27. Rian

27

RIAN

M y heart races as I take my place at our kitchen station for the final cooking contest, the buzz of activity from the other teams filling the competition tent with a frenzied energy.

Pots clang, pans sizzle, and voices shout instructions over the clamor. I draw in a deep breath, going over our lineup of recipes in my head as I survey the array of ingredients laid out before us.

Today’s competition is our chance to reveal a showpiece entry into the competition. Instead of two entries—something made at home, plus something made in the tent—we will be combining pieces of something pre-made with something that we cook or bake here. There are no rules for week 5 other than: astound the judges.

We’re going to do just that, with our edible replica of Elderberry Falls.

Beside me, Natalie and Jessa exchange a look of steely resolve, their aprons crisp and their sleeves rolled up, ready for battle.

“OK, let’s go!” Jessa’s small hands dart out, grabbing a knife and beginning to chop fruits and nuts with speed and precision.

Natalie and I grin at each other, loving the way that she’s taken charge, fully invested in this competition once again.

As I start to measure out our ingredients into a large bowl, Natalie closes her eyes for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly in concentration as she murmurs an incantation under her breath.

She sprinkles a pinch of enchanted spice into a mixing bowl and as she continues to focus, it glows, and then sparkles with magical energy.

Jessa measures flour while I cream butter and sugar in a large bowl, our hands moving in perfect synchronization. Natalie whisks a bubbling sauce on the stovetop, tendrils of fragrant steam rising up and mingling with the other mouthwatering aromas wafting through the tent.

“Rian, I need another stick of butter,” Natalie calls out, not taking her eyes off the simmering mixture.

I grab one from the fridge and pass it to her, our fingers brushing briefly. Even in the heat of competition, that small touch sends heat straight to my groin. Natalie gives me a knowing look and I chuckle and shake off the distraction, focusing on my task, folding chopped nuts and dried fruit into the batter with meticulous care.

“Thirty minutes left!” the head judge booms as we carefully crack the oven, checking to see if our creations are done.

My pulse quickens and I pull out the final tray, as Jessa starts plating the pastries that are shaped like the buildings in town square, arranging them artfully on our serving tray. I work quickly to frost and decorate all of the details that make our town unique. Natalie adds the finishing garnishes, and just a small final sprinkle of spice.

We step back just as the final countdown begins, our chests heaving and sweat glistening on our brows.

I look down at our creation, a colorful array of expertly crafted breads, cookies, and cupcakes, each one imbued with a touch of culinary magic.

Pride swells in my chest. No matter what happens next, we’ve already won in my eyes. We’ve poured our hearts into every dish, grown together as a team and as a family.

Natalie’s hand finds mine, and she laces our fingers together. “We’ve got this,” she says with a confident grin. On my other side, Jessa beams up at me.

I pull them both close, my arms encircling their shoulders. As we wait for the judges to walk our way, I send up a silent prayer to the baking gods, hoping they will be able to taste the love baked into every bite.

The judging commences and an eerie hush falls over the tent.

I watch as the judges make their way down the line, sampling each team’s offerings with stony faces that betray no hint of their thoughts. They murmur amongst themselves, scribbling furiously on their clipboards.

When they finally reach our station, I hold my breath. The head judge, the statuesque elf with piercing blue eyes, smiles as she assess the scene we’ve created. “How charming,” she says. “And I see you’ve settled on a gazebo color for the town—although I don’t think hot pink was one of the options discussed?”

“That was my addition,” Jessa says proudly. Jessa details the techniques and ingredients she used to bake the cookies used on all the building’s walls, showing off the stained glass sugar cookies that double as the stained glass windows all over town, and the earl grey cookies that serve as the roof shingles.

The judges listen intently, their pens flashing across the pages.

Natalie then steps forward and shows how the town square is crafted out of a combination of zucchini bread and pumpkin bread, each spiced with her new blends. Finally, I take off the top of the town square building to reveal an array of cupcakes in unique flavors like orange zest and pistachio.

“Well it looks just as delicious as Elderberry Falls itself,” says the vampire judge. “But how does it taste?”

The judges each take a piece of our creation and chew, their expressions inscrutable.

“Very nice,” says the dwarf. Is that a smile?

And then, as quickly as it began, it’s over. The judges move on to the next team, leaving us to stew in a potent mix of relief and anticipation.

Did we do enough ? My mind races through every detail of our performance. How will Jessa feel if we don’t score a top spot?

The judges file back into the tent, their faces somber and unreadable. A hush falls over the gathered crowd again as the head judge steps forward, a glittering bronze trophy clutched in her hands.

“In third place,” she begins, her voice ringing out through the suddenly too-quiet space, “we have...”

I close my eyes, bracing myself for the verdict. Beside me, Natalie and Jessa tense, their breaths held in anticipation.

“...the Kincaid family!”

For a moment, the words don’t register. Then, as applause erupts around us, the reality sinks in. Third place. A place lower than last year.

I gaze down at Jessa, worried to see her reaction. But the judges aren’t done.

“We also wanted to give another award to our third-place winners, before we move on. The Kincaids also get a special commendation this year—most improved team!”

Jessa leaps up with a whoop of joy, her small hands punching the air in triumph. I sweep her into a hug, spinning her around with relief at her joy.

Natalie throws her arms around us both, her smile so wide it almost looks painful. “Amazing job!”

Jessa looks up at me, and I can see the question in her eyes. “Go grab it for us, sweetie.” She leaps up and runs toward the judge. She accepts the trophy and the smile on her face is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen all day.

Natalie’s hand finds mine, and that’s the only prize I need, her fingers twining through my much larger ones. She leans in close, her breath warm against my ear as she whispers, “Don’t worry, we’ll win it all next year.”

For a second, my mind stalls. Next year? But before I can question it, Natalie continues, her voice soft but filled with a steely conviction.

“I’ve decided to stay, Rian. For good.”

The world around me seems to slow to a stop as the full weight of her words sinks in. Stay. She’s going to stay. Here, in Elderberry Falls. With me. With us.

I pull Natalie close, crushing her against my chest as tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

“You mean it?” I manage to choke out. “You’re really staying?”

Natalie nods against my shoulder, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I am. This is where I belong.”

Jessa wriggles her way between us, eager to show off her trophy. “Can I put it in my room, Dad? Maybe right next to Thrasher’s cage, so he can look at it whenever he wants?”

I laugh and meet Natalie’s shining eyes over the top of Jessa’s head.

“Of course, honey.”

Ecco agrees to watch Jessa for the night so that Natalie and I can celebrate our win with a proper dinner date at Natalie’s apartment. I wasn’t sure if Jessa would rather hang with us, but when I presented the option, she eagerly agreed.

I swear I could see visions of junk food dancing in her eyes as she raced toward Ecco.

The gentle rumble of Natalie’s laughter pulls me back to the present, and I blink, realizing I’ve been lost in thought. She smiles at me.

“What’s going on in that head of yours, Rian Kincaid?” she teases, her fingers tracing idle patterns on my knee.

I capture her hand in mine, marveling at the delicate contrast of her pale skin against my golden-brown fur. “Just thinking about how lucky I am,” I murmur, lifting her hand to brush a kiss across her knuckles. “And how much I love you.”

Natalie’s breath hitches, her eyes widening. For a moment, I worry I’ve said too much, too soon. Then she’s sliding into my lap, her arms twining around my neck as she nuzzles her head under my chin, fitting perfectly into my embrace.

“I love you too,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “More than I ever thought possible.”

My heart feels like it might burst from my chest, and I tighten my arms around her, pulling her impossibly closer. Our lips meet in a kiss that starts soft and sweet but quickly turns heated, desperate.

Natalie’s fingers tangle in my fur as she shifts against me, legs straddling my lap, and I groan, my body responding with eager intensity. I break the kiss, panting, and rest my chin against her hair once more.

“But,” I start, hesitant to share my doubts but knowing that we need to discuss this. “I don’t want to be the reason that you give up your dream, Natalie. What about your career, your partnership offer?”

Natalie pulls out of our embrace so she can look at me. “I’ve thought carefully about this,” she assures me. “I think… The thing is, I’ve been climbing that corporate ladder so long that I never stopped to ask myself why. The goal was always just more—more power, more money, more responsibility. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!”

She pauses, and I wait, heart in my throat, not wanting to interrupt.

“My biggest financial goal was to pay off my mom’s mortgage. I’ve already done that! And I realized the thing I love about my job is guiding artists’ careers, helping them. I can do that job right here. I don’t need to sacrifice anything just for some empty title.”

Her voice is clear and earnest, her expression soft and open in the glow of the lamplight. I marvel at her wisdom and her willingness to embrace change.

“How did I get so lucky?” I murmur.

“Well, it all started with these paper airplanes…” she starts, and I laugh and pull her back into my arms, capturing her mouth in a heady kiss.

Our kiss deepens as Natalie presses closer, her fingers tracing the curve of my horns and sending delicious shivers down my spine. I let my hands roam over her back, relishing the feel of her lithe body against mine. My rutting instincts rear their head and I feel the need to get her naked as quickly as possible.

She breaks the kiss to nuzzle into my neck, her breath hot against my fur as she murmurs, “Bedroom. Now.”

I don’t need to be told twice. In one smooth motion, I stand, lifting Natalie with me. She lets out a little squeak of surprise that quickly turns into a giggle as she wraps her legs around my waist.

I carry her down the short hallway to her bedroom, our lips meeting in heated, hungry kisses. The air between us crackles with anticipation, with the knowledge that tonight, we’re crossing a threshold we can’t come back from.

And I’ve never wanted anything more.

I lay Natalie gently on the bed, taking a moment just to drink in the sight of her—hair mussed, lips swollen from our kisses, eyes dark with desire. She reaches for me and I go willingly, covering her body with mine as our mouths crash together once more. Her hands are everywhere, stroking through my fur, tracing the hard planes of my muscles.

Each touch sends sparks of pleasure racing through me.

I trail kisses down the column of her throat, reveling in the little gasps and moans I draw from her. Her pulse flutters wildly beneath my lips. I take my time mapping the curves and valleys of her body with hands and mouth, committing every inch of her to memory.

Natalie arches beneath me, her nails digging deliciously into my shoulders as I lavish attention on her breasts.

“Rian, please,” she pants, her voice ragged with need.

I know what she’s asking for. We’ve been continuing to use the dildo to stretch her out, get her comfortable with the feeling of a knot. Tonight, she wants more. She wants all of me.

Slowly, reverently, I rid us of the last barriers between us until there’s nothing left but skin against fur, heartbeat against heartbeat. I settle between her thighs, the heat of her scorching against me.

“Are you sure?” I rasp, holding myself back with the last shreds of my control. I need her to be certain, to know she’s safe with me.

Natalie cups my face in her hands, her gaze locking with mine. In her eyes I see love, trust, and absolute certainty.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” she breathes. “I want you, Rian. All of you.”

My heart swells with emotion and desire. I brush a tender kiss against her lips before pulling out the magical lube and gently pouring it on us both.

Then slowly, carefully, I press forward.

Natalie’s breath hitches as I enter her, her fingers flexing against my shoulders. Even though we’ve spent time stretching her out, she’s impossibly tight around me. I freeze, searching her face for any sign of discomfort.

“Don’t stop,” she urges, lifting her hips to encourage me to push deeper. “It’s tight but it doesn’t hurt much. You feel so good.”

I ease forward, groaning at the exquisite sensation of her silky heat enveloping me. Natalie’s head falls back against the pillow, her mouth falling open on a silent gasp as I fill her completely. I hold myself still for a moment, letting Natalie adjust to the feeling of me inside of her. It takes every ounce of my control not to ride her raw.

“Okay?” I check in, my voice strained.

Natalie nods, her tongue darting out to wet her kiss-swollen lips. “More than okay. I feel so full of you. It’s incredible.”

“You’re incredible. I love you,” I whisper against her lips. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” she breathes, her eyes glistening. “Now show me, Rian.”

Her words undo me and my minotaur instincts take control, the need to rut and to breed her overwhelming all my senses as I start to move. Long, deep strokes that send shockwaves of bliss rippling through me. Natalie meets me thrust for thrust, her hips rising to draw me in even deeper.

Sweat mists our skin as our movements grow more urgent, more fevered. Natalie clings to me, her nails raking deliciously down my back as she urges me on with throaty moans and breathless pleas.

My knot begins to swell, the pressure building at the base of my shaft as my climax approaches.

“Rian,” Natalie pants, her voice raw. “Give me your knot. Please, I need to feel it. Fill me. Breed me.”

A growl rumbles up from my chest at her words. I capture her mouth in a searing kiss as I start to work my expanding knot into her tight channel. Natalie tenses for a moment and I pause, afraid of hurting her.

But then she’s bearing down, her inner muscles fluttering around me as she draws me in deeper.

With a final push and a shared gasp, my knot slips fully inside her, locking us together. Natalie cries out, her body clenching around me in rippling waves as her orgasm crashes over her.

The sensation is indescribable, her silky heat milking my knot, urging me to let go.

I bury my face in the crook of her neck, thrusting shallowly as pleasure coils tighter and tighter at the base of my spine. Natalie strokes my hair, murmuring words of love and encouragement as I finally surrender to the overwhelming sensations.

My climax slams into me with the force of a tidal wave. I pulse and throb inside Natalie as I empty myself into her, filling her with jet after jet of my come.

“Oh gods,” she pants, “I can feel your heat, Rian, you’re filling me up so much. Oh my gods, I’m going to come again.”

She lets out a mewling sound, arching up against me as she clenches herself around my knot, squeezing another rush of come out of me. With a guttural moan, I collapse against her, the knot holding us inextricably linked together as we ride out our aftershocks together.

“That was unbelievable, Rian,” she tells me as we cuddle.

A little ball of anxiety unravels in my chest. I guess I was nervous that this would be too much for her, that she wouldn’t enjoy being with a minotaur after all. That maybe this would be the thing that ended our story.

“For me, too,” I tell her. “That was, honestly, the best sex I’ve ever had. Natalie…I’m really, really glad that you decided to stay.”

“Me too,” she says, stroking my cheek.

After a few long, blissful minutes wrapped in each other’s arms, I feel my knot starting to deflate.

“I’m going to pull out of you now,” I tell Natalie. “It will probably be messy.”

Natalie shoots me a blissed out smile. “I’m learning that life is better when it’s messy.”

I chuckle against her throat and then ease myself out of her slowly. I grab some tissue from her bedside table, but it’s not enough to get us totally cleaned up. Natalie looks down at my sad attempts to clean us up and laughs.

“Shower?” she says, swinging her legs over the bed. “And maybe a round two?”