Chapter Eight

Peni

Peni was all kinds of confused. He was sitting on the man—demon, not next to him, but actually on him, eating food that cost more than his food budget for a week.

To add sauce to that confusion, Merihem started talking about Mrs. Danials, and Peni was so sure no one was ever supposed to find out about that. He’d been so careful, and Mrs. Danials had promised repeatedly she wouldn’t say anything. Now he didn’t know what that meant for him in terms of his job or a place to stay.

But when he asked about being fired, Merihem threw the term ‘blissful one’ into the mix, and Peni was sure his brain was as mushy as the tomatoes in his salad drizzled in the vinaigrette.

“My goat told me you were my mate,” he said cautiously.

“Blissful one for demons, mate for cute little goats. Same thing.” Merihem seemed pleased with himself, at least, that’s what his tone suggested. It’s not like Peni could really see his face.

He reached for his fork, needing something to do with his hands, and stabbed a bit of salad to nibble on. He then tried to think of what to say next. Merihem gave off an air of being totally confident about everything, which was a bit intimidating.

“If it’s the same thing, wouldn’t you call me a mate?”

“I can call you mate if you like. But for my demon, you are a blissful one. Not many demons get one of those, you know.”

No, Peni didn’t know. Hoping Merihem wouldn’t notice, he put his hand under the table and quickly pinched his leg.

Nope.

That hurt. He was awake.

“Do you always pinch yourself when you’re on a date?”

“I don’t… This is… I’ve never dated.” Peni stuffed his mouth full of some of the salad leaves to stop himself from saying anything else silly.

“This will be the best date ever, then.” Merihem sounded pleased about that, and Peni wondered why. Perhaps he’d had terrible experiences with dates before. “Because you’re my blissful one, sorry, mate, if you prefer, you won’t have to work. I can take care of everything.”

“Won’t have to work?” Peni dropped his fork, causing it to clatter on the table. He twisted, trying to see Merihem’s face. “Who will clean Mr. Dakata’s house?”

“It’s not Dakata’s house anymore. He lives with Silas in the forest. He gave the house to me. I’ve been called in to watch over his siblings, who are running most of his businesses now.”

There was something off about that statement—not a lie exactly, but not the full truth, either. Peni decided he’d ask about that later. He was more worried about his job.

“Don’t you need a house cleaner?” Peni really liked his job. He had a routine and everything.

“From what I saw this morning, the house account shows the place already has a drastically overpaid cleaner. But as I haven’t seen her since I’ve been staying at the house, I’m beginning to think the sixty dollars an hour she’s being paid is excessive, don’t you? I mean, I know demons have to pay extra for staff—some people don’t realize we’re just like other people, but expecting people to do the work they’re paid for isn’t a big ask.”

“Sixty dollars an hour!” Peni choked on a bit of salad caught in the back of his throat and reached for his juice, taking a quick sip. “No wonder she can afford to live in Florida. She’s only paying me twenty.” And then, realizing what he’d said, he added quickly, “Sorry. I mean, Mrs. Danials is visiting her sister in Florida. Visiting, she’s visiting. She said her sister was sick.”

“Hmm.” Merihem’s demon was grumbling—it was a lower tone than Merihem’s. “How many hours a week do you work?”

“Forty. I’ve been really careful with the money. I put most of it away so I can afford a better place. I don’t have references, so landlords expect more cash upfront from people like me.” Peni wanted to sink into the chair with embarrassment.

Merihem’s frown deepened. “And how long has Mrs. Danials been visiting her sister?”

“Four months.” Peni wanted to slink off the seat and hide under the table when Merihem pulled a phone out of his shirt pocket and started tapping on the screen.

When he’d finished tapping, his phone dinged, and Merihem put it away. “If you let me know your account number, the amount you’re entitled to will be credited to your bank this afternoon. I only worked it out roughly, not considering taxes and whatnot, but you should get about twenty-five thousand dollars or thereabouts. Scott, at the office will take care of it.”

Peni swallowed hard, and then, when the lump in his throat wouldn’t shift, he swallowed again. “Twenty-five thousand? Dollars?”

“Yep. Mrs. Danials had stolen from you roughly forty dollars an hour, for forty hours a week, for sixteen weeks. That’s roughly twenty-five thousand. Have you finished with your salad?”

“Yes, thank you.” I have to tell him. I have to tell him. “About that money. Don’t you have to take some off for rent?”

“Rent?” Merihem chuckled. “You mean for you squatting in the basement?” A big hand landed on Peni’s back, pushing him against the table. “Oops. Sorry. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No. I’m fine.” Peni pushed himself back up into a sitting position. “I didn’t have permission to live in the basement,” he admitted. “I think that’s a crime.”

“You’re right. It’s criminal that you were forced to squat in the basement of a huge house you were cleaning all by yourself, being stolen from by the woman who is actually contracted for the job, to the point you couldn’t afford to live anywhere else.”

“I told you I was saving up so that I could make a rental deposit. I wasn’t planning on living there forever.”

The server picked that moment to come and collect the empty plates. “Your pasta will be about five minutes more.”

Merihem just waved him off, or Peni assumed he did, he was still suffering with embarrassment.

“We need to rearrange you a bit so I can see your face. My demon tells me you’re upset with me.” Peni found himself lifted and spun to the side before resting back on Merihem’s legs. “We don’t like it when you’re upset.”

“I’m ashamed of how you found me, of how I’ve been living. Look at you.” Peni tapped Merihem’s chest which was covered by a beautiful crisp shirt. “You have everything. I have nothing. Now I’ve been fired…”

“W-what, I never said you were fired. Didn’t I just arrange to have the money owed to you paid into your account, so you got the higher pay you should’ve been getting?”

“I’m not fired?” A ray of hope unfurled in Peni’s heart. “I can still work at cleaning the house?”

“No. You’re my blissful one. We—that’s me and my demon—have to take care of you, which means you have to come with me when I’m doing my business. Someone else can clean the house.”

“Mrs. Danials is in Florida.” Peni’s heart sank.

“Mrs. Danials’ ass is fired. She knew what she was doing was wrong, and if I ever see her again…”

The demon was getting really rumbly now and Peni got the idea that could be terrible news in a restaurant.

Make him feel better. His goat piped up. Rub his nipples.

I’m not rubbing his nipples, but Peni did pat Merihem’s chest in what he hoped was a soothing manner. The rumbles calmed down, so it must’ve worked.

“That feels nice.” Okay, so yes, the demon was feeling better, but Merihem was still frowning. “Look, I think we’re really lucky as a couple. I mean, when Dakata found his blissful one, Silas was tied to a tree. Not literally, thank goodness, although that could be fun, but he’s a dryad, so neither one of them can leave the tree for long. That would drive me up the wall in a week.

“But see, you and me, this is perfect. You’re homeless, well, living in a basement, but that’s the same thing, so you can move up into the house with me. And you don’t have to work, because I can take care of everything you need. Wherever I go, you will, too. Won’t that be fun? I am rocking this dating business. Just rocking it.”

Peni had a sinking feeling in his stomach. “I really like working in the house. What will I be doing while you’re doing your business things?”

“You’ll be with me.” Merihem was smiling wide enough to show his teeth. “You can sit on my lap while I take meetings, looking cute, just like you are now. Perfect.”

“Just sitting, looking cute.” Peni inhaled sharply. “I don’t think I’ll be very good at doing that.”

Don’t do it. Don’t even think it. He’s our mate.

His goat could sense what he was planning before he’d even formed a coherent thought. Because Peni knew if his mate did not respect him, there wasn’t going to be a mating. Merihem could afford all the fancy shirts he liked, but Peni had his pride. “Can I get up for a moment, please?”

“Sure. But just for a moment. I like you there.” Merihem was all smiles as he pushed back his chair. Peni slid off his lap. “Did you get a crick in your leg? I get funny aches like that sometimes. Usually, when I’ve been seriously kicking some demon ass.” Merihem laughed. Peni didn’t think he was funny.

“No. No crick.” Turning and facing the demon, just out of arm’s reach, Peni pushed back his goat’s bleating and dug deep into the last ounce of courage he had left. “I can’t be with you and just sit on your lap while you run your business. I’m not a pet. I’m a person. I have wants, needs, dreams, and desires, just like the next person, and unlike the Mrs. Danials of this world, I’m prepared to work for what I have.”

“You don’t have to. I can take care of you.” Merihem wasn’t smiling now.

“I’m sure you can. But your comments, and how you view our life together puts you in the same league as my father, who thought my looks and where I put my cock were the only things important about me, too. I didn’t join in my father’s orgies, and I’m not sitting on your leg, keeping your cock warm either. Thank you for the salad.”

“Who said anything about orgies? I’m not taking you to any orgies. Peni. Peni?”

Peni turned and started to walk away briskly, his goat bleating in his ear all the while. Yes, I know he’s our mate, but he’s a self-centered asshole. I won’t… I can’t…

He met the server coming to the table with their pasta. “Shall I just leave this on the table for you?”

“Yes, thank you.” Peni was sure Merihem could eat his portion, too. He quickened his step. He had to get back to the house before Merihem did so he could clear his things out of the basement. I’m going to have to leave town… I’m going to have to find somewhere else to stay… I don’t know what to do. The only thing Peni knew was he was destined for better things than sitting on someone’s lap and looking pretty.

A tremendous roar sounded behind him, and Peni turned, just for a second, to see Merihem’s demon fighting past the server, coming in his direction. The roars were full of anger, and for the first time in ages, Peni and his goat were in accord.

Run.