Page 36 of Enchanting Her Monsters
He sets me down but doesn’t lose contact with me as we enter the small cabin, as though he can’t stand to be even an inch away from my skin.
Maxum and Arran observe us with avid interest.
“We bonded,” Flint announces proudly, puffing out his already enormous chest.
“I can see that.” Maxum smirks and waves a hand over his face. “She has that just-bonded glow.”
He’s playing it cool and lighthearted, but I sense he’s a bit envious. I wonder what’s holding him back. Perhaps he isn’t ready emotionally. I get that. I’m not sure if I’m emotionally ready for all this.
Arran gives me a serious look. “But how do you feel? Something’s different.”
“During the bonding, I got an upgrade on my armor package,” I joke.
“Huh?” Arran tilts his head.
“You can fuck me as hard as you like. I won’t break.”
From behind, Flint quickly covers my mouth with his huge hand. “Heartstone, don’t make that a challenge. You still might break.”
I lick his palm, and he jerks his hand away in surprise.
He then cups my chin and makes me tilt my head back until I’m looking up at him.“If you want to lick something, I have other appendages for that,”he says via our mind link.
I chuckle and lean into him and feel his appendages poking into my back. “I’ll take a rain check. I’m pretty tired and sore.”
I glance around when I feel what’s missing. “Where’s Calder?”
“Haven’t seen him since he ran off yesterday.” Arran shrugs.
“He didn’t let you know I was bonding with Flint?” I ask.
“Didn’t need to,” Maxum answers. “I saw Flint take you in the cave and figured as much.”
Panic rises in me. “But where is he? You aren’t worried that he’s been missing since yesterday?”
“Should we be worried?” Arran asks, standing at attention now that he sees my concern.
“Uh, yeah! Guys, you know as well as I do, he hasn’t been okay for a while. Osen’s death was hard on him. I thought you were supposed to be a pack.” I shake my head and turn around to race out the door to find him.
“He’s a big boy,”Osen chimes in.
“No, he’s someone who’s hurting,” I argue aloud so all of them can hear. “And there are evil murderous assholes on the loose!”
I storm outside and crash into the broad chest of a phoenix. I hit him with such force that we both go down to the ground. He makes sure that he takes the brunt of the fall and cradles me in his arms with me laying on top of him.
Once I realize it’s him, I lift my arms up and try to roll off like a fucking worm.
But he doesn’t let me go. “Crap. You hit me like a tank.”
“It’s my upgrade. Sorry!” Not only am I reenforced with stone, I’m faster and more powerful. Dang, I could hurt someone. “I hulked out.”
Calder captures my face and has me look at him. Concern flashes in his eyes. “Jade, why are you upset?”
I’m basically planking off his body, trying not to touch him. I don’t know how much longer I can minimize my contact. Besides, it feels awkward as hell. I’m pretty sure it looks stupid, too. I never thought of myself as the klutzy heroine, but dammit if the guys don’t bring that out in me. Although I’m impressing myself with my record-breaking plank time.
“I heard you didn’t come back after we talked,” I tell him. “I was worried.”
I’m surprised he hasn’t thrown me off. Instead, he sits up, holding me to his chest. My legs automatically fall to the sides of his hips.
