Page 82 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

“I do not pout. I brood. Much sexier.”

Milo laughed, shaking his head. “Well, lucky for you, I happen to like brooding Chimeras.”

“Oh?” Grievance asked, that crooked smile returning to his face. Others might have found the scar pulling at the right side of his mouth disfiguring, but Milo adored it. It gave every smile a lopsided warmth that somehow made the handsome Chimera even more unfairly attractive.

“Hmm…” he mused, closing the distance between them. “And how many brooding Chimeras do you know?”

“A few,” Milo teased. “But lucky for you, I happen to be completely obsessed with this one.”

His fingertips brushed lightly along the scar, lingering against warm skin.

Grievance’s grin softened, gaining that gentle affection he reserved just for Milo. A few sparks of lime green danced just under the collar of his vest, the way the Chimera’s magic always did when bonding with his Veya. His family.

“Mmm, how obsessed are you?” he purred.

“Pretty fucking obsessed,” Milo breathed, resting a hand on Grievance’s stubbled jaw.

“Can I ask a favor?”

Milo blinked, surprised. “Of course.”

“I want you to spell out exactly how obsessed you are with me—when I have my tongue in your ass tonight.”

“Grievance!” Milo said, alarmed, head swiveling to see who was close enough to hear. “We’re in public!” Milo hissed. A massive hand slid to the small of his back, pulling Milo’s body flush against his. Milo swallowed, his breath growing heavy and his cock suddenly very interested in the conversation.

“Grievance…” Milo whispered now, his body going hot all at once.

He looked over. The dried cornstalks weren’t much of a cover. They’d have to be really careful unless they wanted to give these tourists a show they’d never forget⁠—

Lanterns, what is wrong with me?

Did he really just consider getting busy—here!? Now!?

Fuck. Maybe this autumn weather really does mess with my brain chemistry.

He wasn’t usually this easy. Usually.

“How about an appetizer before my meal?” Grievance growled right into the crook of Milo’s neck and fuck. Now Milo’s dick was at full attention, and yep.

He was considering it.

“PIP IS STILL HERE!” A voice called from beneath the hat.

Grievance let out a heated sigh, kissing Milo on the neck, sending a trail of goosebumps erupting all the way to his ankle.

“Perhaps later.”

“Yes, later,” Milo said, exasperated, pushing away and reassembling his pants. “Not in front of the kids.”

“Oh, so now Marigold is our kid,” Grievance said with a laugh.

“Pip not kid!” the spider hissed. Milo immediately felt the indignant stomp of tiny spider feet atop his head. “Pip respected familiar!”

“Yes, of course. You’re right, Pip.” Milo rolled his eyes.

Pip wasn’t technically a familiar. He was just an enlarged jumping spider who had accidentally fallen into a vat of giggle tonic, gained the power of speech, and never once considered keeping an opinion to himself.

“We really need a date night,” Milo said as he pulled Marigold away from the neatly trimmed pot of chrysanthemums. “Our kids are driving me nuts.”