Chapter Six

Peni

The pizza was gone from the kitchen counter the next morning. It was the weekend, a Saturday, but the demon still left the house just before eight in the morning, much like Dakata used to do. Actually, Dakata was rarely at the house all weekend, but Peni couldn’t guarantee this other demon would do the same. Peni tried to resist, but curiosity had bitten him on the ass, and after going through his normal morning routine, he’d crept up into the house to check and see.

He liked it. His goat was hopping around on all four legs in Peni’s head. He liked it. He took our food and ate it.

He could’ve just thrown it out. Peni went over to the trash, but all that was there was the empty box. All right. He ate it. But he’s a demon. He’d probably eat anything.

You should’ve got meat on it. I mean, we did the cheese thing, but maybe next time…

Peni slapped the middle of his forehead. “Just stop,” he said out loud. “We’re not cooking for him. We don’t need to buy food for him. The demon has more money than we’ll ever see in our lives. One nice gesture, because you wouldn’t let me eat my slices in peace. One gesture where I left him three of my four slices of pizza—pizza we could’ve been having for lunch and dinner today, and now I have to make do with a sandwich. By the horned ones, you will have me shifted and nibbling on the bushes in the garden at this rate when we’re feeding a demon who can afford to buy any food he wants.”

There was a moment’s silence in his head. Peni went into the laundry and grabbed his cleaning rags and the bathroom spray. He really hadn’t given that shower in the master bathroom a decent going over the day before. He was almost at the top of the stairs when his goat said, So… what sort of garden plants are we talking about here? I mean, the demon doesn’t have anything juicy, like blackberries in their garden, and the sunflowers are out of season this time of year. I suppose I could make do with some of the foliage I’ve seen, but the pickings are slim. But you could take me out to…

Are you serious? Peni couldn’t believe what he was hearing. You’d rather give the demon all our food and have me live on grass and weeds?

Not grass. Peni could literally see his goat shaking his head. We don’t eat grass. Only goats who can’t find anything else will eat that stuff, and our demon’s grass is covered in all sorts of chemicals. Ugh. You need to tell him to stop doing that sort of shit.

Huffing out long breaths, Peni made his way through the bedroom quickly. His goat was getting distracted again, making noises about their mate’s scent, and Peni didn’t need to hear it. Mates were special. Yes, he knew that. But his goat had become deluded if he thought they were giving up the small amount of food he could afford in a week, just because his goat wanted him on his knees serving snacks to a demon.

You know you want to.

No, I don’t. Oh, my gods. Look at this mess! Peni pointed at the state of the bathroom. He’s had a darn party in here. How else could he get water all up the walls, all over the mirror… look at that glass shower door! There’re watermarks everywhere.

Applying his cloth, Peni started rubbing—watermarks were so annoying, and if they were left to dry for long periods of time, they got even harder to remove. He kicked the towel that had been left on the floor to one side, rubbing at more marks as he silently cursed under his breath.

I know how he put those marks there.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Peni muttered, still rubbing madly.

I bet he caught a whiff of our wonderful scent when he came into the house, and he just had to strip off and plunge into a shower before coming out and stroking that loooooooong length, desperately panting for relief, water going everywhere as his cock jerks and spasms in his hand…

Will you shut up! Now Peni couldn’t get the picture of that out of his head. Honestly, you should come with a mute switch.

Hey, his goat protested. You were the one reading about all those sexy demons in that book you got from the library.

That was fiction. This is the real life where I have to spend time on my day off scrubbing watermarks off every surface because the demon couldn’t clean up after himself. Admittedly, Peni didn’t have anything else to do, but it was the principle of the thing.

Peni was scrubbing the last marks off the shower glass door when the goat spoke up again. So, about the menu for the demon’s dinner tonight…

We’re having sandwiches. One sandwich. Bread and butter and a smear of honey. That’s it. Peni could make his pizza last three meals if it didn’t have to be shared with a demon. Besides, there’s a good chance he won’t even come home tonight. Dakata rarely did on the weekend.

Sitting back on his heels, Peni studied the pristine glass with a sigh. That was the only issue with glass—it showed every droplet. But at least he could take comfort from the fact it could be clean all weekend if Dakata or that other demon didn’t come home.

Gathering up his things and the used towel, he slowly made his way to the top of the stairs when a sudden noise made him freeze. He can’t be home already. Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness. Taking care to run as lightly as possible, Peni dashed down the stairs, hurrying directly to the laundry.

He came to a skidding stop, his worn sneakers sliding on the tiles as he saw the same demon, in human form this time, leaning on the cupboard door—the one where he was supposed to make his escape through.

“Hey there.” The demon’s eyes seemed to scorch through his clothes as they raked up and down his body. “I apologize for the mess in the bathroom.”

“No problem.” Peni forced himself to keep breathing, his heart pounding so hard that half of the town could probably hear it. “I’ll… er… I’ll just put these things away and get out of your way.”

“I don’t think so.” Was the demon purring at him? It sure sounded like it. “The name’s Merihem, and I understand we might have a bit of a connection. Did you want to go out for a meal tonight and talk about it?”

“Tonight?” Peni’s eyes darted all around the room, but he doubted he could move anywhere fast enough to make his escape. He’s Dakata’s guest. Maybe Merihem doesn’t realize I’m not supposed to be here. I could…

“Did you have something else to do tonight? Meeting someone else, for instance.” The purr now had a very distinct rumble.

Peni gulped. “No. Nothing else. Just… you know. A sandwich and reading a book.” He tried for a casual laugh, but it came off as more of a squeak. “I don’t usually go out much. I… my budget, you know. Have to watch every cent.”

A hint of a frown passed over Merihem’s face, but it cleared just as quickly. “My treat,” he insisted, and just as Peni was about to refuse a second time, the huge demon in his smart shirt and pants held out a single rose that had just appeared in his hand. “Let’s start with lunch,” he suggested, “and we can make our dinner plans from there.”

It’s just like a scene out of that book you read. Say yes. Say yes! His goat was almost leaping out of his skin as Peni shoved the towel on the counter to reach over and take the flower with trembling fingers. It was a beautiful deep red rose with soft, velvety petals.

“Thank you. Yes, all right,” he whispered. “Let’s start with lunch.” What did he have to lose, right? Peni figured he could always find a new job and maybe even a place to stay on Monday morning. And a meal with Merihem had to be better than a sandwich?

Ask him how the bathroom walls got so dirty. His goat was beside himself with excitement. Go on. Ask him.

Smiling tightly, ignoring his animal spirit and Merihem’s heated gaze, Peni put away his cleaning things, threw the dirty towel in the washing hamper, placed his flower in a glass with water, and then washed his hands in the laundry sink. All the while trying to figure out how he’d ended up in this situation.

“Are you ready to go?” Merihem held out his hand as Peni put the towel he’d used to dry his hands back on its railing.

“I guess I am.” Peni took the hand, ignoring the shiver up his arm at the feel of Merihem’s skin touching his, letting Merihem lead him back through the kitchen and out of the house.

The bedroom’s the other way, his goat bleated as Merihem closed the front door after them.