Monsters Under Mistletoe

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

D ecades ago, when Thorne had been too young for brains, he couldn’t comprehend why anyone would want to sleep with someone else in their bed. Someone encroaching on your space, someone overheating the sheets, someone breathing and snoring and moving and overall preventing you from getting some actual sleep.

This morning, as Holly stirred in her sleep, as she reached out over the sheets until she found him, her body following her hand until she was snuggled right up against him before she let out a quiet hum of satisfaction, Thorne could only call that memory of himself an absolute dumbass.

It had been a week since Holly had shown up in his coffee shop, before his entire being snapped into place at the sight of his mate, before she’d taken him by storm and imprinted herself into his life. Sure, it had been a week of heat and sex and pleasure and rest, but it had been the best week of his life. There had been little glimpses of sanity through the fog of heat where he discovered his mate, the woman she was, how the unique blend of wolf and person made her brain tick.

And all it had done was increase his curiosity. He wanted to delve into her psyche, learn who she was inside and out, discover all the parts of her that he would love and see it turn into the bonding love he knew he’d have for her. He was delighted by everything he’d learned of her and couldn’t wait to find out more.

Like the barest bit of blonde hiding underneath all that black hair. Why did she dye it? How many other colors had she tried? Would she continue experimenting?

And that didn’t compare to her humor. The wicked way she teased him when she could. Heats weren’t consistent, usually giving space for rest and food before taking over again, and Holly’s had been no exception. But she’d sure taken advantage of those moments.

Yesterday morning, he’d found her in his kitchen, not a stitch of clothing on her as she reheated food he’d ordered the night before. It was so natural to see her in his space, making it hers by simply existing in it, a flash of the future ahead of him.

Sure, they had a lot to figure out. She had a pack he needed to meet, an entire life he needed to learn. He didn’t even know where she was from or if she could move here.

That was a concern. If she couldn’t uproot her life, could he?

Definitely. Not quickly, by any means, but he could always open up a second coffee shop. Find a solid manager for this one, open a second location, build the brand into something bigger than this little novelty place that tourists loved visiting. He’d have to see what business loans he could get—or grants, depending on the city she lived closest to.

But he was getting ahead of himself. It might not even be necessary. Maybe she was closer than he thought.

“You’re thinking really hard this morning,” Holly murmured as she stretched against him.

Smiling down at her, he dropped a soft kiss to her lips, warmed by her answering smile. “How are you feeling?”

She rolled away from him, arms in all directions as her shoulder cracked, her back arching and a satisfied groan rumbling from her chest. “Good.”

“Sore?”

Holly let out a soft hum and nodded. “Like I had a really good workout.”

He grinned. She wasn’t wrong. “I’m sure a bath would help.”

She blinked away her lingering sleep, blue eyes sparkling up at him. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Why don’t you get one started for us while I run downstairs and make some coffee? What would you like?”

She was already sitting up, not a care in the world as the sheet fell and revealed her form. Red patches covered her chest, proof of his busy mouth and teeth over the last week, and still he wanted to add more. “Just a normal coffee,” she answered, climbing to her feet and stretching out again. “Cream, no sugar.”

Her body was perfect, long and strong and lithe and made for him. It helped temper his disappointment at her simple coffee order. He’d have to find another way to show off his skills.

“You keep looking at me like that, and I don’t know that you’ll make it downstairs,” she teased, her grin infectious.

A quick beat of his wings and he was on his feet, snagging her close for another kiss, enjoying the feel of her skin against his. “I have salts and oils and all kinds of fun things for a bath. Pick out your favorite.”

Her nose wrinkled, delighting Thorne. “Is any of that necessary?”

“Oh, I see someone likes their baths as boring as their coffee.”

“Boring?!” Holly was practically speechless, her mouth moving but no more words coming out.

He turned her toward the bathroom, prodding her on with a playful smack to one cheek—still delightfully red from the lashes his tail had given her yesterday—and grinned. “Don’t worry, no matter what you choose, a bath with me will never be boring.”

“You’re lucky you’re cute!” she called after him as he found some clothes to throw on.

It was tempting to follow her right back, corner her and make her the most luxurious bath he could, but coffee first. He also needed to make sure the shop was still in good shape. While his employees had been more than happy—and capable—to cover for him over the last week, he still wanted to make sure they were properly supported for the morning.

He’d definitely be upping their Christmas bonus this year.

The shop wasn’t too loud when he got there, the normal hum from a steady stream of clientele. What day was it? Right, Wednesday. A week spent taking care of his wonderful mate upstairs while the world went by. It would be a long while before they had a week like that again, but he couldn’t wait to see what their lives settled into.

The morning rush seemed to be slowing down, getting ready for the drop before the lunch rush. In a week, the busy hours would look different as people started their holiday, but it felt different this year.

He couldn’t wait to wake up his ever-practical mate Christmas morning. It might take a bit of time, but he’d have to teach her how to indulge.

“Well, well, well,” Skyler’s husky voice broke through his thoughts, drawing in the attention of his other baristas, Madison and Hunter. “Surprised to see you up and walking. Figured we’d need to get an IV delivered before you had enough fluids to stand.”

“Everything going okay?” he asked, the friendly ribbing rolling off his shoulders. Considering the state he’d been in when they last saw him, he deserved the teases.

“Yeah, though Steve said that we’re all going to need some extra vacation days to make up for it.”

Thorne laughed, having expected nothing less. He’d thrown a massive wrench into the schedule, and Steve, his main assistant, had carried the brunt of it. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everyone is taken care of.”

He stepped around them, starting the process of pulling the shots for his drink before he started on Holly’s. He’d make hers right before he went back upstairs so it was as fresh as possible.

“Anything I should know before I go back upstairs?” he asked, making sure he wasn’t in their way while they helped actual customers. It was a delicate dance, but years of doing this had taught them all how to work effortlessly around each other.

“Steve kept a journal,” Hunter said as he steamed oat milk. “Nothing to worry about, just a general update to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.”

“The biggest thing he was worried about was a delayed shipment, but everything’s been on time.”

Good, good. Should life pivot and Thorne needed to move to be with his mate, it was looking like Steve might be the person to take his place—if the man wanted it. As a former programmer who retired early thanks to a massive app sale, he was picky on how much work he took up in his “retirement.” But he definitely enjoyed the pace of the cafe.

Thorne’s shots finished, and he started on his milk. A flat white would be perfect to sip while in the bath with Holly, finally relaxing and taking care of his mate in a different way.

Something turned in his stomach, a sudden wave of nausea that was gone as soon as it appeared. It wasn’t normal, but it hadn’t been a normal week. As soon as the milk was steamed and poured, he checked the bakery display. A bagel should be good, nothing too heavy but not too sugary.

He was starting on Holly’s coffee—foaming up the cream just because he couldn’t help himself—when Madison muttered a curse under her breath. It was quiet and nothing he hadn’t said louder in his own shop almost on a weekly basis, but never from Madison . She was the sunniest bundle of joy he’d ever met, never having a bad day as far as he’d seen.

She was tense, her face a mask as she watched the door open, a man walking in. Thorne had seen him here before, everyone in town stopped in occasionally, but he didn’t know the man as well as the baristas did.

“Go take a break,” Skyler said to Madison, automatically taking over the drink the girl was in the middle of.

“No, it’s okay—”

The man scanned the bar, his expression changing when he saw Madison. A trickle of pleasure came from the man’s direction, but it felt slick, like oil. Never a good sign.

“It’s busy,” Madison said softly, obviously debating what to do. “No reason to leave you guys alone.”

She was shrinking in on herself, her hands starting to fidget with the faux fur lining of her garter belt. Testing his theory, Thorne shook out his wings, shielding Madison behind one of them while she bent to get milk from the mini fridge under the counter.

Displeasure soured the air, abrasive on his tongue, and that was all Thorne needed.

One didn’t own a sex-themed lingerie coffee shop for as long as he did and not learn how to recognize creeps who didn’t know how to respect boundaries.

“Hunter, do you mind finishing this drink for me?” he said, pulling the tall man off the register and taking his place.

Thorne had a strict no-tolerance policy of harassment against his staff, the one thing that made it possible to protect his shop. And if that meant he needed to keep his wings spread while taking an order to try and provoke a customer into a misstep, that’s exactly what he was going to do.

Much later than expected, Thorne made his way back up to his apartment. It had only taken one comment and he’d banned the man from his coffee shop. No one talked to or about his staff that way, especially not in his damn shop.

He talked to Madison afterward, a conversation he’d revisit after the holiday season ended. It had helped, but he knew he’d need to have another staff meeting. No matter how much money someone spent, his employees were paid to make coffee and nothing else.

It was quiet as he pushed open the door, though not unexpected. Holly would have made the bath by now, hopefully enjoying her time. There was something in the air, though. It didn’t feel right, didn’t feel like it had when he left earlier. The silence was starting to get too loud when he walked into the bedroom.

It was…clean. The bed was made, a single piece of paper left on the duvet.

The churn of his stomach returned, and Thorne knew what it meant before he stepped close enough to read the note.

Thank you. It was a wonderful week and I loved every part of it.

I know you’re busy and with the holiday coming up, I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.

Maybe I’ll see you in the new year.

x Holly

The bathroom was empty, her clothes having been picked up and taken. He looked out the window, her little car that had sat in the corner of the lot all week gone and another car pulling in.

He hadn’t told her. They’d never had that conversation. It hadn’t seemed important at the time, her heat the focus on their time together. And shifters didn’t mate like incubi did—they chose their mates after a courtship. She wouldn’t have even known to ask.

She was gone.

Thorne sank to the floor, a numbness spreading over his wings.

His mate had left, and he had no idea how to find her.