Solomon the Centaur: Part One (complete)

Female Reader x Male Montster (reader has vitiligo)

My family and I recently moved to a new village, after the land we’d lived on for generations was purchased by a nobleman and everyone evicted. An acquaintance of my father offered us a place to stay, but it required moving quite far. Most of the family had never traveled before, so the journey was quite arduous.

The countryside we’ve moved to is lush and beautiful, and the home my father’s friend provided is just big enough to accommodate our rather large family. Even if I have to share a room with my younger sisters, at least we have something.

My father’s human friend, Sal, is married to a centaur named Alba, and in fact our new home is filled with centaurs. It was quite a shock to see. Fauns are tiny in comparison, especially my sisters and I, and it’s strange walking around with all these centaurs towering over us. But we’re adapting to our new home, even falling in love with it.

Sal and Alba have a large orchard, and they hired my father to help manage it. I help Alba around the house for pay, and sometimes my siblings and I work at the orchard. I like Alba, who’s kind and very pretty, with long sleek hair the color of the night sky. I sometimes grow jealous, as my curly mop is only so manageable. “Your hair is beautiful the way it is,” Alba said one day. “I would trade with you in an instant. Not to mention your beautiful skin.”

That was a shocker, to have her compliment my skin. When I was child it had been all the same shade of soft brown, but as I grew, patches of cream started to appear until my skin was mottled with them. I was called a cow by the children around me, so Alba’s compliment nearly rang false. I didn’t want to press her for the truth, but it did bother me for a few days.

Alba and Sal have a son. I’ve never met him, and the only reason they give me is the vague statement that he’s out traveling. His name is Solomon, he dotes on his mother, and we’re around the same age. They expect him back before harvest, and are eager for us to meet him.

As summer draws to a close, I notice my gaze lingering on the boys of the village. I’ve become much more keen on their presence, and my mind takes all sorts of liberties. I realize I will be going into heat soon, but back home my mind was never so wild as it is with these centaur men. I know we have a similar mating season, so I often wonder if one would take me as a lover. I do have to remind myself to be wary, as I know centaur are much more endowed than what I’m familiar with.

One afternoon, after a hard day in the orchard, I decided to go down to the river by the farm to take a bath. There is a spot I have made my own, a mossy bank I can lounge on after I bathe, surrounded by concealing trees and bushes and the most beautiful willow tree, whose long roots descend into the riverbed and make perfect little seats. I lay my things on the moss and go into the water, scrubbing my arms and legs before dunking myself under. The cold water burns my skin, but it feels like such a relief after working in the heat. I rise from the water, pushing my hair back from my face, running my hands over my face to wipe away the excess water. I’m reaching for my soap when I realize someone is watching me - a dark centaur standing behind the willow, eyes wide.

I’m not sure what to do. I grab a rock from the shore and chuck it. “You want to watch? Pay me!” I throw another rock. “Beat it, pal! Can’t a girl relax after a hard day?”

The centaur steps out from behind the willow. His long hair is tied back into a braid, and he has thick brows and narrow eyes that turn up at the outer corners. He reaches into a bag around his waist then tosses a silver coin onto the moss. “How long of a show does that buy me?” he chuckles.

I stare at the coin then back at him, my brow creasing as I meet his smug expression. “That pays for what you’ve already seen.” I snatch the coin up, biting it to make sure it’s real.

He chuckles, putting his hands on his hips. “I didn’t see much. Considering this is my parent’s property, I was concerned we had trespassers.”

I flinch, turning to ice in that cold water. I’ve yelled at Alba and Sal’s son, Solomon. But how was I supposed to know who he was? Anyone could make that mistake, right?

Solomon’s smirk brightens, and he crosses his arms. “You must be one of the fauns my old man took in. Had I known that there were actually some cute faces here, I would have come home much sooner.”

His dark eyes drift down, and I place an arm over my chest. I know I’m not blessed enough to even consider covering up, but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. I duck down so his gaze falls on my face again. “Do you mind?”

Solomon chuckles. “I mind a lot.”

I place my other arm around my chest. “Same here. Why don’t you go home to your mother and leave me be?”

His head tilts to the side. “You’re much better to look at than my mother.”

I throw another rock at him. “Beat it or I’ll ask your mother to beat you!”

As the rock lands at his hooves, Solomon throws his head back and laughs. “Fine argument.” He goes back up the hill. “I’m sure I’ll see you around, little bonbon.”

My brow furrows again. “Bonbon?” I decide not to linger long, just enough to finish washing and for him to get some distance away.

I return to the cottage, only to find out from my parents that Alba and Sal have invited us to dinner. “Their son has come home, and they want to introduce us!” Mother says.

I don’t say anything, but in the back of my head I’m cursing like a sailor. “Alba says he’s very handsome,” my dad teases.

My mother gives him a warning look. “Whatever he may look like, I’m sure he’s a very good boy. His parents have been such blessings to us, it’s hard to imagine him any other way.”

In my head I conjure as ugly an image of the boy in question as possible. “Yeah, Mom.” I just hope there’s not an incident at dinner. I would hate for anything to happen that would make things awkward between our families, or worse, something that could uproot my family again.

When we arrive at the main house, I’m relieved that Solomon isn’t there. I take the food we made and set it on the dinner table while my parents chat with Sal and Alba, and find flowers arranged on the table in a beautiful bouquet. I lean in to smell the flowers when I hear hoofbeats behind me, and lift my face from the flowers to see Solomon’s smirking face. “We meet again,” he says.

I stiffen and take my face out of the flowers. “Can we behave tonight?”

Solomon tilts his head to the side, letting his long braid fall off his shoulder and over his chest. “Why would we ever misbehave?”

I scowl until my mother and Alba come into the room, and I see that Solomon is rather small compared to his mother. It’s not by much, but it is noticeable. “Solomon, dearest, this is Ceres.” Alba takes my arm and pulls me around the table. “She’s been the one helping me around the house.”

Solomon’s smile is knowing, and his eyes gimmer mischievously. I wonder what he could be plotting behind those eyebrows. “What lovely skin,” he says.

I shiver and feel my cheeks grow hot. Alba beams. “Doesn’t she look gorgeous?”

Oh God, Ms. Alba, please stop! I can’t even speak right now.

“She looks like a chocolate bonbon, don’t you think?” Solomon asks. “Very sweet-looking.” He gives me a wink.

“She’s the sweetest,” Alba giggles.

I swallow a hard lump in my throat. “Thank you,” I manage to squeak out. “Very nice to meet you, Solomon. Your mother speaks highly of you.”

“She’s my mother, so she’s biased.” Solomon extends his hand to me. “Ceres, was it? Pleasant to meet you.”

His hand is so big that it engulfs mine, and I decide to be satisfied with him. Our first meeting wasn’t so pleasant, but this one is fine in front of the family.

My little brothers take to Solomon instantly, and my little sisters seem to be smitten with him, which makes me question what I’ve taught them. Dinner goes well, and Solomon charms my family effortlessly. He tells stories about his travels, on which he collects seeds and rare plants for his family’s farm, and assists other farms with fieldwork and instruction in new techniques. His skills with crossbreeding and creating new cultivars is fascinating to my father, who wishes to learn from him.

After dessert everyone goes to the sitting room for drinks and more talking. I sit away from the main conversation, but eventually Solomon lies down beside my chair. Even on the floor, his head is nearly level with mine. “Do you enjoy being alone?” Solomon asks.

“It depends on the company on offer,” I reply.

He chuckles. “I suppose that’s a jab at my expense.”

“You suppose?”

Solomon holds his hand out to me. “Do you still have that silver coin I tossed to you at the river?”

I scoff. “You want it back?”

He retracts his hand. “No. But I’m curious why you would make such a bold demand when you appear to be such a sweet girl.”

I frown at him. “A girl can be sweet and also make her feelings known. For one thing, by confronting someone staring while she tries to bathe.”

Solomon holds back a guffaw. “I didn't mean to do it. I had just come home and wanted to cool off before I went to the house. You happened to be bathing in my favorite spot.”

So it was his first. “You expect me to apologize?”

“Not at all,” he laughs. “I want to thank you for the beautiful view.”

My cheeks grow fiery, from a thick mixture of emotions I don’t know how to sort out. “It wasn’t a view for you.”

“Which is why I paid in silver.”

I glare at him. “Are you trying to piss me off?”

“I don’t have to try. Apparently I’m good at it.” Solomon glances back at our parents, and my siblings dozing around the fireplace. “So let's change the subject so we don’t bother our families.”

“Fine,” I sigh.

Solomon shifts his legs under him. “So you help my mother keep the house. Is that what you did back home?”

“No. I made candles.”

“Candles, what a surprise.”

I bite my tongue. “Unfortunately we couldn’t travel with all our belongings. I had to leave my supplies behind, and the beehives.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Nothing so glamorous as what you do,” I snip.

Solomon’s brow lifts. “Who says that what I do is glamorous? It’s laborious and boring, and most of the time it takes years to see the actual fruits of the labor. I’m sure your candles are hard work, but in high demand. It shocks me that you’d leave it behind, Ceres.”

I pout longingly. “We knew we had work ready for us here, and I’d much rather have all my siblings around.”

A laugh escapes Solomon. “I see. I suppose it was a hard decision.”

I shrug. “Not really. I was prepared to leave everything else, even the bees.”

I have to help carry some of my siblings back home, so luckily I don’t have to make conversation with Solomon for long.

Harvest is still a way off, but there is a lot of preparation to do before the season. My father works closely with Solomon to learn about his techniques. I’ve grown used to Solomon’s presence, and the busy schedule has made it such that we mostly discuss the orchard and the work therein.

“Hey, Bonbon.” Unfortunately, Solomon seems to have stuck with his nickname for me. “Come over here and help me with something.”

I set down the laundry basket which I was taking to the house. “Can’t you see I’m trying to do something?”

“Dry laundry isn’t going anywhere,” Solomon replies. “Here, hold this.” He places a strange pit into my hand.

“It’s slimy,” I scoff.

“Yeah, I’m trying to get it ready to plant. I’ve had it cultivating in a solution for a week now. I think it’s ready.”

“Then why am I holding it? Can’t you just set it in the ground?”

Solomon smiles at me. “I’m having you hold it for good luck.”

Okay, I can admit that’s charming. “But it feels gross.”

Solomon waves his hand, kneeling and motioning to a patch of upturned earth. “Plant it here. Then scoop some of this on top.” He places a bucket of ash near me.

I sit on the ground, planting the pit and then tossing some of the ash on top. Solomon takes the shovel and buries the pit. “That was one of the new plants I got while traveling. With any luck, we will have something called a Greenfat in five years.”

“Five years? That long?”

“Hey, I’ve grown some trees that take up to ten years to produce fruit.” He stomps a single hoof over the fresh earth. “There are some trees here I may never live to see produce fruit.”

“That must be frustrating,” I grumble.

“I just have to make sure the farm is left in good hands, that’s all.” The smile on Solomon’s face is proud as his dark eyes gaze out over the orchard and his home. “I think your family will do well with it.”

I blink in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“If anything happens, I think your family is perfect to take over the orchard. That’s all I’m suggesting.”

He tries to walk away, but I give chase. I try my best to keep up, but his legs are much longer than mine. “But this is yours! Why won’t you and your family take over?”

“What family?” he asks. “Do you see me with a wife? You’re much more likely to take a mate than I am at this point in life, Bonbon.”

That seems crazy to me. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“It makes perfect sense to me.” He places the equipment back in the barn. “Well, you can go back to your laundry. That’s all I needed you for.”

I can only stare after Solomon. I’m not sure what he was trying to insinuate about me, or even himself. but there’s no point in trying to pull it out of him.

I go shopping a few days later, for some cloth to make dresses for my sisters. While I’m out, I also make eyes at a few of the men there. With mating season hanging over my head, I’m eager to get an itch scratched. Back home it would have been so easy, but I barely know anybody here, and it seems awkward to just go up and ask someone for a roll in the hay. As I’m chatting with a handsome centaur, I see Solomon from the corner of my eye, and his diminutive size compared with his fellows is much more obvious. It should have been before, considering he’s only half-centaur. He looks grim, almost sour, and he keeps his head down, somehow making him look even smaller than before.

“Everything alright?”

I look back at Daveen, the centaur I was flirting with. “I’m fine,” I laugh sweetly. “Just saw someone I know.”

His eyes flicker to Solomon. “That’s the guy you work for, right? The runt?”

That rubs me the wrong way. “Solomon, yes. My family works for his family. I would go say hello, but I think he’s busy.”

Daveen chuckles. “Can’t help but feel sorry for him, can you?”

I want to change the subject. “Do you mind getting me another cider?” I ask quickly.

“Oh, sure.” Daveen takes my empty glass and smiles down at me. “Stay right there, pretty lass.” As he leaves I look back at Solomon. He’s turning away from a store, his dour expression deepening

“Here you are.” Daveen returns with a full glass of cider for me and sits down close to me. “Now, where were we? You were telling me about your old home.”

I can only remember the teasing I received because of my skin condition, and I still remember the laughter and the names, all because of something I couldn’t control. I look at Daveen and can’t help but see one of those name-callers. “Yes. I…” I take a long drink of cider, wanting to finish it off as quickly as possible.

Daveen’s fingers trail along my spine. “I bet you were the prettiest faun there,” he says softly. “You definitely are here.”

I set my glass down and catch my breath. “That’s very sweet to say.”

“I bet you’re sweeter,” he chuckles. “It must have been hard moving such a big family so far. But I bet a darling like you had no problem with it.”

I have no idea what he’s trying to get at. “It was hard work, but we like it here. We’re so grateful for where we are.”

“Good work at the orchard?” he asks.

I nod. “I really like it. They’ve become like family to us.”

Daveen seems unimpressed by this. “I suppose even the pipsqueak is big to you,” he laughs. “You should have seen him when we were kids. We used to be able to pick him and put him anywhere.”

I push my cup aside. “I almost forgot! My mother needs my help this afternoon.” I hop off my chair. “I’m afraid I have to go, but thank you.”

Daveen’s smile fades. He stands as I do and offers his hand. “Do you want me to walk you home?”

I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. You continue enjoying your day.” I give him a wave. “Bye! Thanks again.”

“When can I see you again?” Daveen asks hopefully.

“Maybe next week.” I gather my bags and head out onto the road. I see Solomon ahead of me, so I run to try and catch up with him. “Hey! Hey!” I call after him, but he doesn’t hear me. “Solomon!” I yell and then trip on a stone, landing on my hip with a petulant whine.

“Easy there, Bonbon!” Solomon kneels to help me up. “Are you okay?”

My hip feels bruised as I try to stand up. “Maybe.”

He sighs. “Okay, fine.” He scoops me up and holds me in one arm while the other picks up my shopping.

“Whoa! Wait!” I cling around his neck, not used to being up so high.

Solomon laughs. “You’re not that far off the ground, Bonbon.”

I peer back down and slowly relax. “Just give me a warning next time!”

“I’m sorry, did rescuing you cause you problems?” Solomon chaffs. He continues walking, more slowly than before. “I saw you talking to Daveen. Did you have a good date?”

I didn’t realize he could see me. “I wouldn’t call it a date. We just had a drink, that’s all.”

“Too bad, Daveen is quite handsome.”

I pout. “I’ve seen better.”

Solomon laughs heartily. “I didn’t take you as the vain type! I’ll have to keep that in mind, Bonbon.”

“No. It’s not his appearance, it’s something else.”

Solomon sighs. “Did he say something offensive to you?”

I shake my head. “He was a gentleman, but he said something that soured the conversation.”

“That doesn’t sound like a gentleman.”

“No, I guess not,” I murmur.

Solomon’s skin is soft, and his bare chest and shoulders are covered in dark freckles, a feature he shares with his father. He has a long elegant neck too, and he smells like cedar. Once we get close to the farm, he stalls outside the gate. “Do you need me to carry you home?”

I nod and try to keep my head down. I fear my face is red. “I think not. Set me down for a second.”

Solomon eases me down, keeping his arm around me protectively. I still feel a bit bruised, but nothing feels wrong. “Thanks for the ride, but I can make it home from here.” I smile up at him, worried I’m blushing noticeably.

Solomon’s smile is alarmingly handsome, and it makes his eyebrows look less like caterpillars. “Happy to help. Take it easy tonight, okay? I would hate to wake up and hear you’re hurt.” He pats the top of my head. “Promise?”

I nod wordlessly. “Good. Then have a good night, Bonbon.” Solomon turns, heading towards the main house.

“Good night,” I squeak behind him. “Thanks again.” I stare at his muscular haunches and then quickly turn away towards my own home.