“Can you put on some clothes?”
Merihem fired a warning look at Dakata. He hated wearing clothes; they scratched in unfortunate places. He waved a hand, and a second later, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he cursed his life. “I’ll be fucking expected to wear clothes all the damn time because of others shitty sensibilities!”
“Unfortunately, yes, you will. Luka, Christa, and Scott might be okay with you being naked and in your demon form.Those you’re going to need to work with closely won’t be so understanding.” Dakata’s expression revealed sympathy, but it didn’t fix what he said.
“You’re expecting me to manage your business,”—he jabbed his meaty digit at Dakata’s siblings, his blood pressure hiking up—“and these two as well!”
Dakata nodded. “Who better than our ‘Controller’,” he replied, looking far too smug for Merihem, who became tempted to knock his friend's—though that was a loose interpretation with how he was feeling right then—pristine teeth down his throat and see if Silas liked him then!
Merihem threw up his arms and got up to stomp about. Going with resignation—for the time being. He got in Scott’s face, Dakata’s personal assistant, who didn’t so much as blink. “You’re gonna have to use some sort of code with me because I ain’t wearing clothes when I don’t have to!”
“Thank you, Meri.”
He glared at Dakata. “Don’t thank me yet! And I want your house, as I’m gonna have to live somewhere.”
An hour later, keys to the house dangling from his fingers, Merihem opened the door to the large townhouse. He could have done it the way he usually did, but he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to use his demon powers or not. Asmodeus hadn’t been very forthcoming with a do’s and don’ts list, so he wasn’t taking any chances.
Being the official babysitter to Dakata’s squabbling siblings and in charge of a music business, he could probably do with his eyes closed.I mean, how hard could it be?
Merihem’s thoughts were on how he could redeem himself and get the fuck out of dodge when something caught his attention. He paused, his large head tilting to one side as he listened.
Was someone strangling a cat?
“Hello?” he called out. He paused long enough for someone to reply, but getting nothing, he bent and slipped off his sneakers. Bare footed he strolled through the lower level checking rooms as he went.
The place was minimalist and a little too sterile for Merihem’s tastes, but a cast out demon couldn’t be too choosy. Following the noise—because in no realm could it be called singing—Merihem came to a halt in the kitchen's doorway.
His demon perked right up at the pert ass, swaying from side to side before giving a little shimmy as the dude scrubbing at the counter butchered the song that Merihem couldn’t identify. Sound-canceling headphones explained why the guy continued to sing out of tune, unaware of his audience of one.
Amused despite his own pissed-off-ness, Merihem leaned on the doorframe, trying to recall if Dakata had mentioned he’d replaced his last cleaner. The woman of about fifty, who always scowled at Merihem when he was naked, was a definite contrast to the tiny cuteness in front of him. And okay, Merihem couldn’tsee his face, but he could do some damage to the ass in spraypainted-on jeans. It wasn’t like he needed to see the hot ass’s face when all he’d be doing was fucking that peach before he rolled off to fall asleep. Most people had the common sense to leave before he woke.
He clicked his fingers—this was definitely a time to use his powers—and his clothes disappeared just at the same time hot ass spun around. Somewhere in Merihem’s mind, for the split second it registered, the powerful impact of their gazes locking, which was chased by a huge dose of unease.
The scream that ripped at the air was so loud it potentially burst Merihem’s ear drums. Eyes of the palest blue widened with horror as they swept down Merihem’s naked body.
Not quite the reaction he’d been hoping for!
Merihem’s demon howled inside him. Before he could register what was happening, he was in his demon form—chasing a pygmy goat around the kitchen. “Mine,” his demon growled with grabby hands.
Merihem’s insides felt like they’d become plaited together as he attempted to do something—anything to prevent his demon from grabbing hold of the goat.Don’t touch it.
“Mine.”
I fucking heard you. But think about it…
Panic, it was kicking Merihem’s ass, even with his demon giving chase.
The head of the goat—who’d somehow managed to evade them on the chase around the large center kitchen aisle—connected with the back of Merihem’s lower calf with enough force that the shock had them tumbling over the size sixteen feet.
He landed on his back hard enough that his bones rattled. Winded, breathless, and at a total loss at how the tiniest white goat could send him toppling, Merihem wasn’t prepared for the goat’s next move.
A blur of white fur caught his attention when the goat spun on its little four legs between his and lifted its hind legs to aim its hoofs directly at their nuts.
What the fuck!
His hands came down right as the hoofs connected, and he howled as the goat bleated madly before it made a mad dash out of the kitchen.
Stunned, with aching balls, Merihem lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling, struggling to breathe.