The blonde elbowed her in the stomach. “I’m the one you want.” The naughty librarian.
“How are we friends?” William asked him.
“We aren’t.” Baden had twelve friends. Only twelve. The men and woman who’d suffered demon possession right alongside him. The warriors who’d bled with him and for him—the heroes he’d only disappointed since his return. They wanted him to be the man he used to be, not the bastard he’d become.
An-n-nd there was another log on the fire of his guilt.
“Tears. Sadness.” William placed a hand on his chest, as if he’d been stabbed. “Now. Choose your girl. I’m going to do you a solid and take the other three.”
“What type of immortal are you?” Baden asked the two contenders.
“Phoenix,” the brunette said, her pride evident.
“Nymph,” the blonde said, her voice smoky.
“You.” He pointed to the blonde. “I choose you.” Nymphs needed sex more than they needed oxygen. At least she’d get something other than cash for her trouble.
The brunette wilted with displeasure, surprising him.
“I’ll make it up to you, petal,” William told her with a wink. “With him, you’d have to work for every cent. With me, you can simply enjoy. I don’t want to overhype my skill, but I invented the female orgasm.”
Whatever. Baden stood and, without initiating contact, led the blonde to the exit. He opened the door and motioned her through. The faint scent of white oleander accompanied her. He followed her into a narrow hallway, maintaining a safe distance.
“Pick a room,” she said with what might have been...anticipation? “Any room.”
He selected the first one on the right, entering before her in case someone waited inside, intending to attack. No assailant jumped out, but he did find a camera hidden in a clock on the mantel above the hearth. William’s doing? Why?
After disabling it, he conducted a more generalized search. The room had a king-size canopy bed with black silk sheets, a nightstand full of condoms and lubricants, and a recliner next to a bear-shifter rug.
The blonde traced a fingertip between her breasts. “What do you want me to do, gorgeous?”
The beast protested. Loudly. He didn’t like her, and didn’t want Baden distracted and vulnerable while in the presence of another—especially in an effort to quiet him.
Still Baden said, “Strip and bend over the edge of the bed, facedown.”
“Ohhhh.” She grinned. “Are you going to spank me for being naughty?”
The beast cursed him, then the girl. You will leave. You will leave now.
No threat. Just an order. Something about his tone...
A tone Baden had only ever heard from kings. Who are you?
With barely a pause, the beast replied, I am Destruction.
2
“Your hardest times often lead to your greatest moments. So get hard.”
—William the Ever Randy
BADEN REELED. THE BEAST...Destruction...a demon.?
A king, he added.
The pride in the creature’s voice was unmistakable.
Nailed it. A king of what?
Right now? You. Leave the girl or kill her. Your choice.
There was one other option. Baden narrowed his focus on his chosen bedmate. “I won’t be spanking you, only fucking you. Strip, and bend over the bed facedown,” he repeated. “Please, and thank you.”
Destruction hissed.
“For you, gorgeous, I’ll do anything.” She unhooked her bra and shimmied out of the matching underwear. Both garments floated to the floor. As she moved, the ring she wore glinted, the multicolored stone catching in the light.
Bang, bang, bang. The beast kicked Baden’s chest with so much force, the impact mimicked a heartbeat. Can you not see the danger right in front of you?
The girl had no concept of his inner turmoil and slowly pivoted, revealing her backside. She bent over the mattress, as requested, and spread her legs to present him with a view he’d missed all these centuries.
“Just so you know, I can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.” She looked over her shoulder, her smile returning. “Show me your worst.”
She wouldn’t survive his worst.
Destruction banged harder, hissed louder. Kill her before she kills us.
“No,” he said through gritted teeth.
“No?” she asked, incredulous. She gave her ass a firm slap, leaving a red palm print. “You’re going to walk away from this?”
Jaw clenched, he replied, “I will have you.” And I will silence the beast.
Relief bathed her features as he moved behind her. As he fought the impulses of his companion, sweat poured from him. Soon his clothes were sticking to his too-sensitive skin.
Destruction grew even more frenzied. She’s the enemy. See! Know!
All I see is a one-way ticket to paradise. It was time to nut up or shut up.