Page 100 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

Stumbling out of the shower, Grievance didn’t have the awareness to turn the water off. Or grab a towel. Or anything. His mind and body had one goal.

And that was to breed his perfect little mate until he was bursting with Grievance’s cubs.

CHAPTER FOUR

grievance

“Grievance, what in Lantern’s name are you doing?” Milo was on his feet, brows raised at the puddle Grievance was leaving all over the floor.

“My mate,” Grievance said on a gasp, reaching for his beloved.

When their skin met, that tight pain in his chest eased. Milo smelled incredible. Like clove and earth. Of spices and… kindness. He’d smelled it all those months ago, when he crashed into this life as a boar-bear. Kindness had an unmistakable scent.

And it billowed off Milo in waves.

Grievance was helpless to it. Drunk on it. Or maybe just drunk in general. Because he was pretty sure Milo was speaking to him, but he hardly heard a single word. He was lost in those emerald eyes, now pinched with worry. Weak for the way those always-cold hands reached for his forehead.

Yes. Touch me more. Feel all of me. Feel how I burn for you.

“Grievance, you’re burning up,” Milo said. “And your pupils are blown.”

He led Grievance to the sofa, but it felt more like floating than walking. It was getting hard to breathe. His chest ached.

My mate. Please. Spare me from this carnal yearning.

Only one thing could stop this raging need. And that was his mate’s body. His submission. His moans as Grievance melted them into one. He reached for the hem of Milo’s sweater, running a hand up his thigh, resting on that biteable hipbone he loved so much.

“So beautiful. Such a perfect mate. How did I get so fortunate to bond my soul to one as lovely as yours?”

“W-what’s gotten into you?” Milo stuttered, his face blooming into a gorgeous shade of pink. Grievance wanted to know what that shade tasted like. Wanted to lick it right off his cheeks.

“Grievance, have you been listening to me?” Milo shouted. “Hey, s-snap out of it!” Milo said, smacking the side of Grievance’s face, hard enough that he flinched.

A fresh wave of lust seized the Chimera’s body until every nerve felt like it was on fire. He turned his head and locked eyes with Milo, who’d stumbled a few shocked steps backward.

He smiled, flashing deadly canines.

“Do that again.”

He was so, so pleased when a frightened little whimper escaped Milo’s throat. Then his mate’s eyes darted to the throbbing erection between his legs. Grievance spread himself obscenely on the sofa, showing off his impressive length. He gave it a few quick pulls for Milo’s viewing pleasure.

“Come have a seat.” He patted his thigh in invitation. “I promise, I’ll only bite when you ask for it. And I promise, you will ask for it.”

Milo just stared at him. Eyes wide, face flushed, and…

Yes. There it is. My needy little witch.

Grievance sucked in a deep breath, nostrils flaring wide, catching all that delicious musky scent. The scent of want. Of arousal. It was tentative, but there. Like Milo wasn’t sure if he was allowed to want this. To take what Grievance was offering.

“What do you say, my beholden? Will you take my seed? Or will you leave me aching? Begging?”

Grievance was desperate. Just the sight of his mate standing there… it was taking all his self-control to stay seated on the sofa. To stop himself from grabbing that body and plunging into it. Then again, he was so dizzy, maybe he couldn’t stand.

What was this terrible, wonderful feeling? One moment it drove him to the brink of unconsciousness, and the next it had him so primed, so consumed by desire, it left his head spinning.

“I’ll beg,” he gasped, stroking himself. “If that is what you want. I’ll get on my knees and beg for a taste of you.”

“Grievance…” Milo panted. He shook himself, then looked to the abandoned pastry box on the table.