Page 54 of The Female

“I am, but if I don’t distract you by doing a thousand different things at once, you get lost in your head and pull away from me. I don’t want you all moody for our date.” He plants a swift kiss on my cheek before forcing my feet into a pair of black sandals.

This is all happening so quickly.

I don’t have time to process his words as he grabs my hand and pulls me into his chest.

“I’m going to teleport you, but we’re staying in Wrath, so it shouldn’t be too bad,” he says just seconds before the world fades.

I’m blinded and disorientated as the environment disappears and re-materializes around me. I hold Gray in a panic as loud noise and chatter make their way to my ears, my head ringing as I adjust to my new surroundings.

If there’s anything I’ve learned since being bought, it’s that I don’t like the demon’s preferred form of travel.

“You okay?” Gray rubs my back.

Turning in his arms, I try not to let my surprise show as I look around the room. Demons mill about in front of large, waist-height tables. Almost all of them hold what appear to be long, wooden sticks, and I watch with interest as one of them bends and uses the stick to hit a ball on the table.

There are at least fifty demons in here, and as I look around, I note that not one is a female. Am I supposed to be here? I know Gray is strong, but I’m not too fond of being surrounded by so many males.

“This is a pool hall. It’s a game that originated with humans, but over time, its popularity grew. Demons are big fans of it.” He nudges me to the left.

A few demons turn and watch as I grab Gray’s arm and follow him, their expressions blank and uninterested as they look me over. Their gazes almost immediately lift to Gray before returning to their conversations.

That’s not what I expected.

Maybe it’s because Gray put me in a dress suited for a grandma. They probably can’t tell I’m a female underneath the oversized, unflattering clothing.

Gray leads us to an empty table in the corner of the room, his unhurried and confident movements bringing me some comfort. Most of the power that overwhelms the room dissipates as we step away from everybody, and I breathe easily as we come to a halt.

How lucky for us that there was an unoccupied table in the far corner of the room.

Spinning, I take a moment to evaluate the building in more detail. It’s full, and I’m utterly shocked nobody seems to care there’s a female here. Either Gray is more dangerous than I thought, or something weird I’m unaware of is happening.

“Do you come here often?” I eventually ask, turning to Gray.

He’s already looking at me, and I flush as I realize he was doing so the entire time. Pretending it doesn’t affect me, I raise my chin and hold his gaze.

“I used to,” he answers.

I lean forward and watch as he places a bunch of numbered balls into a wooden triangle. He shakes them back and forth before removing the triangle and handing me one of the long sticks.

“Come here,” he says.

Gray wraps his arms around my waist and leads me to the end of the table opposite the balls.

“I bought this place a few years back and spent a lot of time training the staff,” he explains, bending me slightly over the edge of the table. “It runs itself now, but I enjoy a game now and again.”

He bought this place? I suppose that explains why nobody is leering at me. They probably know he’s the owner.

My pulse quickens as Gray’s chest and hips press against my back, but he doesn’t make any dirty remarks as he shows me how to hold the stick and explains the game’s rules. They’re easy enough to remember, and I find myself having fun as I fumble through the first round.

I can tell Gray is purposefully missing shots so it doesn’t end too quickly, but I don’t mind. I’m a sore loser, and I’m not above counting a pity win.

“Let’s make a game out of this,” Gray says as he pockets the last striped ball. He points his stick toward a corner before going for the black eight. “For each ball I sink, I get to ask you a question. You get to do the same for the ones you get.”

I pause, caution making me slow to answer. I don’t have much to hide, but I don’t doubt Gray will ask questions I’m uncomfortable answering.

My chest expands as I suck in a deep breath. “What if I don’t like what you ask?”

Gray cocks his head to the side as he thinks, his back straightening as he sinks the last ball and wins the game.

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