Monster Pucked (Pucking Monsters #2)

1. Marco

CHAPTER 1

MARCO

I t was a hot chocolate crisis.

I bared my fangs in frustration as I stirred the giant silver pot of milk, brewing up more of the delectable drink. I added a few dashes of cinnamon and snapped my fingers at one of the assistants.

“Take over while I whip up my cocoa mix,” I commanded.

“Right away, chef,” they said.

I’d underestimated the amount we’d need for this holiday party due to how much hockey playing monsters could consume.

The answer was a lot.

The Growlers were one of the most respected teams in the National Monster Hockey League, and I had the pleasure of being two of their star players' personal chef. So when my favorite Krampus’ human mate, Holly, asked me to take the lead on the menu for this year’s party at their home—I agreed eagerly.

Everything had been running perfectly until five minutes ago. The hors d'oeuvres were enthusiastically devoured, the spinach and feta rugelach rolls absolutely delightful, and the desserts were abundant and beloved. Birch de No?l, sugar cookies, fudge toffee bars, gingerbread spiced nuts, Christmas tree brownies, apple bourbon mini pies, and more.

I’d spent weeks planning everything perfectly with the seasoned flare only a three-hundred-year-old vampire chef such as myself could.

Except for the damn hot chocolate.

It would be my downfall . Twenty-three robust hockey players along with their dates—there were at least fifty people chatting and mingling without my hot chocolate in their claws.

“More marshmallows!” I bellowed.

One of my other assistants scampered to the panty. An array of delicious scents wafted through the kitchen. Pots and pans bubbled on the stovetop, the oven hot with the main dishes.

I quickly pulled out the ingredients I needed and glanced around, ensuring everything else was going to plan.

“Chef!”

My head snapped up as my third assistant burst through the doors, eyes wide. His name was Allen and he was greener than a newborn orc when it came to the kitchen.

“What?” I barked.

“Someone has a question for you,” he blurted out.

I growled. “I’m fuckin’ busy right now. Unless it’s Klaus, Holly, or Flurry—I don’t give a bat-flying fuck.”

The kitchen was my domain, and I refused to be ripped from its walls because someone had a simple question.

“But chef! It’s an emergency! One of the players is having an allergic reaction to the fudge toffee bars and?—”

“Why didn’t you say that sooner?! No one said there was a nut allergy present,” I hissed.

I would have ensured none of the foods had nuts and now?—

Before he could say another word, I burst into my bat form and darted for the doors. They flew open with a gentle nudge of my vampiric power, and I entered the rest of the house, rushing to the commotion.

It was moments like this when I was appreciative of my bat form. I could fly above the horde of monsters circling whomever was in trouble.

I landed next to Klaus in my full form as he propped up a very handsome—and swollen—orc.

“Marco!” Holly squeaked. “Can you help him?”

“Yes. My blood can heal you. May I?” I asked.

“Ehrokk, is that okay?” Klaus asked.

He nodded eagerly, his eyes nearly swollen shut. His lips were puffy around the two short tusks jutting from them. The entire team surrounded us as I tore open my wrist and offered it to him. He drew in a wheezing breath before accepting a few crimson drops.

The relief was immediate. I licked my lips as I watched him consume me. The stress I’d felt this evening disappeared for just a few moments. I sighed in relief as the swelling around his eyes and lips subsided. Very nice lips.

I was certain I hadn’t seen him here before, or else I would have remembered him, wouldn’t I? He had verdant green skin with a dusting of freckles over his nose, a short mullet with the sides shaved, and a muscled physique that filled out the plaid shirt and knit cardigan he wore. A silver earring glinted in his pointed ear, twinkling like a star.

“You didn’t tell me someone had a food allergy,” I muttered, giving Klaus a dark glare.

He held up his clawed hands. “I was unaware, Marco. My apologies.”

“Don’t apologize to me ,” I said.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d known Klaus. Years upon years. Many people assumed I was his butler, but I was not. I was a renowned and highly trained chef with multiple culinary disciplines. Being a sports star, he and Flurry had very specific diet needs during the season, and I delighted in keeping the two of them, Holly, and their new infant, well fed.

Having known me for so long, he could tell my temper was boiling over this oversight. I took food safety very seriously and the thought of Ehrokk having a reaction horrified me.

Holly leaned against her other mate, Flurry. “Are you okay, E? I’m so sorry this happened. I should have sent out an allergy questionnaire for everyone to fill out.”

“I’m okay,” Ehrokk said. “It’s okay, Holly, don’t even sweat it.”

One of the other players, a werewolf named Jack, clapped him on the back. “Scared the shit out of us, man. You okay?”

“Sorry,” he winced. “I thought toffee was made out of dates.”

Dates?! If my heart were still beating, it would have failed.

“Traditional British toffee is made without nuts, but I used the American variety, which includes nuts. It’s a caramelized mix of sugar and butter.” Shut up , I reprimanded myself. No one here cared about how toffee was made, but I just couldn’t stand to let him believe dates were involved, of all ingredients. “I will make a plate of food for you and it will be nut-free.”

“You don’t have to do that,” he said.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen an Orc blush before. Pink bloomed on his cheeks, his eyes glistening.

I realized I was embarrassing him.

Klaus stood up. “Everyone back to partying, nothing to see here. Flurry, do your thing.”

Flurry stretched his long arms up in the air. “Time for some karaoke!”

Everyone cheered and followed him like a pack of holiday hounds toward the spacious living room. I held out my hand for Ehrokk, pulling him to his feet with an ease that surprised him.

“You’re strong,” he remarked.

It didn’t matter that he was taller than me by a foot or that he outweighed me. I chuckled, drawing my hand out of his rough grip. “I’m a vampire. We are very strong creatures.”

Klaus let out a low whistle. “Alright. You two have fun. And you’re standing under mistletoe, so…”

He wiggled his furry brows and then waltzed off.

I looked up, realizing he was right.

Ehrokk blushed even more. It was completely inappropriate, but I couldn’t help but think how cute he was when he blushed. And how… deliciously submissive his big brown eyes were.

“Oh. You don’t have to kiss me. I mean, I wouldn’t say no, you’re a really sexy vampire, but… Oh gods, I’m rambling,” Ehrokk said.

I smiled at him.

Then remembered the hot chocolate.

“Fuck. Come with me,” I said. “I must get the hot chocolate out, and then I’ll make you a plate, okay?”

“You don’t have to.” His stomach grumbled.

My gods, this poor thing is starving under my watch. “Are you hungry?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Then come with me. Now .”

I held out my hand, and he took it, gripping me as I led him back to the kitchen. All three of my assistants looked up at me, slightly terrified as usual, and then at him.

“Is that hot chocolate ready?” I asked.

“Yes, chef.”

“Then what the fuck is it still doing in the pot?!” I roared.

Ehrokk stifled a laugh. All eyes swiveled to him in pure shock.

No one ever laughed at me. Not while I was in the kitchen. But his chuckle didn’t infuriate me, it made me grin.

“Take a seat,” I said, pointing to one of the stools. “I’m an asshole in the kitchen, full warning.”

“That’s how I am on the ice,” he said. “More aggressive. You kind of have to be.”

He took a seat as I grabbed two glasses from the shelf and poured us each some red wine. I shot my stunned assistants a murderous look, and they all jumped back into work. At last, the hot chocolate went out to the party.

Finally, the cocoa crisis was averted.

I grabbed one of my assistants and pointed at the oven. “Check on that spiral ham. If it burns, I will put your head on a spike in your front yard.”

“Yes, chef.”

Ehrokk gave me a shy look. “Are you sure? I’ll just be in the way.”

“Yes,” I said.

For multiple reasons.

One, my blood wasn’t always a cure-all and while it should have stopped his reaction, I worried it might not work. I wanted to keep an eye on him, at least for a few minutes.

Two, he was rather cute when he blushed.

Third, after three hundred years of undead existence, I knew when to follow my instincts. And for whatever reason, they told me to keep him nearby.

I grabbed a platter and darted around the kitchen, plating up a meal fit for a sexy orc, all nut free. I placed it in front of him, catching a wave of his scent.

Fuck. He smells succulent. Lemon, bright and vibrant with fluttering notes of leather. Dark citrus and a burst of frankincense.

My fangs sharpened, my mouth immediately watering. I inhaled deeper before forcing myself to take a few steps back. I sipped my wine to wash away the bloodlust, wondering if I’d truly lost my mind this evening.

I had a kitchen to run and a party to feed, but all I could think about was taking a bite out of him .

“This is so good,” he moaned. “My god. Klaus, Holly, and Flurry are so lucky you feed them.”

I smiled, taking another sip of wine. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Thank you,” he sighed happily, biting into one of the spinach and feta rolls.

Another happy moan. Most of the time, I took platonic pleasure out of hearing such sounds from someone when they ate my food, but this felt entirely sexual. My imagination was far too vivid, and I thought about him kneeling before me, his lips parted as I fed him, his cock hard and dripping?—

Snap out of it!

“I—I need to get back to work,” I stammered.

He nodded. “Of course. Just tell me when to leave.”

I was about to answer and tell him never , but then the door opened. Jack, the werewolf, poked his head in.

“There you are!” he said. “You joining us or what? Bring your food! I wanna hear you sing Jingle Balls.”

“Oh gods,” Ehrokk laughed.

He gave me an apologetic look, but I waved my hand. “Have fun,” I said.

“I’ll find you later,” he promised.

I nodded, watching as he grabbed his plate and left. I stood there for a moment, wondering what the hell had just happened. I hadn’t felt temptation like that since I was a fledgling.

“Everything okay, chef?”

“Fuck off,” I snarled. “Where is the damn ham?!”

A few hours later, I leaned against the doorway of the living room, smiling as the last of the Growlers went out the front door. Klaus, Holly, and Flurry waved, chattering with a few more stragglers.

Despite the cocoa crisis, the allergic reaction, and one of the assistants bursting into tears—it had been the perfect party.

“Marco?”

I spun around in surprise and craned my head back, looking up at Ehrokk. He’d somehow snuck up on me. My breath whooshed out, his scent rushing over me again.

“Your name is Marco, right? I hope I got your name right or I’ll never show my face again,” he said nervously.

“You did,” I said. “How are you feeling?”

He beamed. “Happy. Good. I want to thank you for tonight. No one has ever done something like that for me.”

“Like what?” I asked. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You saved me and then went out of your way to feed me. You took care of me.”

He said it like it was some sort of superhero move, but it hadn’t been. “I enjoyed feeding you,” I said.

Ehrokk’s smile softened, and then his eyes darted up. We were under mistletoe again, the second time tonight.

But this time…

“It seems we’d anger the old gods if we didn’t kiss this time,” I said.

“Yeah. It would be bad luck, I think?”

“Me too.”

A beat of silence passed, and I took a step closer. “Ehrokk—may I kiss you?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “Please.”

His please sent a shiver of longing through me. I growled in excitement as I reached up, cupping the back of his neck. Drawing him down, his lips brushed mine with the warmth of a crackling fire.

The flames grew hotter, consuming us both. He drew in a shaky breath before kissing me deeper, moaning softly into my mouth. The taste of him exploded on my tongue, my fangs grazing his bottom lip.

“ Ahem .”

I broke away, turning to see Klaus, Flurry, and Holly standing there with stunned expressions.

Ehrokk let out a soft grunt. “Um. I need to go. Goodnight, everyone. Happy holidays.”

I watched in surprise as he took off, heading out the door before I could get another word in.

“Fuck,” Klaus said. “I didn’t mean to scare him off.”

“You embarrassed him,” Holly scolded.

“Not to kick you out,” Flurry said. “But it’s nearly one in the morning and well…”

“We need to send the babysitter home,” Klaus said.

“Got it,” I said. “I’ll be back tomorrow to finish cleaning up. Breakfast and lunch are already prepped.”

“Thank you,” Holly said. “Tonight was so amazing. Everyone complimented the food so many times I lost count. Even Coach was happy, and he’s a notoriously picky eater.”

“Thank you,” I chuckled. “Next year, we’ll make sure to get allergies written down.”

Her cheeks reddened. “Oh my gods, yeah. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be, darling,” I said gently. “Perks of having a vampire chef. I am useful for quick healing in emergencies.”

I gave them each a hug before turning to bat form and darting out the front door. Snow fell softly over the surrounding forest as I flew higher until I spotted Ehrokk’s car driving away.

I wondered if I’d ever see him again.

The kiss we’d shared had been unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

I craved him.

But with the way he’d run away, I wasn’t sure he felt the same way. If anything, I’d probably scared him.

Why would someone like him ever want to be with an old grumpy vampire?

I lingered a few moments longer before tearing my gaze away, redirecting myself towards home.

It would be another holiday season alone, but our mistletoe kiss would never be forgotten.