The Mates of Monsters novel Chapter 37

His voice remains calm, and I try to match his state. "I'm not a good person. I'm selfish and judgmental and—and my favorite part of this whole meeting is convincing everyone that I'm someone I'm not. I-I'm evil."

David wipes the single, rebellious tear from my temple before it slips into my hair. "You are not evil," he says and lifts me.

"I'm sure you thought so for the first week of knowing me."

"I thought I was the evil one for forcing you to come back with me when I knew all you wanted was to be rid of me."

I shake my head and find privacy in the palms of my hands. "I still see the look on your face when you caught me trying to escape. Goddess, David, I'm a fool. I'm nothing but a scared little girl pretending to be strong. All I wanted was for someone to love me, yet all I've done is hurt people who do."

"You may think you're pretending to be someone else out there," he says, referring to the meetings, "but that person is you, Brigette. You're good at this. You can be a brilliant Luna if only you realize it."

My arms snake around him as I lean in to hug him. I press my body against his strength and refuse to think of a world where he is not my mate. "I want to be good for you like you are for me. I want to be smart like you and selfless like you, as strong and confident. Everyone looks to you for answers, for approval, and you've managed to be a model Alpha despite your father leaving. You're brilliant, David. And it's crazy for me to say that I'm yours."

David breathes in, his chest pushing against mine, my body riding his wave. He moves away only slightly so he can see my face as he says, "We will be brilliant, okay?"

I nod promptly. "Okay."

"And you are mine?"

"For as long as you'll have me," I say, but he does not accept this answer. Instead, I hoist up and I tell him, "Until the end of my days."

"And I am yours, until the end of my days," he replies.

My fingers comb back his grown, thick hair. "I trust you."

He lowers me back down as his mouth comes to mine, kissing me deeply, sealing our promise. I feel the plush comforter underneath me as it plums around my body, and David looks me over for only a moment before resuming our kiss. My body rises and yearns to be against his—my back arching as warmth pours from my chest down my stomach to my core. I knew once we started kissing—truly kissing—that the pace of our intimacy would be as impossibly held back as a tsunami roaring to shore.

Both his hands grip my legs, painfully close. "There is still time."

My hair falls from behind my ear. My lip releases from between my teeth, and I can't fight my mouth from curving in shy delight. His touch refuses to move from my thighs, so I cover his hands with my own. "I have to get in the shower."

"And joining you in there would ruin my savoring, wouldn't it?"

"Probably," I mumble, nervous. "But I understand. We do have a lot of time, and maybe taking things step by step would be best."

"Go on, then," he says, removes his hold, and nods to the bathroom door.

I carefully move off of him and slide off the bed, landing on my feet. His gaze trails me into the bathroom, and he watches as I lean toward the mirror to check myself. A daring idea pops into my head, so I thoughtfully peel off my shirt and let it fall to the bathroom floor as if the door were closed and I were alone. I hear his weight shift on the mattress.

Next, I unbutton my pants, run them down my legs and step out of them, leaving me in nothing but my underwear. My entire body blushes. I meekly grab the door and connect our gazes as I steadily close it. David's unwavering attention and access are put to an end when the door clicks closed. Air pours from my lungs as I lean against the door, and this time, before I get in the shower, I knowingly leave it unlocked.