Page 11 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

—Rowen

Milo let out an amused sigh. Rumor had it Sadie was an incredibly capable vampiress… and an absolutely disastrous baker. Apparently, she was determined to improve. Which meant Milo was about to become quality control.

“What is it?” Grievance asked.

Milo folded the letter. “Nothing exciting. Just have to stop by Rowen’s in the morning. He wants us to try some pastries.”

Grievance groaned. “Do we have to?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“If that all… Pip tired,” the spider announced as he hauled himself back toward the ceiling on a thin strand of silk. “Night.”

Milo looked up just in time to see his tiny blue legs vanish into a webbed nest in the corner of the study.

“Thank you for protecting us, Pip,” Milo added, feeling like he needed to be a little more patient with his not-familiar spider.

“Welcome,” came a clipped response.

Fuck. Tomorrow I’ll bribe him with some silk-worms. That’ll cheer him up.

But that was tomorrow’s problem.

Right now, it was just him and his monster.

Milo looked up to find Grievance already watching him. Those warm brown eyes were locked onto his, the pupils blown wide in that unmistakable way they always were when the Chimera was seconds away from pouncing. Hunting. Claiming what was his.

Fuck yes. Keep looking at me like that.

Milo was already on his feet before he’d consciously made the decision, one word perched on the tip of his tongue.

“Shower?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Milo gasped as his back pressed against the cold shower tile, while his front was sprayed with water turned to near-boiling. Or was that just how it felt as it rolled from Grievance’s body and onto his?

His wild Chimera.

Grievance held Milo to him, crushing him in arms thick as Milo’s legs, shoving their bodies as close as possible while they rutted against one another in the spray. Steam filled Milo’s mouth as he gasped. Inhaling and breathing in the musk of his mate, getting drunk on the scent of his desire. His lust. The animalistic need that was all… him.

“Been wanting this body all fucking day,” Grievance growled into the crook of Milo’s neck, licking that tender spot below his ear.

Milo tried to wrap his arms around Grievance’s shoulders, but they simply wouldn’t meet. The Chimera’s broad, bear-like frame was too wide, boxing Milo into an embrace of solid muscle and blistering heat.

“It’s yours. All yours,” Milo gasped. “Do what you like.”

Grievance hummed low in his chest, the rumble making the water shiver across his skin.

“Mmmm, my sweet mate. If I were to do everything I wanted, we’d never leave this shower.”

“That’s fine with me.”

“You smell so good.” He took a deep breath, burying his nose in Milo’s damp curls. “Your scent is like a siren’s song, luring me to my doom.”

“Doom? Am I so unbearable?” Milo asked with a breathy laugh. To be honest, he was barely listening, barely keeping track of the conversation as Grievance’s hands gripped his waist, squeezing the smallest point of him.

“Yes. Every second with you is a test of my endurance. I spend every waking moment holding myself back, wondering how much longer my composure will hold before I can’t take it anymore… and forget just how delicate you are in my hands.”