Friends With The Monsters - Albany Walker Page 0,75
utter the refusal before my mind even settled on the answer. But it’s the truth. I don’t want them to go. I’m just not used to having anyone this close to me.
Grim surprises me when he takes a seat on the edge of the bed. His fingertip glides over my forehead and down over my eyes as he gently draws them closed. “Sleep, goddess.” My eyes pop right back open and I give Grim an accusatory scowl. There’s something about the Angel of Death calling me a goddess that freaks me out. I felt the same way when Gunnar kept saying that ‘my lady’ bullshit.
I don’t really know what to say, so I just eyeball him for a few seconds then close my eyes again. I peek at him after a few seconds and warn, “Don’t be creepy.”
“I am not creepy,” he intones.
Calix snorts and I let out a chortle. “You are, in fact, most people’s definition of creepy—just saying.” I turn on my side to get more comfortable, forcing myself to close my eyes and settle down, but this is weird. What if I talk in my sleep or drool? How do people do this every day? I feel more exposed now than I would if one of them where inside me.
Calix’s breathing evens out quickly behind me. I’m just starting to relax when I feel him turn over and curl around my back. I lie completely still as he weaves his hand under my arm, draping it over my stomach. A sense of calm falls over me.
When I open my eyes, Grim is staring down at the hand over my belly with a heavy frown on his face. I reach out and touch his leg, his eyes jerk up to mine.
“Should I remove him?” he asks quickly, and licks his lips. The way he says it seems so final. He’s so sweet.
“No, it’s not so bad. Want to lie down and be the little spoon?” I whisper, half joking.
“Little spoon?” Grim tilts his head as his brow furrows.
“Like nesting spoons. Right now, I’m the little spoon and Calix is the big spoon,” I explain.
“I want to be the big spoon.” His chin lifts a little.
“Well then, you have to go lie behind Calix.” I hook my thumb behind me.
“That’s not acceptable. I will only nest spoons with you.” Before I can even giggle at the way he responded, Grim lies down and gives me his back.
I swallow and lift my arm to accommodate him. “Scoot back a little,” I breathe. Only a few moments ago, I was uncomfortable with him being here, now I’m telling him to cuddle closer. I think I might be insane after all.
Grim does scoot back then. I have to reach my arm up a little to get around him, but every drop of reservation I had about them being in here with me while I slept evaporates the moment he lets out a heavy breath. “Little spoon is nice.” It’s almost as if he’s speaking to himself.
My last thought before I close my eyes is how absolutely shocked Aeson would be if she saw this. She’s going to laugh her ass off when I tell her about it.
Chapter 20
“I just want to make sure I’m clear on the plan.” I look around and see Grim, Calix, and a still angry Gunnar watching me.
To say he was pissed about our little sleep over and he didn’t get invited would be an understatement. More like he was madder than a wet kitten. I almost snicker at the imagery, but school my features.
Waking up to Gunnar bellowing at the top of his lungs was a new experience for me—and Grim, too, it seems. He was the one who said he only rests, but he had to be sleeping with the way he jumped up. He sure seemed like he was startled. I think his ass teleported to the door, blocking Gunnar’s raging, psycho self from entering the room. Grim’s scythe and cloak appeared as if summoned right along with him.
Calix just tightened his grip around my waist and let out a soft sigh, as if waking up to screaming and hollering is an everyday occurrence for him.
“What are you unclear on?” Grim asks patiently.
I rake my eyes over his body. Damn, he can make a t-shirt and jeans look good. Does he just conjure that shit up, like his robe? “I’m still not sure where Kitten fits in. Is he with us, against us?”