“No, no, let me!” Grace insists. “There’s still some cleaning to do up there.”
“I thought you said the cleaning was done.”
This time I arch my tail straight into the air, using the momentum to straighten out and push myself onto the top landing. Unable to hide all my thumping and shuffling noises, I hiss in annoyance, only for it to come out as a dry wheeze.
The two women continue to argue at the bottom of the steps. I throw my tail behind me and turn for the nearest room to my left with an open door. One arm after the other, I head for it, pulling forward on my elbows.
“There’s just a little mess in the master I’m cleaning up with the steamer.”
“Now I think you’re trying to hide something from me, dear. You’re not going to keep me from going upstairs, Grace.”
“Mom, please.”
Footsteps pound the stairs as the vibration of the women’s feet thunder against the floor beneath me. I lurch forward into the room and shut the door with my fins just as the steps reach the top of the stairs. Dragging my body deeper into the room, I listen as Grace and her mom walk past the closed door.
With a grunt, I drop tiredly to the floor, stretching my arms out on either side of me, gasping, completely out of water.
I’m going to make Grace pay for this.
Hearing her and her mother continue their conversation in the room down the hall, I strain to understand their garbled words through the walls between us. Unable to do so, I am forced to consider the fact that I’m stuck waiting—again.
Pushing my hand over my cock, I test the damage and come away humming with pleasure instead. I run my hand along my hard length, rounding my girth with my long fingers, exploring the new sensation.
Closing my eyes, my ears prick for her voice. I’m fine having to wait for her this time around, squeezing myself with my fingers. Lying back against the side of the plush bed and circling my tip harshly, a groan escapes from my lips. A splash of blackliquid gets on my wrist from my slit. Lifting it to my face, I lick it off, tasting myself. When my wrist and hand are clear, I drop my hand back down to my cock and pump out more.
I know exactly what I need to do next.
Chapter 8
Dying of Thirst
Grace
He’s gone.
Whatever my mom’s saying, I’m not hearing it as I stare at the large swathe of open floor where the merdemon was supposed to be. Except for the pink stain remaining where the circle had been, the room shows no sign of what happened.
Mom snaps her fingers. “Grace! Earth to Grace, what happened?”
I shake my head, glancing around the room and taking several steps toward the bathroom to peer inside. “They left a summoning circle behind,” I answer automatically. Mom could compel me to speak to her, but she didn’t have to. “There was nothing left inside it, so I was just steaming it,” I say, lifting my hand and indicating the steam cleaning machine. Checking inside the bathroom, I find it empty and spotless and some of the tension leaves my shoulders.
He’s not here.
“Well, why didn’t you say that before? Did you think I’d be mad at you?”
“Uh. No.” I try to focus on her and not my missing merdemon.Did he go back to where he came from?“I just didn’t think it mattered.”
Mom scrutinizes my face, her brows deep as her eyes peer into my soul. “You’re keeping something from me.”
I throw up my arms dramatically. “It was unexpected, okay?”
“Is this about Zack?”
“No!” I throw up my arms again and walk to the steam cleaner, grabbing the bucket to refill it. “Not everything has to do with my ex. Can we just drop it?”
If thinking this is about Zack stops her questioning, then so be it. The last thing I want is her knowing I accidentally summoned a demon. She’ll force me to join the coven to try and protect me, control me. She means well and she does it out of love, but it’s out of fear as well. She doesn’t want me to get hurt, or—worse, according to her—manipulated. If she thought I had enough magic to summon demons, she’d demand I put the power to good use.
“Fine, but don’t lie to me again,” she warns, walking into the closet and leaving me in the room alone.
