Page 12 of Abdominal Snowman

She was definitely dreaming. Gabi had read her too many passages from her monster romance books, and she was dreaming. Yep.

Sage tilted her head to the side, trying to decide if she should scream, or run, or...

“Do you mind?” he asked, covering himself.

Sage blinked again, sure she was imagining the embarrassment on his face.

Maybe he’s shy.

She wanted to laugh at the ridiculous thought, but she struggled to find the humor amidst the panic.

Her eyes rose and rose, taking in his large form before landing on his face. His expression was so human, and it startled Sage to see the same brilliant blue eyes from the road last night firmly focused on her face.

“You...” It couldn’t be.

“Let me explain,” he began, grabbing a blanket from the bed and holding it in front of his naked form. It barely covered his midsection. “I’m not going to hurt you, I promise.”

She didn’t know him, so his promise meant nothing to her. Yet she didn’t move, just stared at the tall… beast in front of her. At the very least, he was seven foot.

And this was the creature who’d caused her to run off the road? Her gaze dropped to his feet, and she found herself moving before she could catch herself, her reporter mind kicking into high gear. But then she felt the cold air drift against her bare skin, and she glanced down.

She was naked. And her nipples were hard. Perfect.

“Why am I naked?” she asked slowly.

When she lifted her gaze, Soren’s expression turned stricken. “I’m so sorry, I meant to wake up before you and... change back... You were so cold!” he blurted as she stared at him. “I didn’t want you to freeze to death, and you fell asleep in your freezing wet clothes. When I got home to find you on my couch, you were visibly shivering.” His tone had gone from panicked to scolding as he waved a hand at her form, and she reached for another blanket on the bed, though it wasn’t as soft as what she’d woken up to.

Which… was apparently this… monster? No, if he was a monster, he would have killed her already. Right? “Hello?” he asked and waved a hand at her. She blinked up at him. Way up.

“Are you okay? I had to warm you up and make sure you didn’t die from hypothermia.” He was sheepish, she realized, at the way he folded his massive shoulders when he spoke to her.

Sage pulled the actual blanket up around herself as she processed.

“My name is Soren,” he said softly, but still so deep and grumbly.

Soren...

Sage rolled his name around in her mouth. It was nice. For a… beast. She guessed. What were beasts usually named?

The laugh that almost cracked out of her was probably born from hysteria.

Soren slowly backed across the room, staying against the far wall. Sage moved with him, eyes wide as she kept as far away from him as possible.

If he were to leap across the room to tear her throat out, she wouldn’t be able to stop him. But at least she’d see it coming.

“I’ll give you some privacy and go get your clothes. They are in the dryer.” Soren gestured toward the stairs behind him. “If you need anything… I’ll be back.” He winced before turning away from her and leaving her alone.

It was for pure scientific purposes that she stared at him as he left. He was a very pale monster, but he was more human than she expected for… whatever he was. The panic she’d felt when she first saw him was ebbing, replaced with her ever starving curiosity.

“Hey!” She leaned forward on the bed and called after him. “What are you?”

She received no answer and lowered herself back down. For a split second, she thought about running. But she was naked. And he wasn’t… he didn’t seem evil. He didn’t even seem like he wanted to hurt her.

“For fuck’s sake, he put my clothes in his dryer!”

Maybe he’s trying to Stockholm you.

She glanced toward the window, watching the snow fall. It hadn’t lightened up since she’d escaped it for the warmth of the couch.