Page 54 of Monster. Me.

"Seriously? That bastard… I’m sorry this situation is disappointing for you, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel some relief. Selfish relief, but still…"

Seeing Marlow’s pale face, I give in. I slide off the bed and kneel by his knees, gently taking his hands.

"Marlow… I don’t want you to leave this program. I know I shouldn’t say that. I know it’s not fair to you or what you aim to achieve here, but… I don’t want to… never see you again."

Marlow’s eyes lock onto mine with strange intensity.

This is the moment.

Everything or nothing. Either I lose him, or I reach for him.

So I take the risk, and go all in.

"I know I’m just a monster, someone who can’t be shown to the outside world. I don’t have much to offer except my loyalty, my admiration, my dedication. Please, I beg you, Marlow, don’t leave the program. I need you… close."

In the absolute silence, I can hear only his heartbeat.

Did it work?

Will he give me a chance?

Slowly, he lifts his hands and cups my face. My heart speeds up as he leans in, very slowly, and his lips finally meet mine.

I shiver, as if a breeze has found me, a warm gust carrying the scent of cherry blossoms and beautiful mornings when the sunrise paints the sky pink.

It’s my first kiss, hard to believe. I’ve had sex before, but I’ve never kissed anyone on the mouth. The feeling is sweet and dizzying, like countless petals drifting across my skin.

His lips are warm, sweet and impossibly velvety. I gently draw his plump lower lip between mine, then part my mouth a little wider and feel the faint, curious brush of his tongue against my own. That soft, tender touch sparks something fierce inside me, a craving to grab him, push him onto the bed, and breed him, but that part of me, the one tied to my primal side’s libido, is something I have to keep firmly under control around him.

The whole time Marlow is touching me, it writhes inside me, sensing its chance, an opening, a signal of readiness.

He's willing to be bred. Go for it!

No, stop. He's different…

Yes, different. He's ours. Ours!

Shut up. He's special. He deserves more, and I'm going to give him more, so back off!

In the meantime, as I struggle to hold myself, Marlow’s hands slide along the sides of my face before landing lightly against the scent glands at my neck, the teasingly affectionate gesture draws a quiet gasp from me.

I make sure that the kiss remains sweet and unhurried, all slow brushes of lips and the lazy, sensual glide of tongues. I don't want this to be what I had before, a meaningless five minutes. My other side was taking care of that, yet my human side… suffered.

But now it's in charge.

Without thinking any more, my hands rise and settle on his waist.

His body feels lean and supple beneath my fingers. Even through his T-shirt, I can feel the heat of his skin, the strength hidden beneath that graceful frame.

And that scent. He uses blockers, but my senses are stronger than those of ordinary people, and now I can finally inhale him, and… I know.

I begin to understand.

A rich scent of spring cherry blossoms, lush and sweet, carried on the wind through a bright, crystal-clear morning when white clouds glide nimbly across the sky.

There it is, washing over me.

An astonishing discovery.