Mated to the Swamp Monster: Mated to the Monster by Phillips Honey

Author:Phillips, Honey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Aweek later, Rorie watched the ceiling overhead as the predawn light began to cast shadows from the surrounding trees across it. For once she was awake before Marsh, his big body warm against her side. She’d awoken enough during the night to know that this was how they inevitably slept, but she was rarely awake to enjoy it. And usually he was out of their bed as soon as the sky began to lighten.

It had been a wonderful week. She’d enjoyed the beautiful, peaceful surroundings, and the simple but delicious food, but most of all she’d enjoyed being with Marsh. He was sweet and thoughtful, and unexpectedly charming. His skills never failed to impress her, and over the past week he’d started teaching her about preserving and storing food, the different healing properties of the herbs, and the different plants and animals that frequented the area.

She’d watched him splint a broken wing and bandage a fox’s wounded paw. The animals seemed to trust him, although they were far more suspicious of her, probably because she was too human.

They’d been together the entire time except for yesterday morning when he’d produced a pirogue he kept hidden in the reeds and left for an hour or so to leave a message about clothing on the trading network. She hadn’t been worried when she watched him go, but once he was gone, the isolation of his home no longer seemed as peaceful and friendly.

She found herself watching the bushes at the edge of the clearing and jumping every time a twig snapped or something rustled in the undergrowth. While she hadn’t forgotten about Harold, he no longer seemed as threatening—at least not while Marsh was present. As soon as he left, her fears came rushing back and she kept expecting to see him appear in the clearing.

By the time Marsh returned, she was limping back and forth on the shore and as soon as he stepped out of the boat she threw herself into his arms.

“What’s wrong, little bird? You’re shaking like a leaf.” He picked her up, his arms tightening around her as he looked around. “Did something happen?”

“N-no,” she managed to stutter, her head buried against his neck, breathing in his comforting herbal scent. “Just s-scared.”

“There’s no reason to be scared.”

His hand stroked up and down her back in long, soothing strokes, and she sighed, her fears already seeming foolish. She nuzzled her face against his neck, still breathing him in, then gave in to a sudden impulse and let her tongue flick out to taste his skin. He froze.

“Aurora?”

The way he said her name, more like a groan than a word, encouraged her. She licked him again, then placed a series of little kisses down to the hollow of his throat. He smelled so good and tasted even better.

“This isn’t a good idea.”

His voice was a harsh growl, but he didn’t try and put her down.

“Please, Marsh.”

She didn’t know exactly what she was asking for but she wanted more.

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