Is this real life? Me, being pretend kidnapped with a black bag barely hanging onto my hair as my demon lights a flame in his hand behind him, clearly preparing for the worst. Her, nakedin the middle of the woods with a big, angry creature of some sort protecting her.
I laugh, a single, loud guffaw, and everyone jumps. I glance at the naked woman, the first to recover, and she breaks into a mischievous smile. Her hands creep around the man’s sides to curl up over his shoulders as she rests her cheek against his biceps. Her blonde wavy hair floats alongside them in the stray breeze.
“Uh, Lor?” Ro whispers.
“Aww,” naked girl stage whispers, intentionally loud enough for us to hear. “Are you making new friends, Ash?”
The angry man looks stricken, like he just learned he was fatally poisoned or something. He glowers at her, a gruff “no” punching out of his chest.
That makes me snort-laugh again, but this time it doesn’t stop. I feel like I’m outside my body. Disconnected from reality. I mean seriously, what the actual fuck is happening?
I drop my hands and my face hits Ro’s back as I lose control, laughing hysterically. Isthiswhat finally does me in? Playing Ro’s demon games in the middle of the woods and apparentlynot being the only ones doing it?
Un-fucking-believable.
“Hey,” naked-girl says. “I’m Raya, and this is Asher.”
I can hear Ro’s answering grin as he douses the hidden flame and replies. “Nice to meet you! I’m Ro, and this is Lor.”
He pats my ass in what would be a fond gesture in any other context, but here it comes off as possessive with a side of demeaning.
And now, I’m the one growling.
I can’t believe that sound comes out of me, but who does he think he is? I thrash in his hold, but he tightens his grip with a low chuckle. I flatten my hands on his back and throw a glare upat him as I twist around to look at naked-girl, whatever her name was.
“I guess our game is intruding on your game, huh?” she says, a wide smile stretching across her face.
A surprised huff leaves my mouth as my face swivels between her and Ro. This woman is like a spirit twin to him, isn’t she? I grimace. Too much sunshine in one spot.
Unimpressed, I meet her partner’s eyes, taking in his lack of amusement in the situation as well.
“Yes,” I grumble. “You are.”
Then my arms give up for a final time, and I flop limply into Ro’s back.
“Sorry about that!” she chirps. “We’ll just go a couple miles over that way, right Ash?”
“Perfect, we’re heading this direction,” Ro replies. I assume he points or gestures.
“Awesome, we’ll stay out of your hair. And hey, cute setup over there!”
“Thanks for understanding,” Ro says, far too chipper in this situation. “Have fun, new friends!”
“You too!” Raya says, then she’s back in her gazelle form and leaping away into the trees. A blur follows moments later, one I just barely catch out of the corner of my eye before the bag shifts and covers my eyes again. I blink. That was… a vampire?
Ooookay, then. I heave a sigh, accepting that I have no idea what is happening anymore.
“Well, they seemed nice!” Ro says, then continues on his way to whatever unknown destination he has in mind.
30
WHO IS TEASING WHO?
Ro
I try to hurry the rest of the way, grimacing when I imagine how uncomfortable it must be for Lor to stay in this position for so long. She hasn’t complained, though, so she must be doing okay. Those two—the shifter and the vampire—seemed like loads of fun. I wish I had gotten one of their numbers… I wonder what game they were playing?
My mind returns to the firm ass next to my face, and I trace my fingers up and down Lor’s calf, carefully stepping over roots and around low-hanging branches. Soon enough, I break through the undergrowth, and cross the small meadow. Long shadows stretch as the sky darkens, and the evening birds call back and forth beyond us in the trees. The river burbles faintly in the distance, while fireflies blink over the swaying grasses.
