Page 57 of For the Love of the Gods

“And what would mylargepunishment be?” The second the question left my mouth I had the urge to suck back in the words. I tried to move away from him, but Dominic’s hand tightened its hold on my hip, keeping me flush to him.

Dominic’s breath caught and his eyes clouded as he looked at me. Shit. “I have something very large in mind.”

I almost retorted that there was no way he was working with something large, but I shut it down. Because I knew that wasn’t true. I could still feel the brand on my inner thigh from where he pressed his…sizeable length between my legs.

“Let’s go,” I said, my voice scraping out and placing my hand on his muscled forearm to wrench his hand off my hip. Not that it gave me any relief, the feel of it burned like a brand.

“You first,” Dominic repeated, all but shoving me towards the opening door.

We walked in, Dominic too close to my back, to discover that we were, in fact, slightly late. Most everyone was already there. And they were all wearing mischievous smiles.

“Oh, shit,” Dominic cursed at my back, and I twisted my head to see what that was about. Meeting my eye, he nodded toward our end of the table.

I followed his stare and when I took in what sat there, my mouth opened in shock.

Lia Vulcan and Quinn Hephaestus yelled “Surprise!” from their spot behind our chair.

Well, bench now.

Those two little shits obviously had a field day designing that torture device. Lia moved her hand dramatically over the midnight black bench, complete with two peaked backs and embossed with gold detailing.

“Do you guys like?” she asked, clearly proud of herself.

“You want the first shot or can I take it?” Dominic whispered from behind me.

“All yours. Make it hurt,” I grumbled.

“What was that?” Quinn asked, ushering one of us to speak louder.

“You guys are all assholes,” Dominic said to the entire room, sending gods giggling like school children.

“Oh, come on, Dominic! It’s a wedding present,” Lia shot back, crossing her artfully tattooed arms over her chest.

“They like it,” Quinn assured, patting Lia on her shaved head. Lia yanked his shoulder length, black hair in response.

They weren’t siblings by blood, but they sure acted like it.

“Lia, Quinn, you both are so kind,” I cut in, walking over to them with Dominic hot on my heels. I shot him what I hoped was a murderous look, one that he matched with equal fervor. I was reminded that we were barely on speaking terms, still only interacting when we were forced.

Quinn looked positively gleeful. “See! I told you she’d forgive—”

“So kind to give me a reason to get you back,” I finished with an evil smile.

“Clever as ever, Rose,” Lia said, pulling me in for a quick hug. “All healed?”

I nodded, squeezing her arm in silent thanks for the latest tattoo she’d given me. Based on the scattered glimpses I’d gotten of Dominic’s, I assumed she’d done his as well.

I gave Quinn a quick hug as well, then walked over to the bench to the sound of a short greeting between Dominic and them.

I took in my new seat for a moment, giving Dominic just enough time to pull it out from the table. I took the cue to sit, and right as he pushed my side in, leaving his slightly ajar, he leaned down and said, “So you know Lia well?”

“That a problem?” I bit out.

“Maybe.” Dominic rounded the chair. “But now I know you have tattoos. I’ll enjoy finding them.”

“Like I’d let you,” I said. I really had to come up with better retorts.

Dominic sat, his massive form taking up way too much of the wooden space. I shifted, realizing in order to stay comfortable I had to choose between pressing our legs so tightly together I was practically sitting on his lap or letting the arm of the chair dig into my side.

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