“They’re like cat eyes,” Nemo explained. Baz gave him a confused look. “Vertical slit pupils allow for more light control.You can see in the dark. Better depth perception, too. You’re a predator.” Nemo’s attention kept snagging on things he wasn’t familiar with—a microwave, curtains … the carpet. Eventually, he stood and walked over to the microwave, staring at it quizzically.
“Humans and wolves are predators. Why aren’t your eyes like that?” Baz asked him.
“You’re an ambush predator,” Nemo mumbled. He clicked a microwave button. When it beeped, his eyes went wide.
“I sit and wait? Jump out at unsuspecting victims?” Baz smiled, and dimples blossomed on his cheeks.
“Some do. I don’t think that’s the case with basilisk.” Nemo turned, eyeing Baz head to toe. “I think you lure in prey.”
“Lure? Hmm. Are you sure about my eyes?” Baz asked, sweeping his gaze to me. As his pupils elongated into thin slits, goosebumps trailed over my arms. An archaic part of my brain didn’t like watching that—the transition, nor the slit pupils focusing so intently on me. But since I wasn’t exactly normal, I found that unease thrilling.
“Looks the same to me,” he commented.
“Have you tried it in the dark?” Nemo asked, pushing more buttons on the microwave. A series of annoying beeps filled the motel room.
“No. It’s useless.” His pupils snapped back to normal. Nemo crouched, reaching out to pet the rough carpet.
“Is it because it makes you look less like a phoen?—”
“You know what would be useful right now?” Baz interrupted him. Nemo sighed in annoyance before standing up and glaring at Baz.
“No, what would be useful? Bree explaining things we might need to know?” Nemo asked. My eyes widened. Explain things to them?No, no, no.
“Sex,” I blurted out. “I want sex.” They both twisted their heads to look at me quizzically. Like two German shepherds with heads tilted to the side.
“Really?” Baz asked.
“Absolutely,” I said. Baz shrugged and got up. Nemo stayed by the microwave.
“Come on, Nemo. Before Orson gets back. It’ll depress him to see us fucking her. He can’t compete with the hate fuck sandwich.”
“Hate fuck?” Nemo asked. Baz nodded while walking over to me.
“Yep, what you and I do.”
“We hate fuck?” Nemo asked with zero entertainment.
“Don’t we?” Baz asked.
“Yes, Baz. All that fucking is just to show our … hate, for one another,” Nemo deadpanned.
“I can read sarcasm,” Baz commented. “But if it’s not hate fucking, why do we always fight first?” Nemo stepped up to Baz and grabbed his shirt.
“See?” Baz said with a smile. Nemo slowly pulled Baz against his chest, sliding his arm around his waist. Baz’s eyes widened. “Wait—” Nemo cupped his face. Baz looked bewildered as Nemo leaned forward, going for a kiss.
“Are you goading me into a fight?” Baz asked suspiciously. Nemo pinched his lips together and then shoved him. Baz roughly fell onto the bed next to me.
“Come on then, lets all hate fuck,” Nemo growled. Baz gave nothing away, but that was almost a tell in itself. Why have a blank face unless you’re removing something you don’t want to give away?
“See? He’s pissed with me,” Baz whispered. “Hate fuck sandwich.”
“He has a point,” I said. Nemo rolled his eyes and peeled off his blood-soaked clothes. When did that happen? Funny that it didn’t catch my attention before now. Guess it was normal. My own clothes were still covered in a dropped blood bag mess.
Baz’s gloved hand gripped my face, pulling my attention to him. As he kissed a line up my neck, the weight of his body pinned me to the bed. A trail of heat bloomed from his venom-tainted saliva. Filthy ideas of where else I wanted that sensation filled my head. Maybe I really did need sex.
“Lower,” I begged. Baz swiftly pulled off my clothes, wasting no time. We were all desperate to connect, apparently. I was aching to feel something familiar. To assure myself that everything was fine after what we’d been through. My heart raced as Baz settled between my legs. The moment his tongue pressed between my thighs, my body flooded with warmth. I only got out one shaky sigh before Nemo pushed Baz aside.
“Fuck,” I complained.
