Howl (Monster Boyfriends #1)

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

JAMIE

L ater that evening, after Jo leaves, Raegan and I find ourselves alone.

We might be close—especially given how long I’ve known her—but watching her casually brush her teeth after making her come on my kitchen counter is a whole different level of intimate.

Not to mention, I’ve never lived with someone of the opposite sex that isn’t related before.

I was properly educated on the female body at a young age, but not because of any sexual experience—I was a little late to the party on that front—but because my mom took the time to sit me down and explain the mechanics. She wanted me to know about a woman’s menstrual cycle and understand that it was completely natural. This conversation came about after I’d found my sister’s used tampon in the trash and thought her penis had fallen off.

Females are much less scary to me now in my thirties, but I’d be lying if I said the idea of sharing a bed with Raegan isn’t a little intimidating. I’ve laid next to her as she fought off the remains of her anxiety, falling asleep on top of the covers while she’s tucked safely under three layers of blankets. And yesterday I fell asleep with her curled into me, closer than we’ve ever been before. But that happened right after being intimate. Tonight, inches away from being skin to skin, we’re expected to just…sleep?

Come on, Jamie. What’re you so afraid of?

I’d already offered to sleep on the couch—I’m nothing if not chivalrous—and accepted the inevitable neck cramp that would come in the morning, but Raegan wouldn’t have it. She still feels guilty for breaking the guest bed, despite my insistence that it wasn’t a big deal. Though she tried to talk me into it, there was no way I was going to let her be the one to take the couch, so here we are.

If this happened a month ago, it wouldn’t be so scary. Raegan has always felt like another sister—another confidant I can rely on. But things have changed so much in just one week. Our entire relationship has shifted into something so drastically different, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at her as anything else but mine ever again.

Raegan stands barefoot on the rug in my bedroom, her red toenail polish complimenting her pale skin. I’ve never been one to have a foot fetish, but Raegan’s are so dainty and perfect, I’d be happy to kiss my way from the tip of her toes to the inside of her upper thigh. I could still smell the scent of her arousal lingering in the kitchen when I went to grab a bottle of water, and it nearly sent me into a frenzy.

She seems to have caught me staring, because her toes curl into the carpet. My eyes shoot back up to her face, but they don’t miss her exposed thighs on the way up. She’s wearing a pair of thin sleep shorts and a Shadow Hills Hobgoblins T-shirt: our high school mascot. It’s one of hers this time, so it’s more fitted.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” she asks, crossing her arms and tucking her hands into her armpits. It looks like she’s giving herself a hug, and it’s adorable. But the way she’s biting her lip is the farthest thing from adorable.

Why the hell did I have to notice the plumpness of her lips right before climbing into bed with her?

Cleetus appears with perfectly inconvenient timing, jumping jauntily to the bed with his tail curled into a question mark. His curiosity has driven him to explore the entirety of my condo today while Joanna and I hauled all of Raegan’s things inside. Despite her claims of independence, Raegan can hardly open a soda bottle much less lift heavy boxes. And I don’t fault her for it. It’s always been my job to do any heavy lifting. Besides, her petite frame only lent itself to my benefit yesterday. Having her pressed against me, legs hooked around my waist, felt like a dream come true. Something I never knew I wanted but now I can’t live without.

An ache starts to build in my balls, but I hastily shove all thoughts of fucking her far, far away and say, “I’m not going to eat you. Not unless you want me too.”

I overheard the conversation between her and Jo earlier today, and I had to smother a laugh at her friend’s comment about the way I’d apparently been staring at Raegan. But she wasn’t wrong.

Cleetus then gives me a dirty look before finding a spot at the foot of the bed to start making his evening biscuits, and I wonder awkwardly if he’s able to sense the shift between us as well.

I lift the edge of the comforter and slip underneath, relishing the cool touch of the blanket on my skin. Raegan follows my lead and shifts her weight a few times before settling. She’s on her back, eyes staring at the ceiling as her fingers grip the edge of the comforter and pull it up to her chin.

“Rae,” I say her name quietly. “We don’t have to do anything else.”

The silence is thicker than the saliva that’s built up on my tongue. I swallow, needing to get this out, because I don’t want her to feel like hooking up again is mandatory just because it happened once.

“I don’t expect anything,” I tell her honestly. “Whatever you’re comfortable with is what I want. Mates or not, it’s always your decision.”

She waits a moment before responding. Then I hear her quietly say, “Thank you.”

The awkward silence is broken when her foot accidentally bumps Cleetus on the head and he meows in offense.

“Sorry, sweet boy,” she apologizes, lifting her head to make sure he’s alright. The beast settles into a ball against her calf and lets out a dramatic sigh.

“I don’t remember giving him permission to sleep in the bed.” I say it jokingly, but I’m not not serious.

She relaxes. “He doesn’t need permission.”

“No he doesn’t,” I grumble, rolling my eyes. On cue, the cat growls low in his throat, and I can feel the vibration in my feet.

“I did say we’re a package deal.”

I sit up and look him straight in his yellow eyes. “And that’s the only reason you’re here.” He doesn’t bother with a response. As I lay back down, I reach to turn off the light. “Goodnight, Rae.”

She murmurs a goodnight back to me, and then we’re in the dark.