Page 86 of Zombies, Satyrs and Vampires, Oh My!

He laughs under his breath. “Well, that’s—uh—new.” Then, softer, his voice gone rough again, “Please. Can I touch you? Joy, fuck, I’ve missed you so goddamn much.”

His words wound, making me feel guilty for all of this. I take a shaky step back. “No. You need to leave. Right now. This is when it’s dangerous. When I’m dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” His tone sharpens. “What are you talking about?”

“If I go into heat and I’m not mated—if I don’t get impregnated—I could go feral.”

He stares at me like I’ve spoken another language. “Feral?”

“It’s what happens to unmated mothmen,” I say quietly. “There was one before—Vivian told me. He was unmated and tried to claim her. But he was already pretty much feral and he wouldn’t relent, even after Atticus had claimed her. He tried to hurt them and… ” I shake my head. “I don’t want to hurt you. Ever.”

“Don’t you know that by leaving me, you’ve hurt me? Joy, I don’t want to live without you, no matter what.”

“I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you.”

Malcolm steps forward, close to me, until I can feel the warmth of him again. My nipples pebble at his nearness and moisture floods my panties.

“That’s completely different,” he says. “That other moth was looking for a mate. You already have one. I’m your mate.”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t work like that. You’re human⁠—”

“I don’t give a damn,” he interrupts, voice deep, determined. “No other man—or creature—is going to fuck you or mate you. You belong to me.”

I shiver at the ferocity of his words.

He makes a deep growly noise in his throat. “The smell is driving me wild, Joy. Your pheromones.” He slides his nose up my throat, and I whimper.

“I can’t help it. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I can help. Let me help.”

My breath stutters. “I—Mal⁠—”

He cups my face, thumb brushing my bottom lip. “What do I need to do?”

“The first thing…” My voice trembles. “The first thing I need to know is that you’re not going to change your mind. That you’re not going to wake up two weeks from now and realize you don’t want a wife with wings and bug antennae.”

“Baby,” he says, fierce and sure, “I don’t care if you have wings, antennae, or twelve sets of eyes. You’re beautiful. You’ve always been beautiful. This—” He gestures to me. “This just enhances everything I already loved about you.”

It’s time for me to trust him, to not assume he can’t handle me at my worst. My heart thunders, and relief settles into my bones. “Then I just need you to fuck me.”

His grin is quick, wicked, and so achingly familiar it makes me ache. “Well, let’s do it, then.”

I laugh through a shaky breath. “I don’t know if the wings will get in the way.”

He tugs me closer, lips brushing mine. “We’ll figure it out,” he murmurs. “It’s an adventure. Our adventure.”

“I’m scared,” I admit.

“Don’t be. It’s just me. It’s us. We’re meant to be, remember?” His eyes search all over me. “Your wings are really beautiful, Joy. Just stunning.”

“Not bright and vibrant like a butterfly, though,” I say.

“No. But butterflies are delicate things. You have always been so strong. It’s one of the things I love about you.” He says all of this while unbuttoning his shirt. “I take it Amelia lives here with you?”

“She does.

“Where is your bedroom?

I lead him to my room and watch as he tosses his shirt onto the dresser. God, I’d forgotten how beautiful his body is. “Amelia will be gone for hours. She needs the water time,” I say.

“Good. We have a lot of missed time to make up for.”

“Are you really sure you want me?” I can’t help but ask.

“Babydoll, when we said our vows and promised to stand by each other in sickness and in health, did you mean your promise?”

“Of course.”

“I did too.”

“This is a little different than an illness, Mal. The wings are permanent. And I’m pretty sure any kids we have will end up like me. Little monsters.”

He grips my arms. “You, my love, are not a monster, and I’ll count myself a lucky man if our kids look like you.”