Page 122 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

A little shop had opened near the end of Main Street sometime during the summer. Milo had passed its window dozens of times with Grievance. And every single time—Grievance looked inside.

Apparently, Milo’s massive monster had an eye for jewelry. Rings. Chains. Bracelets. Brooches. Anything polished, sparkling, or set with stones inevitably caught the Chimera’s attention.

He’d amassed quite the collection in their year together, including Milo’s old cufflinks—which he’d never had much use for until now—and a peridot pendant Milo had gifted him last year that he hardly ever took off.

Grievance was adorably shy about his collection, careful not to fuss over it when he knew Milo was watching. But every once in a while, Milo caught him arranging and rearranging his jewelry on the vanity, searching for the perfect way to display his treasures. He’d center each piece carefully on its own little velvet pillow, angling the gems this way and that until they caught the light just right.

It was fucking adorable.

Milo had a theory about it too. Grievance had lived countless lives over countless centuries, and more than a few had been spent in the bodies of dragons. Perhaps some treasure-hoarding instincts never completely disappeared.

He slipped into the shop, and less than five minutes later, emerged with a tiny velvet pouch tucked safely inside his coat.

Grievance had moved approximately three feet; apparently, the caramel gun was jammed, holding up the line.

“I’m back.”

His mate turned, his eyes immediately sweeping over Milo from head to toe as though to check for injury.

“You were gone seven minutes.”

“Were you counting?”

“Yes.”

Of course he was. Milo stepped closer. “Hold out your hand.”

Grievance’s brow furrowed, but he obeyed. Milo dropped the little pouch into his palm, and the Chimera’s grouchy face softened.

“What is this?”

“Open it.”

Grievance loosened the drawstring and dumped the contents. A single emerald earring set in gold slid into his palm. It was simple—nothing extravagant—but the stone was genuine. That was exactly why Milo could only afford one. He’d never be able to afford the pair.

For several seconds, Grievance said nothing. Milo suddenly felt nervous.

“The lady inside said she lost the other one, so I got a discount. I thought maybe we could turn this one into a pendant or a brooch… or something.” His voice faded away as Grievance continued to stare at it, without a word.

“If you hate it, we can go back and exchange it for something—Mm!”

Grievance grabbed Milo and kissed him. Milo melted into that familiar possessiveness of his mate. The one who wasn’t afraid to grab Milo and touch him the way he needed to be touched.

There is my monster.

Grievance licked the seam of Milo’s mouth, and just when Milo was about to moan and make a scene in public, he pulled back.

“Thank you, my love.”

Some of the heaviness finally disappeared from Grievance’s expression.

Milo took the single earring and lifted it beside Grievance’s face, admiring the way the stone caught the autumn sunlight.

“Green is definitely your color. You like it?”

“I love it.”

“What are you going to make it into? It could work as a pendant on a necklace.”