might mean if she decides to leave Elderberry Falls, of how much it would hurt to lose her.”

Jessa nods, her young face filled with an understanding.

“Is it okay with you, though, Jessa? Me dating someone?” I ask, my voice tinged with concern. “I know we should have talked about this before, and I’m sorry…”

Jessa’s response is immediate. “Well, Dad, you and I both know that you need to spend a little less time with me and more with, like, actual adults.”

I groan, covering my eyes with my hand. “Ouch.”

Jessa giggles. “Hey, it’s just facts. And I like Natalie. If you’re going to date someone, I’m glad it’s her.”

Warmth and love rush through my veins. Pulling my daughter into a tight hug, I rest my chin atop her head, murmuring my thanks.

We finish packing and I walk Jessa to the door, waving goodbye as she sets off for her sleepover.

I glance at the clock, realizing that Natalie will be here soon. Her mom left town yesterday after her short visit, and when I realized that Jessa would be out of the house for the night, I jumped at inviting her over. Now, my heart quickens at the thought of spending the evening with her here, anticipation building with each passing minute as I tidy up the living room.

Natalie’s wrapped in an adorable puffy jacket when she arrives at my door—finally dressed appropriately for the weather, I note protectively. Despite the chill of the night, the air between us feels thick and hot with a delicious tension that makes my fur stand on end.

“Hey, you,” she says softly, her voice like honey as she sets her overnight bag down and moves closer to me. I can’t help but notice the confident set of her shoulders, and the way her eyes seem to drink me in.

“Hey, yourself,” I reply, my own voice sounding deeper, more resonant than usual. “I’m glad you could make it.”

We move to the kitchen, our hands brushing as we prepare a simple meal of grilled chicken and roasted vegetables. I’ve already prepped most of the ingredients, so it’s easy to throw it together, leaving lots of time for stolen kisses as we work.

As I watch Natalie move around my kitchen, her blonde hair catching the warm light and her lips curved in a smile, I marvel at the way she seems to fit so seamlessly into my life. It’s as if her presence is a natural extension of my own, filling a void I hadn’t even realized existed.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Natalie asks, her voice breaking through my reverie. She’s standing close to me now, her hand resting lightly on my arm, her eyes searching mine.

I clear my throat, suddenly feeling a little nervous. “I was just thinking about how much I enjoy having you here,” I admit, my voice painfully earnest. “How right it feels, having you in my space, in my life.”

Natalie’s smile softens. “I feel the same way, Rian,” she murmurs, her hand sliding up my arm to rest on my shoulder. “Being with you, it’s like… coming home.”

My breath catches in my throat at her words, and I find myself leaning in closer, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Our lips are just inches apart, and I can feel the heat of her breath mingling with mine, the anticipation building between us like a tangible force.

Natalie’s lips brush against mine, soft and warm, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. My hands find their way to her waist, pulling her closer as our kiss deepens, our tongues dancing together in a sensual rhythm.

Her fingers tangle in my fur, tugging gently, and I can’t suppress the low growl that rumbles in my chest.

We break apart, breathless and flushed, our eyes locked on each other. Natalie’s hand trails down my chest, her touch sending shivers down my spine.

“I’m not hungry for food,” she tells me.

“Agreed. Screw dinner.” I turn the burners off and focus my attention fully back on her.

“I brought something for us,” she whispers, her voice husky with desire. “From Enchanted Intimates.”

My eyes widen at her words, my pulse quickening as I imagine what she might have in store. Natalie reaches for her bag, her movements deliberate and filled with promise. She pulls out a small, discreet box, a mischievous look in her eye as she hands it to me.

I hesitate for a moment, and Natalie takes my hand in hers, her touch gentle and reassuring.

“Rian,” she says softly, her eyes holding mine, “I want this. I want you. But only if you’re ready. If you’re not, we can wait. There’s no pressure.”

“I want this too,” I tell her, my voice low. “I want you, Natalie. More than I’ve ever wanted anything. But...” I hesitate, my gaze dropping to the floor. “It’s been a long time for me. And with my… size… I’m worried that I might… that we might not...”

Natalie cups my cheek, tilting my face up to meet her gaze. “I know, Rian,” she says gently, her thumb stroking my fur. “I’ve thought about that too. And I have an idea.”

She takes the box from my hands, opening it to reveal a minotaur-shaped dildo, realistic and yet slightly smaller than my actual size.

My eyes widen at the sight, surprise and arousal coursing through me. It’s been so long since I’ve been with a woman that I almost forgot how instinctual this is for minotaurs. I have to fight the urge to toss her down on the couch and rut her right here.

“We can use this,” Natalie explains, her voice tentative. “To help stretch me out beforehand. We don’t even need to have penetrative sex tonight. I just… I want to be close to you.”

I nod, my throat tight. “I want that too,” I whisper, taking her hand in mine and bringing it to my lips. “I want to learn every inch of you, Natalie. I want to make you feel good.”

Natalie smiles, her eyes darkening with desire. “Then let’s go to the bedroom,” she suggests, her voice a husky purr.

My cock twitches in my pants at her words, already hard and aching for her touch. I scoop her up in my arms, reveling in the way she fits against me, and carry her towards the bedroom, my heart pounding with anticipation.