Page 2 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

It had the desired effect. Grievance looked over, and his warm brown eyes softened before tiny flecks of peridot caught the autumn sunlight, glowing with wanting lust.

“Careful, my mate,” he rumbled. “There is still plenty of time to turn around. I’d like to finish what I started this morning.”

Heat flooded Milo’s face like hot caramel over a red apple. He cleared his throat far too loudly.

Their mornings usually followed the same comfortable rhythm. Shower. Coffee. Preparing the day’s potions for delivery.

Except…

Something about the crisp autumn air had left Grievance particularly affectionate lately. Every excuse became a reason to steal another kiss, wrap an arm around Milo’s waist, or pull him close until they were both laughing and their delivery schedule ruined.

Not that Milo was complaining. Truthfully… he’d felt it too. The change in season. October always made the magic in Pumpkin Hollow glow brighter. Every spell carried a little extra spark, every enchanted lantern glowed a little warmer, and every MythFolk seemed just a touch more vibrant than the rest of the year.

But Grievance…

Grievance wasn’t MythFolk at all.

He wasn’t human.

He wasn’t MythBeast.

He was a Chimera—a creature that existed somewhere outside those neat little categories, capable of taking nearly any shape he desired.

Or rather⁠—

Any shape Milo desired.

Over the past year, Milo learned a lot about Chimeras.

First, Chimeras did not have control over their forms. They took on the shape that tied them to a family unit, which they called a Veya. Their bond to a Veya grounded them in a single form until that family no longer needed them.

But the moment Grievance came into Milo’s life—the moment they had taken each other as mates—Grievance’s magic changed. As though brought on by his need to do anything, be anything to provide and protect his mate, Grievance could now take any form he chose at will.

Over the past year, he’d become remarkably skilled at discovering exactly which form made Milo’s heart race the fastest.

And somehow, despite living with the man for nearly thirteen months and sharing a bed, a shower, and entirely too many scandalously distracting mornings… Milo still hadn’t developed any immunity whatsoever.

“You are staring again,” Grievance said while at the same time moving his hair to expose more of that chiseled jawline.

Asshole. He knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Maybe I’m assessing for signs of hypothermia since you’re walking around basically shirtless in October.”

“Mhm,” Grievance said, not at all convinced.

“It would be irresponsible not to. I am the village Healer after all.”

Grievance’s mouth curled into that slow smile that always made Milo’s stomach perform acrobatics.

“You are a very dedicated witch.”

“I am.”

“So dedicated that you’ve nearly fallen or walked into something three times now.”

“…Four,” Pip corrected.

Milo pointed toward his hat without looking.