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He shakes his head. “You’ll be cold.” He unbuttons his crisp white shirt and tugs it off, placing it on top of the jacket on the back of the wingback chair in the corner. “If you want the beast, I can assure you, we are both happy to oblige you. It’s hard to speak in that form, so once I shift, get on my back and we’ll go out for a while.”
“You’re going to jump from that railing with me on your back?” My terror at the prospect has my heart pounding. I know I asked for this, but I never expected to jump from the sixth floor.
With his trousers undone, he steps close and cups my cheek. “Maybe you didn’t notice, love, but the manticore has wings.”
“We’re going to fly.” It comes out too fast and the words are all jumbled together.
He shrugs. “The beast will not be comfortable in this room. If you want him, we have to leave.”
My body pulses with a desire that overrides my fears. I skim the light dusting of hair on his chest and trace a path to his pants hanging low on his hips. “I want you, and I want to trust you.”
The sound of the monster’s growl rumbles from low in his gut and emerges, heightening how turned-on I am. He steps out of his pants, revealing his thick cock at full attention. He carefully folds his clothes, and looking at me, asks, “Are you ready?”
It takes all my strength to keep my feet in place. I don’t know if I want to run to him, or away from the fear of being hurt, but the draw to have him keeps me in place. I nod.
He steps out onto the veranda and gives the area another long look. His body contorts, grows, and stretches. Bones crack and change form. Fir pushes from his skin and grows long around his face as his jaw crunches, extends, and reforms into the lion. Wings sprout from his back and the long scorpion tail grows and forms into the deadly point. The manticore looks over his shoulder toward me.
Unable to look away, I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame. When he gets low enough, I climb onto his back. My body is on fire, and my pussy pulses needly. Gripping with my thighs around in front of his wings, I dig my hands into the soft fur of his mane. “You’re magnificent, Cade.”
A purr rumbles through him and he leaps into the air, flapping his wings to take us over the tops of the trees.
Tightening my grip, I take it all in. Not just the amazing view of the tops of trees, a lake in the distance with the moon’s reflections shining up at me, but the freedom of flying with the wind whipping my hair and making my eyes tear. His body moves beneath mine in fluidity and grace. Everything about this is sensual and exhilarating at the same time.
He could take me anywhere and leave me, or just as easily devour me with a single bite. No one would know.
Yet, I have no fear as we soar above the Catskill Mountains. This monster is mine. He’ll do anything to keep me safe.
Ahead is a clearing in the woods, and he lowers and lands smoothly.
Once we’re on the ground, I don’t want to let go. He feels so soft and warm. I love that lying across his back seems perfectly normal.
“Cade!” A woman runs into the clearing. She’s beautiful with long blond hair and wearing a sheer gown. Her body is perfect, not a dimple or bulge to be seen.
Pulling down my cocktail dress so I don’t expose anything, I slide to the ground.
Cade wraps a wing around me, keeping me close, as if he can sense my unease with a practically naked woman running toward him.
Stopping just feet from us, she widens her eyes at the sight of me. “Hello.”
“Hi.” I’ve never been more uncomfortable, and that’s saying something.
“I’m Astra.” She cocks her head, as if her name should mean something to me.
“Leona.” Unsure what else to do, I offer my hand. Once she shakes it, I ask, “Are you running away or toward something?”
Her chuckle is musical and annoyingly delightful. “Away, I suppose.” She looks at Cade. “My father has arranged a marriage for me.”
Cade’s growl makes me think I’m intruding on a private conversation. I back away a few steps, but he pulls me in with his wing until I’m pressed against his muscular front leg.
Looking between the two of us, Astra blinks. “I’ve interrupted something. Forgive me.”
Another growl and Cade leaps backward before shifting into a man. The process looks excruciating, but once he’s human again, and completely naked, he smiles. He takes my hand and threads our fingers together. “Who has your father promised you to?”
Neither one of them seems at all bothered by the fact that he’s naked and she may as well be. However, I feel very much like a third wheel at my own party. “I can give you two some privacy to talk.”
Tightening his hold, Cade shakes his head. “We don’t need privacy, Leona. Astra is a nymph. She lives in these woods. Her father is old-fashioned and has promised her to…” He leaves the sentence unfinished.
“A satyr.” Astra throws her arms up in the air. Her perfectly round breasts bob up and down. “I haven’t met him, but even so. The idea of being forced to marry anyone in this day. What is my father thinking?”
