Chapter 22
Updated: Sep 27
Snowed In with a Bigfoot, a Yeti, & a Werewolf
by Honey Cummings
Wilma stood and crossed her arms. The B.O.O.T. sweats swamped her. Never in her life had she fathomed wearing any kind of sweats at all, but now that she was here, they were pretty comfy. Minus the fact her hands lived inside the sleeves and the waist band was too big, making her tug them up praying they wouldn’t fall off her ass. Lucan giggled, arching a brow at her. Her cheeks were red and she sighed. At least they found her attire cute and entertaining. Glancing at her official harem, they were all giving her those puppy love expressions. Granted, it took a while to notice when Tenzin was doing it.
It was impossible to know which of the four of them was the biggest fool of all. The three monster kings for loving a human girl they know nothing about because she smells like peaches, or her allowing herself a wild time with three cryptids to the point of totally letting them mark her without realizing the weight of the action. She dragged a hand over her face with a groan.
What am I doing? There has to be a way to pump the brakes, right? Can I really go back to my dull, shitty apartment knowing all of this is waiting for me? After tasting what life could be with the three of them?
Tenzin reached out his hand, opening it in an inviting way. Wilma stared at it for a long time. Some part of her repeating in her head over and over again that taking his hand meant something. A revelation to come or agreeing to move forward. That she was ready to go to the next level. All she could confidently conclude was the moment she took his hand there would be no turning back. Not because they wouldn’t let her go back. She knew if she demanded it, they would drop her off at her front door today.
But I don’t want that. I don’t want that shitty life anymore when I have…
“Well, let’s get you a proper wardrobe.” Tenzin narrowed his eyes, her hesitation recognized in the way his gaze scanned her. “Wilma? Do you need more time or are you ready?”
Snapping out of her daze and flurry of thoughts, she met his icy eyes. “Yes?”
Tenzin searched her face and she tensed. “That’s not an answer.”
Haven’t I already crossed the line? Why do I want to turn and run away at the same time as fiercely holding onto this … whatever this is? What am I really scared of? Commitment? No, that’s not it. I’m afraid they’ll take it all back. The love, the gestures, the—
“No offense,” Boone’s voice whispered in her ear, the heat of him behind her enticing her to lean back into him as his hands cupped her waist tenderly. “I’d like to get my sweats back.”
It was enough to prod her to take Tenzin’s hand. “R-right. Clothes.”
Tenzin tugged her behind him out the door and into what was a combination of a receiving room and private elevator access. Black marble with white and gold swirls lined the floor and the tiles were cold against her bare feet. All around the walls were dark maroon and plants decorated the area. A couple of red leather high back chairs and nothing more filled the open space at the center. That was it. Just like the minimalist decorations of the cabin bedroom and the grandeur of the grotto it was a combination of the two here. Elegant and simple. There were other doors like the one they had come out of, and she was curious to know who and what they hid behind them. She stumbled and Tenzin chuckled, pulling her closer to him.
“Curious?” He arched his brow.
“Well, who else lives on this floor?” She counted the doors; five in total if she included the one they had left.
“No one but me.” Tenzin smirked as she processed the answer. “And now you.”
Scoffing she spun and gave him an angry glare. “I have my own place to go home to.” Wilma baulked as Tenzin’s words echoed in her mind, closed the doors permanently this morning. “Even if I won’t be able to afford it much longer when the rent comes due again no thanks to you!”
“I can buy out the building and then you don’t have—”
“Don’t you dare,” she roared, eyes wide with rage. “I forbid it! You hear me, Tenzin!”
Tsking at her, Tenzin pushed the elevator button. “I was going to give you a tour, but with that attitude, never mind.”
“Attitude?” Wilma looked at him bewildered. “You hijacked my life and took out my means for a living. How am I the problem in this situation?”
“And gave you a new means, did I not?” He spoke cooly and it grated on her nerves. “Made you my queen and brought you to my most private grotto and made love to you, did I not?”
Wilma opened her mouth, but the chime of the elevator announced its arrival. Again, he pulled her along. Scanning some kind of keycard he pushed a button.
“Are we going to a secret floor?” Wilma’s curiosity was piqued once more and her rage snuffed out easily.
I want to know all their secrets. If Lucan was hiding something so massive, what else do I not know about the other two? Am I in more danger than I realize?
“No, this just means it won’t stop for any other floor.” His fingertips slid across her forehead, pulling a thread of hair out of her vision. “You’re a mess, snowflake. I can’t have my rani looking like she’s down on her luck.”
Wilma brushed his hand away and backed up until she leaned against the wall. “I am down on my luck. Always down on my luck,” she muttered, dropping her gaze to the floor. “The unluckiest person I know.”
Tenzin’s fingers pressed on her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “You are the luckiest person I know, my little ice queen.”
Twisting her lips into a scowl, the disbelief in her expression made him snort. “I was going to be fired, but you closed the doors permanently. I crashed my car and nearly fell off the mountain. Now, come to find out these marks are permanent. AND,” her voice rose, “I’ve been dubbed some kind of queen of cryptids.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that.” Tenzin smirked. “Has a nice ring to it, does it not?”
“It does not,” she guffawed. “It’s utterly impossible.”
“Shouldn’t we blame your grandmother?” he quipped.
Wilma opened her mouth but snapped her lips close, tilting her head as that thought struck a chord, she hadn’t had time to circle back to that fact. After all, the directions were to Tenzin’s cabin, and they all seemed confident the snowstorm was her doing as well. Then the crazy old coot mentioned needing a foursome to clear things up which has led to this ridiculous three-way crowning of someone who has no idea how this works let alone the idea this (whatever that entails) even existed in the first fucking place.
What could I possibly gain being here and misled all the way to—
Tenzin kissed her.
Lips pressing firm against her own. She couldn’t resist, craving that peachy mint that invaded her senses. The taste of Tenzin was on her tongue as it slid across his own. He tugged her into him. She let him. Cupping his face in reply. They deepened the kiss. Peaches. Icy and fresh like some kind of sorbet. The fragrance rich and thick in the air.
Tenzin pulled away.
“That’s all you get, for now,” he teased.
The elevator dinged and slowed to a stop. Turning to the exit, the doors opened to a busy lobby. Chills rolled over her. She would have to walk through that crowd in the sweats looking like … she had a rough night. No shoes at all. Panic swelled her chest. Tenzin grabbed her hand, tugging her out into the hustle and bustle. Her anxiety was sent soaring. When she dead weighted him, he didn’t dare pull her again. One look at her face and he paled. Then his eyes dropped to her feet. Cursing under his breath, he was quick to pick her up.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured holding her tightly into his chest. “I wasn’t thinking…”
As they weaved through the patrons and employees of the ski lodge, she couldn’t help noticing the strange knee-jerk reactions from several people they passed. Their eyes landed on her neck or forehead. Some tripped over themselves, others seemed to be confused on whether to bow or pretend they hadn’t seen them pass by. It was a combination of flushed and shocked faces in equal measure. Tenzin alone had them flinching, then when they saw her, saw the marks, she had them panicking.
They aren’t human.
Worse, a few of the patrons craned their necks after them. Whispering to one another or worse, gasping like something scandalous was unfolding before them. Something about their eyes glowed in a way that had never happened before. Somehow, even through their human forms, Wilma could suddenly see that they weren’t human at all. Chasing one face after another, Wilma was taken aback at how many around them weren’t human.
Is it because the ski lodge is run by a yeti? That must be it, right?
As Tenzin pulled her through some doors and out of the crowd, she touched her left ass cheek. Closing her eyes, she was so relieved for where it rested. The tree warmed under her palm as if reacting to her affectionate thoughts. It had been the largest of the three marks, making her wonder if their age had anything to do with it.
Bless you, Boone. You put it where I had no chance of showing it off by accident if at all.
Dread filled her. The idea they could see two marks had ruffled feathers for sure. If they could see Boone’s mark? All hell would have broken loose, surely. Tenzin let her down on her feet. She blinked looking around. This wasn’t one of those tchotchke gift shops in a ski lodge she had been to in the past. No, this was luxury high dollar brands. This was where one bought their evening soiree attire for the red carpet. Clothes where they didn’t dare put a tag on them, and even if they did, it would have too many zeros to fit a price on it.
“Tenzin, I can’t,” she blurted spinning to him. “I can’t afford this.”
Tenzin heaved a sigh, thinking a moment before choosing his words wisely. “My handyman misplaced your clothes,” he announced. “And some of said clothes were stolen by … the locals.” He choked out the last two words, and she swore he blushed under that dark-toned skin. “So, it’s only appropriate I replace said clothes. This is my store; I own everything here. And they are my subjects, as I am the king of this mountain.”
“But the base costs and overhead—”
He placed a finger over her lips stopping her from saying another word. “And that is why I am madly in love with you.”
Pushing his hand down, she gave her rebuttal, “Because I can’t afford this shit?”
He tapped her forehead and the snowflake mark reacted, making her cup it with her hands over the icy sensation. “Because you think in business. Now shop. Unless you’d rather leave the store in the same manner we arrived?” The corner of his lips kicked up as he dipped his eyes over her. “Which I would gladly princess carry you right back upstairs to…”
“Nope.” Shaking her head, Wilma turned to the section that had jeans, designer shirts, and sweaters. “Nope, nope.”
Digging through it all, it took every cell in her body not to pay attention to the prices that were listed. The alpaca wool sweater was impossibly soft. Something greedy surfaced and she grabbed the matching beanie with a floof ball on the top. She wasn’t sure what size she would be in “rich” attire. Pulling a few sizes in jeans she scanned the room for Tenzin.
He was gone.
Wilma’s heart fluttered, a sensation of fear and loneliness filled her. She hadn’t thought he would leave her to shop alone. Swallowing, she looked at the items with a little less excitement.
I was really looking forward to trying these on and—
“Fitting room is over here.” Tenzin was standing in another section next to a blonde woman who was growling inaudible words at him, tugging on his sleeve. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“The fuck you aren’t! We have yeti mafia demanding your attendance at tonight’s banquet!” She threw her hands into the air. “And where the fuck is Lucan! I’ve got a tub spout knocked off a wall on the third floor!”
Then the voice connected. Wilma had heard this woman a few times over Tenzin’s phone.
LeAnne. The angry assistant.
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