“Wait, what?” Iblurted.
Jolie propped her chin in her palm. “What can I say, humans are a curiousbunch.”
“Why didn’t youtellme?”
“Because I didn’t know how you would react, and I haven’t told youeveryone I’ve slept with. I’m not sure we’d have enough time left for that!” Shelaughed.
“I wouldn’t have been mad that you had sex with ademon.”
“No, you wouldn’t have, but you also wouldn’t have understood. Now,youdo.”
“If you and almost every other person here has screwed a demon, then why are you shaking your head at me as if I did something wrong?” Iasked.
“Because I knew what it meant when I screwed a demon. I’m in it for the get in and get out with every guy I screw, and it’s great that demons are the same way too. No strings, no complications, that’s the way I roll. However, you’ve stayed more detached and warier of the demons than the rest of us have, so pure curiosity and getting off wouldn’t be enough for you to bed one of them. If you had sex with Corson, that means there’s feelings involved for you, and getting attached to their sexual partners is not the waydemonswork.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, I didn’t have feelings mixed up with Todd,” I reminded her. “I was more than happy to walk awayfromhim.”
“That’s because Todd was a tool who had no idea how to please a woman. His idea of foreplay was stickingitin.”
I did a double take at her words. “You sleptwithTodd?”
“It was after you,” Jolie replied. “I ran into him at another camp while you were on a scoutingmission.”
“You nevertoldme.”
“It wasextremelyforgettable. He never should have been your first. No wonder you never pursued another man until now.” Jolie glanced at Corson before focusing on me once more. “And with the way that demon’s staring at you, I thinkhepursuedyou.”
I shrugged. “Mutualcuriosity.”
“I see,” Jolie said. “He watches you in a way none of the demons watch us humans. I think most demons forget who they have and haven’t had sex with, but I’ve done that too. I’ve never seen any of the demons show so much interest in another, except for the king with hisqueen.”
I fidgeted with the straps of my backpack and glanced toward the dwindling line of people receiving their food. My stomach rumbled, but I remained seated as everyone got theirshare.
“I watch you wait until your followers have all eaten before you do, and I see you take less food thantheydo.”
Corson’s words played through my head. They weren’t my followers, not really. I’d been left in charge when Randy left, but he was their true leader. However, Corson had noticed me standing on the sidelines while the others got their food, yet I’d never realized I did it. Randy had always stood back and waited, and every time I’d stood with him while the others received their rations. Then, Randy would send me to get my meal, and he would take whateverremained.
Perhaps Randy had known what he was doing, but for me, waiting had merely been the way things were, and that wouldn’t change. I would never be able to eat while one of them stood behind me in lineforfood.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt, Wren,” Jolie said, breaking into myreverie.
“I won’t,” Ireplied.
She dipped her head to the side in a way that enhanced the prettiness of her elfin features. “Orgasms can do strange things to women. I think it fries some of theirbrains.”
I chuckled. “I assure you my mind is uncookedrightnow.”
“Then maybe you should do some morecooking.”
“First, you’re telling me you don’t want to see me hurt; then you’re telling me to go back forseconds.”
“I don’t remember the last time I heard you chuckle; cooked brain might be worth it. But I’ll shove his talons up his ass if hehurtsyou.”
“I’ll do thatmyself.”
“Sure, you’re the toughest chick I know, physically. Emotionally, you’re a stuntedteddybear.”
“Jolie—”
