Page 63 of Mongrel
Apparently, Janos is a real ass. He watches me lick my fur into submission with an interest I find slightly disturbing.
“He has a huge tongue. Does he use it on your—”
“Janos!” Bowie barks out the name like he’s the werewolf in the room and not me. “Enough. Andras is not to be teased. If you value our friendship, I ask you to cease this line of questioning.”
I rise. Staring directly at Janos, I give Bowie a long, possessive slurp of my tongue up his neck to his jaw and over his cheek, leaving a wet trail in my wake.I licked him; he’s mine,I say to the asshole vampire snickering from his blankets. But inside, I worry. Will he remain mine when we return home? I can only hope as much.
“All right, all right, point taken, gentlemen,” Janos finally relents. “I’ll even turn my back so he can use his tongue however you like, but I can’t promise not to listen.”
I snuffle-snort into the soft place just behind Bowie’s ear. He ruffles the thick fur around my neck.
Something tells me it’s going to be a long day.
* * *
It’s not a long day.Apparently, I can sleep just as well with an asshole snoring in the corner as I can without. Who knew?
Janos is less irritating come dusk, having taken Bowie’s not-so-subtle hint to heart at last. He greets my wary stare with a polite “good evening,” and I nod, hoping the truce will hold until we can be rid of him.
I notice the flap of our bag is open, and my dolly, Marta, is visible. I nose it shut with my snout. Janos grins at me, which I refuse to acknowledge.
Bowie and Janos rehash the details of the plan while we wait until it’s safe to leave. I have the sinking feeling we’re too late to prevent Cecily’s arrival at the castle, but any information Janos can gather while we travel is potentially useful.
I stretch my muscles and assess every little ache and pain. All minor. That bodes well for tonight’s pace.
“Right, then,” says Janos as he gathers the blankets back to the pile. “I’ll be on my way.”
Bowie rises and goes to him. “Thank you, truly, for your help and for dropping whatever else you were doing to assist.”
“Of course.” Janos reaches for Bowie’s hands, and it’s all I can do to contain the possessive growl in my throat. “Anything for my brother.” This time when he kisses Bowie, he’s careful to stick to cheeks instead of lips, and though I don’t want Janos’s scent on any part of my man, this is easier to tolerate.
“Be careful,” warns Bowie. “The Báthory woman is dangerous.”
Janos scoffs. “She’s human. How dangerous could she be?” He winks in my direction. “Au revoir, Andras, pleasure to have made your acquaintance.”
I’m glad I don’t have to say anything.
Janos leaves first. It’s good to see the back of him.
Bowie turns to me. “I’m sorry about him, dear. Janos can be…let’s call itoverbearingto be polite.”
I snort-sneeze as I approach him. Rising to hind legs, I balance myself with my paws on his chest.
Bowie laughs and holds my flanks. “What is it?”
Leaning in, I thoroughly lick his cheeks clean of Janos’s scent and replace it with my own. Much better.
Bowie’s expression turns serious. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Janos and I have been lovers in the past. I wasn’t thinking. It was never serious between us, merely convenient, but we share a certain affection. Lonely people being slightly less lonely together.”
I understand and communicate as best I can with a look and a nuzzle. As always, Bowie seems to know just what I’m thinking.
“Good. I’m glad you aren’t upset.” He drops a sweet kiss to my snout before I push off him and return to all fours. “You’re very attractive when you’re snarling at my past lovers, by the way. Perhaps I should introduce you to more of them.”
I grace Bowie with my attractive snarl before looking down.No. Let’s not.
He chuckles. “That mean you don’t want to meet Damon? Or Luther?”
I look down.
