Page 45 of Controller's Obsession

“Yes.” Merihem’s demon nodded, apparently getting with the program.

“And then I spent time with Asmodeus while you were doing your killing job.”

Merihem’s demon eyes flashed. “Did Asmodeus say or do anything to you?”

“He darn well did. He breathed on me!” Peni’s voice rose as Dakata and Silas burst out laughing. Even the tree was waving around as if it was having fun, too.

“He breathed on you,” Merihem repeated slowly, clearly doing his best not to join in the merriment, or so it seemed because Peni could feel he was holding back.

“You do not get to laugh at me.” Peni tapped his demon’s cheeks. “You do not get to laugh atthis.”

“I’m sorry.” Merihem’s demon swallowed hard, probably so he could hold the chuckles in. “So Asmodeus breathed on you. Did he sit too close? Did that frighten you? Could you smell the curry he had for lunch? I’m not sure… why are you bringing this up now?”

“You really don’t know.” Peni shook his head, ignoring his goat, who was sending him pictures of traipsing through the meadows in springtime with cute little kids in tow.

“I know something’s distressing you, but I can’t fix it if I don’t know what it is.”

“Well, you wanted to laugh. So laugh at this. I’m pregnant. Me. Pregnant.” Once the words were out of his mouth, they took on a reality of their own. “I don’t have lady bits. I’m fairly sure I don’t have a womb. I’ve never even had a dick inside anything but my mouth. I’ve never done anything intimate with anyone except swallow for you, which I thought was perfectly normal and safe behavior, and clearly, it is unless you’re mated to a demon.

“Because my demon wouldn’t let me shower, I went to the demon realm smelling of sex and then a random Demon King, who I’ve only met the once blows right on my face, and nowI’m carrying your baby, mate. A baby.A bay-be. That tree right there even told Silas it was true.” He pointed at the giant oak, before resting his hands back on Merihem’s face, and looking him straight in the eyes. “What do you have to say about that?”

There was no mistaking the wonder and affection in those fiery eyes. “You… I’m without words. You’ve given me the greatest honor. To know you’re carrying our child…”

“Wait. Wait. Mister.” Peni wasn’t ready to give up his freakout just yet. “Are you sure it’s even yours? It was your king who breathed on me. And what type of baby would we have, anyway? Am I going to be carrying a little red demon goat? Or a baby with horns? Because if that’s the case, then how in the demon realm is that baby meant to come out without ripping me apart?”

“The king has simply enhanced an act we did in love and has blessed us with something I never believed possible. It is our child. Yours and mine. Does it really matter what form it takes on arrival?”

“Well, when you put it like that…”damn demon with his puppy dog eyes.“It’s not that I’m not happy about it, but you have to admit it’s a tremendous shock to the system. Wandering along the river one minute, complaining about a grumbly tummy to a friend, and then the next minute, bam! The congratulations start flying around.”

“It’s going to be all right.” The hand that rested on Peni’s face was hard, and yet so gentle. “The gift was not given to us asa means to tear us apart. Magic made this happen. Magic will assist the birth. Magic and the love we have for each other.”

“I’ll remind you of that when I’m the one yelling,I can’t see my feet.” Peni gave in then and snuggled into Merihem’s neck. It seemed like the right thing to do. “Are you sure you’re happy about it?”

“You have no idea, my precious love. I’m deliriously happy about it.”

“Hey.” Dakata came up, slapping Merihem on the back. “Congratulations, old man. I didn’t think you had it in you. Come on into the house. Silas has got lunch for us. Might be a good idea to pull out a couple of wines or something to celebrate.”

“No wine for me,” Peni murmured. Merihem’s demon’s neck was so comfortable, and now his panic fit was over Peni was tired and hungry. “I’m pregnant.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Merihem

He continued to process that he was going to be a daddy days later as he finished banishing a demon, in several bits, from the realm. One he’d almost felt some sympathy for until the stupidass decided to maim Merihem and got in a sly slice that he’d have to heal before he went to collect Peni. Merihem wasn’t sure if his blissful one’s hormones were catching. That was the second time he’d gotten caught out, something that had never happened before to him.

He released a sigh and wiped the blood down the leg of his sweats. The compromise he had gone for, when Peni was adamant about even doing his job in his realm, pants were a necessity. Merihem found a shop that had soft cotton sweats in his size and bought their entire stock. Killing could be a messy business when they got distracted.

I didn’t get distracted.His demon half scoffed at that by making a rude noise.

Make sure you clean up properly,Merihem reminded his demon half.

You’re worse than a hen fussing over her chicks.

There was no answer to that when Merihem did his best to never make Peni feel worked up. So he fussed. So what?

His demon side rolled his eyes, and then they were in the forest.

“What happened,” Peni screeched. He was up and out of the seat where he’d been perched in the sunshine in a second.

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