Damn it. Cant I have a single night to myself?
The demon replied with more humming. Meaning, hell no.
I gave you a victory tonight already.
WIN.
Fine. One more. But it wouldnt be the fight his demon wanted. Frowning, Strider pointed to the shortest female in the group. You.
Her eyes widened with pleasure. Me?
She was slightly older than the others, putting her in her early thirties, with black hair and green eyes. He kinda wished she were a blonde, but she had a few tattoos scattered across her backbirds rather than words and faces, not that he caredso he figured she would do. Not that he was particular or anything, or going for a specific type. He just knew what he wanted, and there was nothing wrong with that.
Yeah. You. Cmere, honey, he said, crooking that finger and motioning her over.
She giggled and jumped to a stand. Several of the other girls threw her jealous scowls as she closed the distance and plopped onto his lap, and he nodded in satisfaction. Now that was more like it.
Theres your one more, you little shit.
Defeat quieted, happy with the win but bored by the ease of it.
Strider sighed. Earlier, this female had taken a dip in the water, and her gold-foil bathing suit was still damp. She fit her ass right over his semi-erect penis and leaned back, stretching out against him. Her largereally largebreasts jutted up, her nipples beaded underneath the fabric of the suit, and she squirmed against him, trying to rub him into full arousal.
Suddenly he wished hed kept his mouth shut. He didnt want to be rubbedor talked to. Damn his irresistible sexual magnetism.
Easy now, he told her, gripping her hips to ensure she slowed down. I need a few minutes to recover from the excitement of having you here.
Thankfully, she stilled. She twisted just a little, peering up at him through heavy-lidded eyes. Want me to turn around?
She smelled of peaches and cigarette smoke. Actually, be a good girl and get me another beer from the kitchen. He hefted her to her feet and gave her tight ass a pat. I need to rebuild my strength or Ill never be able to keep up with a woman as talented and beautiful as you.
The action startled her, and she yelped, then threw a narrowed glance over her shoulder. Beer?
Yeah, and sometime tonight, he prompted, not wanting to give her time to question him further. Thats a sweet girl.
Grab me one, too, sweetness, Paris called. Dont pop the lid, though, all right?
With a huff, she flounced inside. The kitchen sat right next to the patio, the glass doors allowing him to watch her as she dug into the fridge, turned and stalked back out. By the time she reached him, she had calmed down.
When she tried to sit back on his lap, he confiscated the beers and gave her a little push toward the pool. Watching you swim is about the sexiest thing Ive ever seen. Show me that swan dive again, and transport me right back to heaven.
But I thought you wanted If youre sure you dont
Im sure. Im practically drooling just thinking about how graceful you are.
Her shoulders squared proudly, and she raced off to do just that. Strider tossed Paris his beer.
I just had the best idea ever, William said the moment they were alone. Well, as alone as three guys could be with a backyard filled with strippers. He grinned evilly. Lets give Maddox a ring.
Paris had dumped a baggie of ambrosia in the new bottle and had just taken a swig. The liquid caught in his throat, choking him. After banging a fist into his sternum, he regained his breath and said, You mean propose to him? To grumpy ole Maddox? Shit, Willie, why didnt you tell us youre a masochist who swung that way? Youre so delicate, hell rip you to shreds the moment you climb into his bed. Plus, hes hitched himself to Ashlyn. You try to lay a move on him, and that sweet thang will rearrange your face.
Rolling his eyes, William withdrew Pariss cell phone from the pocket of the swim trunks hed borrowed. I mean call him, you idiot. Whats with you tonight? Permanent brain damage? Well breathe heavily and ask him what hes wearing. I bet no ones phone sexed him before.
Hey! Paris frowned as he eyed the small black device. I had that stashed in my bedroom.
I know. Thats where I found it when I was snooping through your things. As always, William was unrepentant about his sins. So who has the titanium balls to actually do it, huh?
Defeat raised his arm like a schoolboy, the only kid in class who knew the answer to the seemingly impossible mathematical equation on the board.
Enough from you already! You had your more.
Why Maddox? Strider asked. If anyone could kick his ass over the phone, it was the keeper of Violence. The warrior would probably find a way to reach through the line and strangle him the moment he started describing all the naughty things he supposedly planned to do to him.
William flashed his perfect white teeth. Because hell curse the most, and thatll make me laugh the hardest. Now, are you in or not?
Give me that effing phone, Strider grumbled, opening his palm and waving his fingers.
Effing? William laughed with genuine amusement. You ever realize how polite you get when youre hammered? And you know what they say. A mans true character is revealed when hes toasted. So you gotta face facts, man. Youre a closet gentleman. He shuddered. Loser!
The heck I am!
Even Paris laughed at that.
Strider snatched the phone out of Williams hand and started dialing. Yeah, Maddoxlike every other warriorwas on speed dial, but Strider didnt know the order Paris had them listed and he didnt want to ask. If Strider wasnt first, he didnt want to challenge the bastard to fix the mistake.
A few seconds later, Strider realized hed dialed the wrong number because some dumb kid answered with a Whats up, yo?
Strider quickly hung up and tried again, carefully pecking at the keys. After the first ring, he switched to speaker.
Maddox answered a few seconds later, his voice raspy with the force of his panting. Something wrong, Paris?
William and Paris were on the edges of their seats, peering over at Strider with utter glee. He hadnt seen either warrior that happy or relaxed in a long time, and he realized they had needed this vacation as much as he had.
Strider blew into the mouthpiece, then moaned as if he were buried deep inside a womans body. He tried not to grin.
Paris? Maddox asked, confused. You there? You okay?
Both warriors tried to cut off their laughs, smashing their knuckles into their mouths, but snorts managed to escape.
You naked, big boy? Strider asked in his best imitation of an aroused female. Because I am.
More snorting followed his words.
Strider? And dont try to deny it. I recognize your voice. What the hell are you doing with Pariss phone? I thought you were in Rome. And furthermore, what the hell does it matter if Im naked or not? You have exactly two seconds to explain or Im going to reach through the line, rip your tongue out of your mouth and
There was a pause, static, a muttered, Give me that, by an indignant female. Then the normally quiet and reserved Ashlyn was demanding, Did you just drunk dial my husband?
Yes, maam, Strider said, and the other two finally burst into laughter, falling back in their chairs, their bodies shaking with the force of their mirth. A guys gotta have some fun. Even if its the fun he puts in his own funeral. So is he? Naked, I mean.
No, for your information, he is not. Hes working out. I, uh, kind of incited him to rage so hes beating the crap out of a brick wall.
The laughter continued for several minutes, until even Ashlyn was chortling. You boys are incorrigible. This isnt funny! Hell probably destroy the other wall when we hang up.
Good. He needed to get out of bed and finally do something besides Strider stopped himself before he said something else Maddox would rage over.
Besides pleasuring me? Ashlyn finished for him, anyway. Youll change your mind when you next see him. Lately, hes a nervous wreck about the babies. Hes picking fights with everyone he meets and has even been arrested. Twice. Were going to make our way back to the fortress in the next week or so. He needs you guys. Because, and please dont laugh when I tell you this, if were alone much longer Im going to murder him in his sleep.
Strider chuckled. Bet youre wishing you hadnt saved him from his death curse. Once upon a time, Reyes had been forced to murder Maddox every night and Lucien had been forced to escort his soul to hell. Ashlyn managed to reverse the curse, sparing them all.
A little peace and quiet isnt too much to ask for, you know? she said loudly. Then, in a softer tone, she added, So everyones good?
Dont be nice to them, Maddox barked in the background. You need your rest, and they interrupted.
Oh, hush, she replied. If you had your way, Id be resting every minute of every day. And like I can really rest while were outside, in the middle of town, while you destroy another building. Besides, I miss them and want to talk to them.
That shut Maddox up. He could deny his precious Ashlyn nothing.
Were great. Me, Willie and Paris are on vacation. Together, Strider added. He relaxed against his lounge, his free hand anchored under his head, wondering if hed ever have such an easy relationship with a woman. You guys good? No trouble lately?
Besides Maddoxs temper? Not even a hint of it.
He didnt ask where they were or what, exactly, they were doing. Besides destroying public property. He didnt want to know. Ignorance was bliss. Besides that, if Hunters ever managed to pull their heads out of their asses and capture him, he wouldnt have any secrets to spill.
Secrets. Amun. Ex.
His jaw clenched. You werent going to think about them, remember? How are Stride and Stridette? Friend that he was, hed taken the massive burden of picking names for the twins upon himself.
Hes means Liam and Liama, William called, but a shadow then passed over his features, his grin fading.
Madd and Madder are kicking like professional soccer players, she replied, her voice softening with love and affection. I swear, were gonna have our hands full when they finally get here.
By the way, youve ruined a perfectly good prank call with all this baby talk, Ash, William scolded her.
Seriously, Paris said with a nod.
She laughed with unvarnished delight. No more than you deserve, boys.
Hang up the phone, woman, Maddox suddenly said, grim. Someones coming.
Uh-oh. I have to go now, she said and hung up before anyone could reply.
Strider tossed the phone to Paris, who missed. Think theyre in trouble?
Nah, Paris said, plucking the device before William could. The someone whos coming is probably Maddox himself.
Yeah, hes probably dragging her back to wherever theyre staying so he can make a prank call of his own, William said, adding, on her body.
Before Defeat could throw in his own supposition, Strider changed the subject. So now what are we going to do? Out of habit, he scanned his surroundings.
The girls were watching them, he realized, confused by their amusement but clearly charmed by it. They were wearing dreamy expressions, as if they were already planning a triple wedding.
I guess we could grab a female or two and head to our bedrooms. Paris didnt sound enthused by the prospect. At least he wasnt going to deny himself his daily dose, though.
Yeah, William replied, and he actually sounded depressed.
Strider knew Pariss problem. The woman he had desired above all others, the first woman hed ever been able to have sex with more than once, had died in his arms, gunned down by her own people. Hunters. Like Ex.
This time, Strider didnt even attempt to cut off his thoughts of her. Yet. Had she been among the shooters? Probably. There was no bitch more coldhearted. Literally. Hed never met anyone whose body was as cold as that girlsexcept those hed sent to the morgue, of course. Like hed once sent Ex.
Was she cold because she was still dead? Was she akin to the walking dead?
The possibility was worth considering. Later. Right now, he wanted to figure out Williams unusual somberness. A much safer topic. Was there someone the warrior wanted but couldnt have? Someone hed lost? Was that why he was so hands-off when he used to be a worse degenerate than Strider? Seriously, he hadnt touched a single stripper. Not even to slap a rump.
So am I the only one who sees the dead girl at Pariss feet or what? William asked conversationally.
Strider and Paris stiffened in unison. Dead girl?
Strider was the first to find his voice. What do you mean? He looked, hard, but saw no hint of a deadanything.
Is this a joke? Paris demanded, and there was no denying the menace in his voice.
No joke, I swear. William held up his hands, all innocence. She showed up a few minutes ago and just kinda threw herself on the ground beside your chair. Dude, shes got her hands wrapped around your ankle. His gaze remained in the same spot, as if he were studying her. Shes got dark hair and dirt-smudged skin. Or maybe those are freckles. Shes wearing a ripped white robe and black wings are growing out of her back. Ohhh, shes got nice hands. Look at those things. I bet she does all kinds of naughty things with them.
Paris was on his feet a second later, wild gaze darting over the concrete surrounding his chair. Where is she? Where, damn it?
A frowning William pointed at the exact spot Paris was standing. Youre on top of her. Hey, girl. Girl. I dont think he can see you. Or feel you. I dont think grabbing on to him like that is gonna help you.
Paris jumped back and, with an urgent moan, fell to his knees, patting the area in question as if he were putting out a fire. I dont feel her. Are you sure shes here? Desperate, uttered in a rush.
Uh, yeah. Williams brow furrowed several seconds before smoothing out as comprehension dawned. I guess I never told you guys, but I see dead people. Oh, and look. Theres Cronus.