Claimed by the Cthulhu (Monstrous Meet Cutes #2)

by Wendi Guff

“What dream?” I yelp, stepping away from Chaos, realizing he's reading my text. “Hasn't anyone ever told you it's rude to read somebody's messages?” “Mates generally don't have secrets.”

“We're not mates.” “Yet,” he teases—or maybe he’s not.

Before I can worry, Chaos leans down close to my face so that one of his tentacles strokes across my lips, an...

“Your body feels the lure—the call. It beckons to mine, just as mine does to yours.” “But, but, but humans don't have a call, or a pull, or anything! We're not like that.”

“Y-you injected something into me with your…thing?! It bit me, for crying out loud!”

“That thing is my kotilo—or cock, as you humans say—and the feelers didn’t bite you. It’s their job to inject a female with mating venom. To heighten your pleasure and ensure impregnation.” All the color drains from my face, and I wobble in my wedges. “Impregnate me?”

“Sorry, the thought of having a baby overwhelms me.” Chaos frowns. “Do you not want children?” An ache forms in my chest. If only he knew. “It’s…complicated.”

“Will these tentacles bite me?” “They’re called barbels, and no, they won’t—but could you blame them if they tried? It’s not their fault you’re a delectable morsel, mikrasa.”

“Speaking of morsels, do you still want to eat—dinner, not me,” I clarify. “Are you sure you’re not on the menu?” “Is this your attempt to flirt and seduce me?” “Maybe—is it working?”

Running away is wrong.

Last night was different, but tonight, I’m being a coward—and rude—but when Chaos mentioned having children, my brain and heart just couldn’t take it. I needed to get out of there before I crumbled.

For the second night in a row, my intended mate runs away.

Anyone else would take this as a sign that it's not meant to be, but not me. I know what I feel in my hearts.

This tiny female sparks a flame deep inside of me that no one else could ignite. It doesn't matter that she's not a Ct...

Marea is not a Cthulhu, and I will not bring her to the forsaken island of my creation so that she has to watch me fuck another woman, even if I detach my kotilo.

Even though I'm a Cthulhu, I want more than just this mating frenzy once a year. I crave the sweet tenderness that I see mated couples give one another.

As much as I desire Marea's body, I also wish to claim every aspect of her—including her heart and that wondrous mind that’s so like my own.

Others don't understand our need to question everything, but I get her obsess...

Marea feels like the other half of my soul that’s always been missing, and not only do we complement one another, but we’ll d...

The thing is like a little monster on its own, a tyrant king demanding what it wants—and His Hardness wants Marea.

“No, I was looking for my real family.” “Real family?” “Yes, my mommy and daddy aren’t my parents. They aren’t like you and me.”

“Thea, I don’t know where your real family is. Cthulhu don't know who spawned them. I’m sorry if your family didn’t explain this to you. If they aren’t like us, they might not know.”

“So you aren’t my daddy?” My hearts clench as if pierced by an arrow. I could be.

“No. Your mommy and daddy that you live with are your family. Are they good to you?” Her tiny shoulders scrunch up again. “They give me lots ...

I don’t know what flowers Marea likes, let alone her favorite scents and colors. I guess it just means I need to buy the entire flower shop.

but I have no idea who might send me flowers—not to mention this many! The only person I've ‘met’ recently is Chaos, but all I did was tell him my first name…and where I worked.

Instead, there’s just a single word—night. I hastily look at the other nineteen cards attached to their vase, all of them each displaying a single different word, and I realize it's a message I have to unscramble.

The gesture seems a little elaborate, but the setup makes my heart squeeze because Chaos listened when I told him that I loved puzzles. My brain needs to be constantly challenged, or else I get bored—and this is a challenge. It takes me a few minutes of rearranging, but I figure out Chaos’ message easily enough. Will you come out night tide pooling with me? I will be a gentleman—unless you don't want me to be.

“He seems nice enough. Definitely smart and hot, but he thinks I'm his mate!”

“His mate?” Tristan's brow wrinkles. “He's a Cthulhu. I met him a couple nights ago when I was out night tide pooling for research. I… thought he was a bimac.”

“I’m not worried about Chaos killing me.” No, I'm scared of opening myself up to someone again, only for them to inevitably hurt me. I'm scared of growing close to another person. I’m scared of falling in love.

“Sometimes we have to get burned so that we can rise from the ashes.”

He’s holding yet another bouquet of flowers, and my heart skips a beat when I remember his riddle and promise to be a gentleman—unless I didn't want him to be. And if I’m being truthful—I don’t.

“I thought you were going to be a gentleman?” “For now.” I duck my head so he doesn’t see the truth on my face. Because I want him to make me come.

Any intention of being a gentleman goes up in smoke the moment I smell Marea’s arousal.

“Thank you for coming tonight, for trusting me, and for giving us a chance. I know….I’m a little intense. I meant what I said when I claimed you as my mate, but I'm not going to rush anything for you. I'm willing to wait for however long it takes.”

then you just become my object of unrequited love. Oh, and I follow you wherever you go until you finally give in.”

Those words spoken to a Cthulhu female are like an aphrodisiac, but I’m not speaking to a fellow Cthulhu. Marea is human, and if I don’t tread carefully, I might just run her off.

Even though we just met, she means too much to me. I meant what I said when I told her I'd wait forever…but I would be over the moon if she came around in two weeks. From everything

“Just my pet. Don't worry about him. He can be kind of a dick sometimes when I lock him away.”

It all boils down to one thing—I need a mate.

Chaos hums, joining his hand in mine. “I agree—there is no comparison. Your beauty far exceeds it. I couldn’t envision someone lovelier than you.”

He thinks I'm beautiful, and I suddenly feel like the most gorgeous woman on the face of the Earth.

To have this stunning specimen of manliness tell me that I'm his fantasy come to life makes my knees a little weak.

The things I want to learn about Cthulhu are not appropriate, and when Chaos' smirk grows, I realize he knows this. The monstrous man is playing with me.

“I thought you said you were going to be a gentleman.” “Actually, I said only if you wanted me to be—and we both know you don't.”

“Nor am I, Marea. I've been looking for a mate this past year, but no one has awakened my hearts, body, and mind like you do—I feel it in the very core of my being. You're special, Marea.”

“I'm sorry. I don't know much about humans. Cthulhu are not raised by their biological parents, but it doesn't mean that we aren't necessarily raised without love and praise. I assumed humans were, too.”

“The only person you need to be good enough for is yourself, Marea. When you look in the mirror, don't ever doubt your self-worth. You are—and always will be—more than enough.”

“Don’t apologize for how you feel or how your body responds to it. I'm not embarrassed that you're crying—it’s a natural emotion. We both know that it doesn't matter whether a person is human or monster, we all need to feel like we fit in. I'm so sorry that you've lived this long without anyone telling you this, but please know that to me, you mean the world.”