Page 57 of Corvus and the Broken God

“I guess if I’m going to live longer now that you’ve changed me, I will have time to learn a few more languages.”

“I can teach you.”

“No thanks.” He was quite possibly the least patient person (being?) I’d ever met. “I can order some Rosetta Stone courses.”

“Fine. Be difficult. He sent us home with two small pieces.”

“Hiroshi? I didn’t see him give them to you.”

“You weren’t exactly paying close attention, Corvus.”

I looked away. He was right. There was too much to admire to keep my attention on the two men. “So, where are they?”

“They’re packed up.”

“You aren’t going to hold out on me?”

“What? Like when you threatened to hold out on me unless you got what you wanted?”

“That was different. Ever since we teamed up, I’ve had to fight for each tiny scrap of new information. You’ve been disgustingly stingy.”

“I thought you liked my more disgusting side.”

“Oh, please. What are you doing?” He slowed and stopped the Jeep, but we were still miles from anywhere.

“I’ve held up my end of the bargain, and now I expect you to hold up yours.”

Did he mean sex? He parked and then pushed his driver’s seat the rest of the way back. I looked around for other drivers, but we were still on a remote dirt track. I turned toward him, checking him out. He might be an ancient being with ridiculous power and a sense of entitlement that went along with it, but he looked great in his human skin, in all his skins, really, and I forgot all the good arguments against giving in to my attraction. Looking him over, I decided I could do him quite happily in the middle of the rainforest, with steady rain pounding down on the ragtop. So, I climbed onto his lap, ran my fingers up his strong arms, and kissed him.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Reconnaissance

We were both content and mellow by the time we returned to the hotel. Hiroshi had sent us home with two small bundles, one for each of us. Mine was a tiny sparrow that fit in the palm of my hand. Each feather was perfectly etched, and I was becoming quite an expert at feathers. The colors were true to life, and the small sculpture must have taken hours to perfect, but there was something more to the tiny creation. It seemed warmer than a regular ceramic object to me, like there was life in its core. I couldn’t admire it enough.

“I have to thank him. What could I do for him?”

“There’s plenty of time for that, Corvus.”

“What did you get?” I crossed over to where he sat by the open sliding door. He opened his hand, and I couldn’t help but cry, “A bat!”

He held it out to me. It was slightly bigger than my sparrow and a deep brown color, so rich and expertly applied, the fur looked almost soft. The wings were tucked around the small body, much as my Monster slept in his true form. I’d never seen him sleep but had asked him one day what he did with his wings. He said he wrapped them around his body like a blanket and then demonstrated.

“Are you sure they aren’t going to spy on us?” They looked so lifelike, ready to blink their eyes and fly away.

“Yes, I’m certain. I’ve known him for centuries, and he’s as loyal a soul as I’ve ever met.”

I frowned, taking the bat from him to examine it.

“We can lock them in the bathroom if you don’t believe me.”

“No, I believe you.” He hadn’t lied to me yet. There was something for the pro column.

“Shall we get some dinner then? I’m famished.”

We went down to the hotel restaurant, actually finishing our dinner this time, as well as our pitcher of margaritas. Staring at his handsome features through my drunken haze, I realized we were finally comfortable with each other. He took my hand easily, and I let him pull me close, enjoying his warm lips on mine. It didn’t feel like pretend when he put his arm around me and escorted me to the elevator, whispering in my ear all the dirty acts he planned to do to me when we reached our room. Acts he delivered with enthusiasm. And when we were done, naked and sated, he didn’t leave me to fly over the land. Instead, we fell asleep in each other’s arms.

“Do you actually like that stuff?” I asked the next morning as he poured liberal amounts of artificial creamer into his coffee.