Page 24 of Monster Song
But she liked us, and she wanted to stay. She even liked me after all the shit I’d said to her. She wanted our input on the decision too. I already knew what my answer was. As loathe as I was to even throw a bone at Pavlina, I’d hate it even more if River left, and I didn’t get to see where this went.
I stroked her cheek.
“I want you here with us if you want to stay. Can I ask for something?”
She nuzzled my hand with her cheek.
“Anything. I’m asking for a lot.”
“Can I get more Pavlina free mornings like this?”
She just laughed and threw herself even closer to me.
“I think Pavlina wants her own Demos free days too. One day, the two of you will find common ground on something.”
I lifted her chin so I could look deep in those beautiful eyes.
“I’m willing to tolerate that spider if it means not driving you off.”
She bit that full lower lip and always appeared to be pouting, even when she had a massive smile on her face. Her hand trailed down my chest.
“I’m glad I caught you half-naked when I knocked.”
Well, wasn’t she just more forward than any nymph in the Underworld? I had a feeling if she wanted me to rid myself of more of my clothes, she’d either tell me or just yank my boxers off instead of expecting me to read her mind like the nymphs like to do. Yeah, I used to have a thing for the nymphs, and it got me into so much trouble.
I fingered the strap of her shirt. I got the feeling I could be a little more direct with my flirting with her and not get slapped in the face like the nymphs did.
“You came a little overdressed.”
Any nymph in the Underworld would have slapped me and stormed out. There was always this ass-kissing prep work with them. Honestly, River could slap me and storm out too. I just braced myself for it. She didn’t hit me. She just moved closer.
“I thinkyoulike it I caught you in your boxers too. You were showing off at breakfast.”
“You were staring.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t enjoying the show. I’m just saying after all that, you don’t want to show me what’s under those boxers too?”
Definitelynot a nymph. And I was turned on as all fuck. I jumped out of bed and ripped my boxers off. Phoenixes loved to preen their feathers, and we loved to show off, so I flexed my muscles and let her get a good look.
Oh, and she was definitely not blushing and looking away either. She was looking at me with hooded eyes, and her hand slipped down the front of her trousers. Well, I certainly wasn’t having that! It was sexy to watch, but a phoenix justcould nothave a beautiful woman in their bed and have them pleasuring themselves. It was my job to blow her mind, and yeah, make her forget about whatever happened with Pavlina the night before.
I stopped showing off and pounced. I gently pulled her hand away.
“That’s my job.”
“You sure are beautiful when you are naked,” she said, tracing one of my markings with her finger.
I just tossed my hair back.
“I know. Now, I need to show you how beautiful I find you.”
She moaned as I kissed her neck.
“Do you want me to put on a little show like you did?”
“I don’t want you leaving this bed until I’m done with you.”
I only ever would have been able to do this with another phoenix until I met River. Hades would be so mad if he had to replace this mattress again, but I didn’t care. I didn’t even want her out of my bed to remove her clothes, and yeah, I was still showing off. I was always showing off.
