I like big monsters and I cannot lie!

May 10, 2023 9:51 am

Happy Wednesday!

Today's the day! My Eye Adored You is finally live. I'm shell-shocked.

Not because the book is here but because it's May 10th?!

As my son would say, what the flick?! When did that happen? Wasn't it just Christmas, and I was plotting this book's creation?

I can't believe how fast this year is going, I'm blinking and missing it. I hope I'm not the only one, but I also hope you're not losing chunks of time like me lately.

I hope you're excited for this one, I know I am. Are you ready ...

It's beautiful! And it's live and ready to be yours. Grab your copy today!

Still on the fence? Let me entice you with a sneaky peek ....

Chapter One: Kamila

“As all of you know, Munston College was founded only a few years ago to create a college experience for those of us who would otherwise live on the fringes of society.”

“You can say monsters!” someone in the crowd shouts, encouraging a chorus of chuckles from the small audience around me.

The satyr who leads the tour smiles and nods their head. “Sure, Munston College was founded to create a college experience for monsters. Which is exactly why you’re all here.”

There is a chorus of cheers from the group as we continue walking to the next building. But I’m not paying attention. I’m looking for something—someone—because I know he’s here. That’s why I’m here.

Stopping at the bottom of the steps, the doors open, and several faculty members step out. I’m still taking in the beautiful and historical-looking campus when my eyes find him. Seeing him now after—God, how long has it been? Since my mom’s funeral, I suspect—sends a jolt through my system that’s only interrupted by my dad speaking at my side.

“Ah, there he is. Looking as youthful as ever, lucky bastard.”

My eyes flick to my dad, a tight smile spreading across my face before they drift back to him. My eyes always drift back to him, and they have since I was old enough to recognize how good-looking he is.

“Youthful” is one way of describing Mr. Reece. He was always handsome, but now that I’m a grown woman who knows the difference between a crush and sexual attraction, I’m acutely aware what I always thought was a silly crush on Mr. Reece is so much more.

Especially now that he’s standing in front of us, hands casually tucked into the pockets of his slacks as a soft, easy grin illuminates his features.

“And this is Reece Spencer, our beloved founder, and college dean.”

The first time I met Mr. Reece, I was thirteen. He and my father had just gone into business together, so he was invited to dinner on Friday nights. I’d be lying if I said his singular eye didn’t surprise me the first time, but it was quickly replaced with intrigue.

Mr. Reece was a turned monster, not a born monster like my mother and me. So, I couldn’t stop myself from gravitating to him when he came around for parties or dinners.

Some punch turned him into a cyclops. One day he was human, and the next, poof, monster. He took it in stride. Of course, it helps that he surrounds himself with people who couldn’t care less about whether he is a monster.

Like my dad. He might be human, but after meeting my mother, he’d been pulled into the secret underground of supernatural beings who live amongst humans. Not all of them look monstrous, like me.

“Good afternoon, new students. Thank you so much for joining us here at Munston. I hope everything is to your satisfaction?” Through another chorus of claps, my eyes remain glued to him, and my body freezes as years of unrequited love flush through my veins.

“As Phillipa said, Munston was created as a haven for monsters seeking an education. Before my transformation, I had the opportunity to pursue my education as a human. But so many before me, and after me,” —he waves his hand toward the crowd— “don’t have the same privilege, so I wanted to provide a place where monsters could come together and exist inside society, as humans do.”

More modest clapping follows his speech before he passes it off to the woman at his side. She talks about class schedules, student IDs, and other administrative things I should pay attention to, yet it all feels like the Charlie Brown teacher. My eyes are locked on Reece, and nothing else matters.

“Let’s say hi,” my dad says as he nudges me out of my thoughts, making his way over to Reece.

My feet remain glued in place, and it takes a moment to unstick them before I walk toward him. His eye turns to me, and when our gazes meet, I swear the whole world stops as my breath catches in my lungs. Has he always had this visceral effect on me?

I wrack my memories, but my brain stutters to a stop when I get in front of him, and he smiles wider than before. I never expected my feelings to resurface as strongly as they do when our eyes meet.

I don’t stand any chance with him, but a girl can hope—right?

“Jon! It is good to see you, old friend.” They hug, and Reece stares at me over my dad’s shoulder. His mouth is slightly agape, and when he pulls back, he blinks slowly as his singular eye remains focused entirely on me.

There’s no way he’s seeing anything else but me, and I bask in the spotlight of his undivided attention.

“And Kam! Wow, look at you.” He steps forward to hug me, which I suppose is normal, but it’s intimate as his arms wrap around my body. We mold together like this is how we’re supposed to go—two pieces of the same puzzle.

He’s huge and envelops me, a dichotomy of hard and soft all over, and I can’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to be on top of him without any clothes on at all.

“Kam.” My dad’s voice cuts in, and I pull back, looking at Mr. Reece as I try to figure out what is happening.

“Reece asked what you’re studying.”

He did? I blink in wonder. Was spontaneous but temporary deafness a thing?

“Oh, I’m doing business.”

“Maybe she’ll be in your class.” My dad claps Reece on the shoulder, then Reece smiles at me, and I nearly melt as he turns back to my dad.

“Unfortunately, I’m not teaching anything this semester. Running a whole college has become so time-consuming, I’ve regrettably had to hire an entire roster of professors to cover the class load so I can focus on the business side of things.”

“Well, if you ever need an assistant, I’m happy to help. I’ve been helping my dad for the last couple of years.”

“Have you?” He smiles but doesn’t say whether or not he wants my help.

I’m still picturing late nights working in his office alone, the possibilities of what we could get up to that aren’t necessary for the benefit of the college. My cheeks heat, and I glance away before he notices.

“Man, Kam’s in college. I can’t believe that. Wasn’t she just fifteen?”

“You’re telling me,” Dad says with a hearty laugh. “After … Willow … Kam took a couple of years off after finishing high school to help me with the stuff Will used to do.”

“Of course, that’s understandable.”

My dad clears his throat and nods. “Yeah, but we’re back in working order. I hired a secretary and an accountant, which freed Kam to head to school.”

They’re still talking. Reece glances my way every so often, but they never direct the conversation to me. Which is probably for the best since, if they tried, I’m not sure my brain could keep up. There’s a buzzing in my ears as my entire body feels as if it’s exploding. Except it’s not, not really. I’m still standing here, in front of this man, being forced to confront the tidal wave of emotions he’s stirred inside me.

The last time I saw him was five years ago at my mom’s funeral. I’m sure my dad’s seen him since, but he stopped coming to our house for family dinners after he sold his portion of their business and moved on to—well, this, I suppose.

And when my mom died, he showed up, which was something my seventeen-year-old heart was unprepared for. When I was younger, he seemed old, because most adults are old when you’re a child, and even though he is probably closer to my dad’s age, he doesn’t look it. And he never will. His eternally youthful appearance makes it hard to reckon the handsome man is the same age as my now-graying father. And even harder still to remind my heart and body he is off-limits.

And then there’s how we left things after my mom’s funeral. Reece stepped out of the house, finding me on the front porch, crying silently. He sat next to me, and the tears stopped as I became aware of how close our thighs were. It was a temptation too promising to ignore as I shifted enough to rub against him. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, tugging me tight against his body, which was the safest place I had felt in a long time.

He rested his cheek on my head, telling me everything would be okay. And then, I turned to look at him, and our noses brushed, our mouths so close it felt like we were on the precipice of kissing. I swear my heart stopped working as I waited for something … anything … but nothing happened.

He pulled back, brushed my hair from my eyes, and tucked it behind my ear before telling me to call him if I ever needed anything.

Then he left, and I never did call him. Not even when I applied here, knowing it was his college. I guess a part of me wanted to surprise him, and I have.

“I can count on you to keep an eye out for our girl then?”

“Well, I’ve only got one, but I’ll keep it on her and make sure she’s safe.” He grins broadly at my dad before his gaze flicks to me, and the heat rushes through me once more.

I never want to not be under his gaze, and suddenly, I find myself working toward a new kind of degree.

A Master’s of Cyclopian Love.

Reece smiles and speaks, his words throaty and deep, even though he has no idea what I have in mind for us. “You have my word, Jon.”