Page 23 of Monster Song
Her face lit up.
“So, I could get Pho here?”
If it meant she would stay here when this was over, I’d ask to go to Earth just to collect recipes. But that one was easy.
“You can thank Tryphon for that one. He fell in love and found someone to translate to get the recipe. This was before the internet.”
She bit into her sandwich, and I was watching her like a hawk. Was it even necessary she liked the same foods as me? After everything I’d said to her, I just wanted her to like me, and if that meant just liking the same foods, I’d take it.
I guess that little moan she let out was a good sign.
“Oh, my god, this is amazing. I can see why this is your favorite for breakfast. My clinic opens at seven in the morning, and I always have people waiting outside when I get there. I usually drink a boring protein shake for breakfast because I hate waking up early, but I have to for work.”
I decided to stretch and show off my naked chest. Yeah, she was staring.
“That’s one perk of being a bodyguard to the queen of the Underworld. Persephone likes to sleep in and have a lazy breakfast with Hades. She rarely calls for us until at least noon.”
“Must be nice. I’ve got people waiting outside my clinic door at seven in the morning just to get their dog’s anal glands expressed.”
I wrinkled my nose.
“That sounds wholly unpleasant.”
“It’s stinky and involves a finger up the butthole.”
I just smirked at her.
“A finger up the butthole can be quite nice if done right.”
She threw her napkin at my face, but she laughed.
“If any of you monsters have anal gland juice, I’m not going anywhere near your butts. That stuff is foul.”
“My ass is totally pristine, but I can’t promise the same for the others.”
River drained her coffee and set the cup down. We were both done eating.
“What do you say we get a little pre-fight snuggling in?”
I always tried to keep this calm, serene, resting bitch face because that was just what us phoenixes did, but the idea of having her in my bed was too much. I bolted to my feet and scooped her up. I didn’t care if it made me look like a teenaged phoenix. I carried her to my bed and fell into it with her. We were just a tangle of limbs as we got situated.
I buried my face in her black hair and wrapped my arms around her waist. She sighed and placed her hands on my arms. I could die like this and be happy. I’d just rise from the ashes and hold her again. She rolled over in my arms and buried her face in my chest.
“Demos? Are you okay with all this?”
“With all what? Everything seems to be falling into place to get Demeter out of the Underworld.”
If she was asking about her being in my arms, I would always be okay with that.
“I meant with me. I like all of you, and I don’t think I could ever choose. I don’t want to. If I did, it would destroy your team and your friendships. Eventually, you and Pavlina will find common ground on something. I usually have trouble staying in a relationship with one person because they think they need to get a pet because I’m a veterinarian, but I could see it with all of you. Together.”
I could smell the smoke as sparks came off my hair and burned the pillow. I quickly tried to put it out. I knew it wouldn’t hurt her, but Hades always got upset when he had to replace something in my bedroom because it got burned. I’d never find common ground with Pavlina. I knew she didn’t fuck my girlfriend now, but she still taunted me about it and let me believe she did for centuries. Plus, she was just awful.
“Does my opinion really matter?” I asked.
“Yes, it does. I have a big decision to make when this is all over where I end up. If you are all in on this, I’d like to stay here and see where things go. If everyone is not okay with it, then I’ll either go back to my clinic or see what Hell offers. I’m not breaking up your team. I like you a lot, Demos, and I really want to stay.”
Well, that answered a big fucking question I had. She only agreed to stay here for six months, and she had family in Hell. She’d only just started to get to know us, and yeah, she flirted, but that could have been all it was—something to pass the time until her six months were up.
