Chapter Twenty-Two

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Sitting on the small, plastic slide, Khloé shifted slightly to get comfier and then took another swig of her pink gin. “I wonder if Little Bo Peep ever found her sheep. Or maybe she got new ones. Like for her birthday or something.”

“If I lost some, I’d put ‘new sheep’ on my birthday gift list,” said Raini, using her heel to gently rock the swing backward and forward. “And a sheepdog because, you know, it would just make things a whole lot easier.”

On the other swing, Devon pointed a finger at the succubus. “Bo Peep should’ve thought of that. She was such a disappointment, as shepherdesses go.” The hellcat flicked her hair over her shoulder. “I’d have been so much better at that job. I should totally try it.”

Sitting cross-legged on the lawn, Harper frowned. “But we need you to pierce people and help with tattoos.”

Devon sighed, disappointed. “Life always gets in the way.” She sipped from her red plastic cup. “We might need to head back inside soon; I’m almost out of gin.”

They’d come out to Jolene’s backyard to get a little fresh air. The air inside was hot and stuffy, since the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway, and backyard were packed with people who’d come to celebrate Martina’s birthday.

Music blasted out of the open window, along with the sounds of people laughing, singing, and yelling to be heard. The birthday girl was currently in the dining room, killing Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” on the karaoke. The imps on the outdoor deck were doing the Conga dance while singing along. Another was using the green hose as a microphone while dramatically mouthing the lyrics.

Khloé figured it was a good thing that the neighbors were lair members or Jolene would be getting a high number of complaints about the noise. Especially since their family parties could go on all night and might even bleed into the late morning hours.

A breeze brushed over her skin and ruffled the grass and leaves. Khloé lifted her plastic cup to her mouth and took another sip of her pink gin. The sweet taste exploded on her tongue.

Raini leaned the side of her face against one swing chain. “You know, it kind of amazes me that Keenan left your side, Khlo. He’s been your shadow for weeks now.”

He had indeed. And he hadn’t once snapped at her mother for turning up at the house on a daily basis just to faff around Khloé. She suspected that was partly because he was glad Penelope had tossed out her useless boyfriend and was back on the sobriety wagon. Hopefully she didn’t fall off it again.

Keenan often watched Khloé like a hawk, as if searching for signs that the infection might have returned. It hadn’t. Maddox had definitely either neutralized or overpowered it, because even Vivian had confirmed that there wasn’t so much as a dot of death essence in Khloé’s system.

“He seems to have calmed a little since he slid this on my finger,” said Khloé, smiling down at the black diamond ring, just as she did many times a day. Such jewelry was a symbol of the ultimate commitment, so demons only ever exchanged them with partners they were utterly certain of.

Keenan had given Khloé hers the day after Maddox had healed her, saying that watching her almost die had made him realize that he never wanted to be without her. Since she felt the same, she’d asked him to wear the masculine matching ring. It had settled something in him.

“I wouldn’t say he’s calmed,” objected Devon. “Every time he has to leave you at the studio, he looks like he might spontaneously combust.”

“She almost died; the guy got a scare,” said Harper.

“We all got a scare.” Devon squinted at Khloé. “Don’t ever almost-die again.”

“Why, did you cry?” asked Khloé.

The hellcat sniffed. “No.”

“You lie, Pinocchio.”

“God, that puppet was such a whiner,” said Devon. “‘Poor me, poor me, I’m made of wood.’ A lot of women would be happy with a guy whose nose grew like that. We’d always know when he was lying, and it would make sitting on his face a lot more fun if he whispered some fibs at the same time.”

Harper snickered. “Only you, Dev. Only you would think this shit. Ooh, here comes Teague.”

Careful not to stand on the people who were sitting on the doorstep, he stepped onto the deck. A beer bottle in hand, the male shouldered his way through the Conga dancers and crossed the gravel pathway that cut through the lawn. He nodded at the other women and then smiled at Khloé. “Hey, gorgeous.”

She returned his smile. “Hey, stallion.”

He took a swig from his bottle. “What are you ladies talking about?”

“Naughty wooden boys,” replied Devon, a twinkle in her eye.

The hellhorse frowned. “I don’t know how to contribute to that conversation.” He shifted his gaze to Khloé. “How’s life at Keenan’s lair treating you?”

“Fine,” said Khloé. “Honestly, things don’t feel much different than they did before.”

“Probably because you didn’t move out of your house. I like that Keenan didn’t ask you to. It shows he knows what you need and, more importantly, cares what you need. As mates go, you could have done worse.”

Khloé snorted. “Don’t think I don’t know that you like him.” He and Keenan actually got along pretty well these days.

Teague shrugged. “He’s not the world’s worst guy. I am surprised he’s left your side, although we both know he’ll follow you out here in about, oh, two minutes.” The hellhorse sipped his beer again. “Ciaran looks comfortable.”

Khloé glanced at her brother, who’d passed out in the nearby hammock, cuddling a garden gnome. One minute he’d been talking to them. The next thing, he’d been snoring softly.

“I noticed he spent most of the night glaring at you,” Teague added.

Khloé sighed. “He’s still mad that I nearly died. Like it was my fault.”

“It probably eats at him that his attempt to save you didn’t work—you know how he is for taking on burdens that aren’t his.” Raini pushed off the swing. “I need to go pee.”

“Me too,” said Harper, standing. Her nose wrinkled. “I think my ass is wet. Oh, please tell me I didn’t piss my pants.”

“You have a wet patch on your butt,” said Raini. “But I think it’s from the grass. Don’t quote me on that, though.”

“You all coming back inside?” the sphinx asked.

“Sure thing, pissy pants.” Devon stood. “I gotta get more gin.”

Harper scowled. “It’s not piss.”

“It looks like piss,” said Devon.

“You look like piss.”

“How can a person possibly look like piss?”

The two women continued to argue as they made their way up the path—Raini played peacemaker, but it didn’t work so well.

Teague helped Khloé off the slide. “I noticed there’s still some tension between your incubus and Knox,” he said quietly. “Keenan was so pissed at him that day we all thought you’d die—I don’t know why, and I’m not asking. But, yeah, I really thought Keenan was going to try to take him out.”

Khloé had heard as much from her twin. “He didn’t speak to Knox for, like, two weeks. I asked why. He just said he felt that Knox could have done more to save me. I think Keenan just felt guilty for not getting to me earlier and he needed someone else to blame.”

“I don’t know. Your incubus doesn’t seem like the kind of person who’d point the finger at someone else if he knew the guilt belonged to him.”

True, but it was the explanation she gave to anyone who questioned her about it. Truly, she wasn’t entirely sure why Keenan felt the Prime could have done “more,” but she hadn’t pushed him on it, sensing there were certain things the sentinels were forbidden to share with anyone—even their mates.

Khloé wasn’t mad about it. She understood that some secrets just weren’t his to share, and she liked that he had such integrity. His loyalty was still primarily to her, and that was what counted.

Besides, she’d be a damn hypocrite to whine at him for keeping secrets when she, too, was required to keep secrets from people she cared for and trusted. Not from Keenan, though—he knew all about little Asher and what he’d done to Lane. Of course, Harper and Knox had spun the story and claimed to others that Enoch had purged Lane of his powers—something people had bought, considering Lazarus demons specialized in death and destruction.

Harper and Knox had been shocked to hear how Asher and his demon had come to Khloé’s aid. If she wasn’t mistaken, it scared the couple that he was so powerful—especially since people would seek to destroy him while he was young and vulnerable if they considered him enough of a threat.

Understanding why they were so intent on protecting Asher’s secrets, Khloé, Ciaran, and Jolene had consented to having the memories of what he’d done erased or adjusted. It hadn’t worked on Khloé, though. Probably because it was difficult to manipulate the minds of those who specialized in mind control themselves.

Neither Knox nor Harper had panicked about that, though—they trusted that she’d never betray her little dude. They only worried that someone could pluck Asher’s secrets from her brain.

At this point, Khloé was pretty sure the kid was no sphinx, but she hadn’t asked for confirmation of that, just as she hadn’t pushed to find out what breed of demon Knox was. There were some things a person was simply better off not knowing.

As for little Lane, Knox’s Force had found and returned him to the Prime. Despite that his anger with Thea was still fresh, Keenan had ensured that Lane wouldn’t pay for her sins and had placed the boy with a good foster family within their lair, refusing to put him in a home for demonic children.

Lane seemed to be doing as well as could be expected. His gifts hadn’t returned, which meant that Asher truly had extinguished Lane’s personal stock of power. And that was just damn frightening.

“Careful you don’t trip,” Teague said to her when her heel sank into the soil.

“Fuck off, Batman,” Ciaran muttered, still sleeping.

“Should we wake him?” asked Teague.

She flapped a hand. “Nah, he’s fine there.”

“What about Beck? I don’t know how someone can fall asleep in a sandbox, but it can’t be a good thing.”

“He’ll be okay.”

The tall, prickly grass brushed her ankles as they crossed the yard and headed inside. The scents of alcohol, perfume, pizza and other various foods hit her hard. She’d only taken two steps when she noticed Keenan edging his way through the traffic of people near the fridge. His expression softened when he spotted her, and she couldn’t help but smile at that.

Stalking toward her, he exchanged a brief greeting with Teague, who then walked away and left them alone. Keenan pulled her close, his mouth twitching. “Are you blitzed?”

“Nope, I’m Khloé. You should know this already.”

“Did you know that you have a piece of popcorn stuck to your forehead?”

She blinked. “It’s still there? Wow.”

He flicked it off and then pressed a kiss to her mouth. “You took too long to come back to me,” he complained, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I was gone for, like, ten minutes.”

“You know I miss you when you’re not with me.”

She snorted. “What I know is that you like to have me in your sight at all times to reassure yourself that I’m fine.”

“That, too.” He raked his gaze over her, and his eyes grew heated. “Love this dress on you.” And the lacy bra I got a sneak peek at earlier, he added telepathically. Do your panties match?

She lifted a brow. What panties?

He groaned. Little witch. He skimmed his fingertips over the none-too-subtle brand his demon had put on the side of her neck just last night.

“You like it, don’t you?” she asked. “You like that everyone can see it?”

“Yeah, I do. It says that you’re spoken for, and that’s good. I can’t have anyone thinking they can touch my property, can I?”

“Excuse me? Property?”

He chuckled and took her mouth before she could reprimand him, licking and consuming until she was pure goo in his arms. The sound of glass breaking had them both lifting their heads. A bottle of vodka had smashed on the floor. Liquid and fragments of glass were everywhere.

“Come on,” said Keenan, tugging her out of the kitchen.

Bopping her head to the music, Khloé let him lead her into the dining room. Many stood around the buffet table, talking and munching on food. Others danced or sang along with Khloé’s brother, Robbie, who was singing on the karaoke.

“He has a good voice,” commented Larkin as she, Levi, and Knox sidled over.

“Koey!” yelled Asher, balanced on his father’s hip.

“Hey, little dude.” Khloé blew him a kiss and then smiled at her younger sister, Heidi, who was clinging to Larkin’s back. “Having fun?”

“Uh-huh,” said Heidi, beaming.

“I found her and some of the other kids jumping up and down on a passed-out imp like he was a damn trampoline,” said Larkin. “Jolene rolled the guy under the buffet table. I don’t know how he can sleep through all this noise.”

“I have a question,” Levi said to Khloé. “Why is that guy in the corner wearing a Predator suit?”

Khloé frowned. “You’re assuming he needs a reason.”

“Yeah, imps don’t need reasons for the things they do,” Larkin said to the reaper. “Haven’t you learned that yet?”

Everyone clapped as Robbie’s song came to an end. He took a bow and then handed the mike to the DJ, almost tripping over the lights he’d wrapped around himself like he was a damn Christmas tree.

A tall figure stalked over and planted his hands on his hips, glaring at Heidi. “Give it back.”

The little girl’s nose wrinkled as she stared back at the Devil. “What?”

“My wallet,” said Lucifer—or Lou, as he preferred to be called. “Give it back.”

“I don’t have it,” Heidi told him.

“Do I look slow to you?”

“Yup.”

Lou jerked back. “Well, that’s not nice. You imps are all the same.”

With her beautiful white-blonde hair and innocent features, the kid looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Oh, it would. She was a master at pickpocketing, could cry on cue, and was quite the plotter. In that sense, she was pretty much a miniature but perkier version of Jolene, who was currently heading their way.

Standing behind the devil, Jolene folded her arms. “Hello, Lou.”

He jumped and mumbled something beneath his breath. Lou crossed his arms and lifted his chin, refusing to acknowledge her.

Sidling up to him, Jolene sighed. “You’re sulking because I didn’t invite you to the party, aren’t you?”

He whirled on her. “Well, would it have killed you to give me a call and say, hey, come join us? Friends don’t exclude each other like this.”

“But we’re not friends,” Jolene pointed out.

“Don’t pick at details.” Lou looked at Khloé. “So, you almost died, huh? I heard all about it. Terrible, terrible business.”

Harper snorted, appearing at Knox’s side. “Like you care what happens to anyone but yourself.”

“That’s not fair. I care about Asher.” Lou smiled at the kid. “And how is my little nephew?”

“Would you stop calling him that,” snarked Harper.

“What else would I call him? Ooh, I could have some fun with this. How about … the future dark destroyer of all demon-kind? Admit it, it has a nice ring to it. I still think you should have called him Lucifer. He’d have totally rocked that name.”

Harper sighed. “And I’m done.”

Lou eyed Keenan. “So, you went and fell for a Wallis. Ah, such a tragedy. She will cause you only pain and misery, and she will relish every moment of it. In some ways, I can respect that.” Lou cut his gaze to Knox. “And now you’ll have not only an imp in your lair, but one of Jolene Wallis’s granddaughters. Well, good luck with that.”

“For someone who dislikes me so much, you sure do turn up at my house often,” said Jolene.

Lou’s brow creased. “I don’t see the connection.”

Jolene sighed. “Hmm.”

Raini, Tanner, and Devon appeared, all holding fresh drinks. Just then, the song changed to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. Like that, the entire air in the room changed. And suddenly a large number of the guests backed up against the wall.

Keenan stared at them, trying to work out what the issue was. Then they started doing the “Thriller” dance, and he could only sigh.

“They’re actually pretty good,” said Levi.

“But it disturbs me that they must have practiced this,” said Tanner. “I mean, why would you? These are grown-ass people.”

Lou tossed him a frown. “No imp is a grown-ass person.”

“Says the ultimate man-child,” mumbled Jolene. “As for the ‘Thriller’ dance, it’s often done at Martina’s parties. I can’t remember who started the tradition.”

“I think it was Aunt Mildred,” said Khloé.

Jolene pursed her lips. “It could have been—she was a wise but strange woman.”

Keenan narrowed his eyes. “Wait, Aunt Mildred was a real person?”

“Oh, yes,” said Jolene.

“She was not,” insisted Devon.

Jolene tilted her head. “You don’t remember her? She often wore odd shoes. Had a high-pitched laugh. Liked to sing the alphabet backwards. Used to make daisy chains and wrap them around the neck of her three-legged cat.”

Devon’s cheeks reddened. “You’re both full of shit. No such woman ever existed.”

Khloé shook her head. “I can’t believe you don’t remember her.”

An hour later, Keenan slid an arm around his mate’s waist and put his mouth to her ear. “You ready to go home now?” he asked.

“Can I play with sexcalibur when we get there?”

“If you mean my cock, yeah.”

“Then let’s go, Don Juan.”

After they’d said their goodbyes to everyone, they headed out. As they made their way through the tight crowd in the hallway, Keenan stood in front of her, preventing her from being shoved or jostled. An imp was curled up asleep on the high pile of coats near the door. He was also cuddling a skillet.

“I’m not going to ask why he’d do that,” said Keenan.

“Good, because I don’t have an answer for you,” she said.

A few partygoers had trickled out onto the front yard—most simply stood around talking. Others were lying on the grass, laughing and pointing at the sky. Two were brawling while surrounded by a crowd, which he quickly realized had placed bets on who would win.

Keenan led her down the street, passing the many cars that had been parked near Jolene’s house. It wasn’t long before they arrived at their own home. Stepping inside, he disarmed the alarm. He’d added all kinds of security measures to the place, needing to know she was as safe as possible.

He turned to her. “Dress off. I want to see if you really went without panties.”

She gathered the bottom of her dress in her hands and began to ever so slowly drag the material up her thighs. But then she let it go. “You know, I think I’d like a shower first.” She whirled and dashed up the stairs, chuckling.

Keenan instantly pursued her. He caught the crazy bitch on the landing, scooped her up, and then stalked into the bedroom. He crossed to the bed and lowered her to her feet. “Take the dress off or I rip it off.”

“Okay, okay.” An impish smile curving her mouth, she lowered the side zipper and then shimmied out of the dress. Standing there in only her bra and shoes, she said, “Told you.”

Jesus, he was getting hard already. Keenan skimmed his fingers over the soft folds of her pussy. “Spread your legs a little. Good girl.” He gently flicked her clit while staring at the pretty breasts spilling out of her lacy bra. “Let’s see how long it takes for you to get wet.”

He drove his fingers into her hair and took her mouth, absolutely ravenous for her. He consumed it. Ravished it. Claimed it for his own all over again.

The air ignited with heat and electricity. Need roared through him, wicked and primal. His body went tight. His head spun. His control began to fray.

He angled her head and thrust his tongue deeper, needing more. She tasted of her and pink gin and everything he’d ever wanted. He hauled her against him and growled at the feel of her hard nipples stabbing his chest. If he wasn’t balls-deep inside her soon, he was going to lose it.

His demon urged him to take her, possess her. It wanted to brand her again. Wanted her to feel so owned she’d never even consider leaving them.

Khloé thrust her fingers through his hair and dragged her nails over his scalp, loving his little growl. His talented tongue pretty much fucked her mouth. There was an intoxicating greed in his kiss that heated her blood and dragged her under his spell. Sexual endorphins swam through her as her body quite simply caught fire.

She pulled at his shirt and tore her mouth from his. “Off.”

He reached behind him, fisted the back of his tee, and pulled it over his head, revealing that fabulous rock-hard chest and the tribal-looking brand that her demon had left on his right pectoral.

She smiled. “Rock on.”

He shook his head, as if she was beyond help, and then slammed his mouth on hers again.

Even as he devoured her mouth, Khloé tackled his fly and fisted his shaft. It was full and long and hard. Oh, yeah. She pumped him with a firm grip while he thrust into her hand.

Her demon wanted to see his self-discipline crumble again. It loved that no other person had had the ability to make him hard against his will. Loved that only Khloé and her entity had ever seen him out of control.

Keenan snarled. “You keep pumping me like that and I’ll come all over your hand.” He peeled her fingers away from his dick. “Lie down for me.”

She did as he asked and watched as he shoved down his jeans, exposing the perfect V of the hips and rock-hard thighs. His cock jerked and tapped his belly as his gaze drifted over her, hot and possessive. That territorial look went right to her damp core.

Keenan raked his gaze over his mate, drinking in her perky breasts, slender body, bald pussy, and the brands his demon put on her neck and navel. He parted her plump folds and almost groaned at all the slickness there. “Nice and wet.” He curved his body over hers and rocked his hips, dragging his cock over her clit.

She gasped and gripped his shoulders. “Fuck me.”

“Not yet.” Filling his hands with her breasts, Keenan latched onto her nipple and suckled. She moaned and dug her nails into his skin. Alternating from one nipple to the other, he licked, sucked, and nipped them over and over; teased them into hard little buds.

She pulled on his hair. “I want you in me.”

“I’ll give you what you want.” He slid down her body and dropped to his knees at the foot of the bed. “Eventually.” He pulled her legs apart and nuzzled her glistening folds. “Love going down on you.”

Khloé bucked and squirmed as he devastated her pussy with his lips, tongue, and teeth. He lapped, nipped, probed, and flicked her clit until flames of need danced over her skin.

Her body wound so tight it was a wonder her muscles weren’t cramping, she arched and moaned and demanded more. Her pussy spasmed, ached to have him deep inside her. A powerful orgasm hovered close, but he was holding it back.

He dipped his tongue inside her pussy and swirled it around. “Ready to be fucked?”

“You know I am.” She sucked in a breath as her orgasm crashed into her. Hot waves of pure pleasure tore through Khloé, making her back arch and her pussy contract. He didn’t stop there, though. He kept on devastating her with his mouth, and she soon imploded again.

Standing upright, he grabbed her hips, yanked her closer, and hooked her legs over his shoulders. Oh my, this seemed promising. She fisted the bedsheet as he lodged the broad tip of his cock in her pussy.

He licked his glistening lips. “You won’t come again until I’m ready for you to come.” He slammed home in a rough, aggressive thrust that shocked a gasp out of her, forcing his way past swollen muscles. “Love that you take all of me.”

Relishing the feel of her overstretched walls fluttering around him, Keenan reared back. He ground his teeth as her inner muscles tried sucking him back inside. Fuck if he didn’t love the sight of his dick all wet and shiny with her slickness.

“Nothing I love better than being inside you.” Keenan fucked in and out of her at a ruthless, unrelenting pace. Every thrust was deep, forceful, and savage, exactly how he knew she wanted it. “Your pussy looks even prettier when it has my cock buried inside it.”

The sexual energy emanating from her assaulted his senses and filled his lungs. His demon greedily inhaled it, urging Keenan to take her order.

Keenan needed no such urging. He pounded into her, her moans and gasps spurring him on. He soaked in the carnal picture she made—the sex-drunk look in her eyes, the bounce of her breasts, the flush that had swept up her skin, the sight of her pussy stretched tight around his dick.

“Oh God, I need to come,” she rasped as the walls of her pussy superheated around him. The sensation made his balls tighten and the base of his spine tingle. He wasn’t going to last.

“So do I.” Keenan dipped his thumb between her folds and rubbed her clit. “Come.” A scream seemed to get trapped in her throat as her pleasure took her, making her back bow and her pussy clamp down on him.

Sheer bliss sizzled its way up Keenan’s spine and acted like a lash of lightning to his dick. “Fuck.” Digging his fingertips into her thighs, he rammed his cock deep and exploded, spurting jet after jet of come inside her.

His chest burning for air, Keenan let her legs slip from his shoulders. He curved his body over hers and buried his face in her neck. She weakly stroked his back as they waited for the aftershocks to pass.

She let out a shaky breath. “Ever thought of making a living as a porn star?”

He frowned, hoping it wasn’t a serious question. With Khloé, you never could tell. “No.”

“Really? Because I’d buy the vids.”

He lifted his head. “You’d happily watch me fuck other people?”

“Other guys, yeah, I could get behind that.”

Unreal. “I’m going to forget we had this conversation.”

“How could you ever forget such a conversation?”

“Maybe if you sucked me off and blew the sense right out of me, I wouldn’t remember anything but my own name.”

She pursed her lips. “I’m willing to try that. In the name of scientific experimentation.”

“The world of science will indeed thank you for it.” He braced himself on his elbows and smoothed the strands of hair away from her face. Her smoky gray eyes were still a little glazed over, her lips were swollen, and her cheeks were flushed. He loved that post-sex look. Loved that he was the only one who got to see it.

He dropped a kiss on her mouth. “Did you enjoy the party?”

“There was pink gin, food, and lots and lots of shots. What’s not to like?”

“Hmm.” He left a trail of kisses down her throat and raked his teeth over her pulse.

And he remembered a time when that pulse had been slow and weak.

Feeling tension bunch each of his muscles, Khloé gave his shoulder a light slap. “Stop thinking about what happened. It’s over now. I’m fine.”

He brushed his nose against hers. “It’s not so easy to forget the sight of you near death’s door. If it wasn’t for Maddox …”

“You know, I’m so grateful for what Raini did for me, but I worry that she agreed to something bad.” The succubus had sworn she hadn’t, and she’d seemed utterly genuine. But Khloé was still worried.

“I don’t think it was something bad. I think it was just something she wouldn’t have otherwise agreed to. It could be small and simple, or it could be big and substantial. Either way, it doesn’t seem to be stressing her out. She’s her usual self.”

“True.” Khloé licked her lips. “He’s just so powerful, Keenan. I felt it.” Powerful enough to cause a lot of harm.

“He’d never hurt Raini.”

“You can be so positive of that?”

“Would you ever hurt Teague?”

“Never. But I accept him as my anchor. I formed the bond with him.” She hoped that Keenan might one day find his own anchor. Until then, she’d do her best to keep his demon on its best behavior.

“Just because Maddox hasn’t embraced the bond doesn’t mean he wants nothing to do with Raini or that she won’t matter to him,” said Keenan. “I am surprised he didn’t capitalize on the situation by demanding that either me or Jolene agrees to owe him a favor in exchange for healing you.”

“Going by how strong and lethal he is, I really don’t think he needs favors from other people, no matter what he might say.” Khloé lifted her hand to scratch at a spot just behind her ear. He caught her hand in his and stared at the black diamond ring he’d given her. “No regrets?” she asked.

“Only that we spent so long dancing around each other. The best decision I ever made was to stop that shit and take a chance.” He dabbed a kiss on her mouth. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

“Never stop.”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to.”

“Same here. But I’ll never want to stop. My world would be a dark place without you. I know that, because I felt it creeping up on me when you were dying right in front of me. I got a taste of what my life would be like if you weren’t in it. Empty. Meaningless. Lonely.” Just thinking about it made Keenan’s stomach harden. “Don’t ever make me go there again.”

“I can’t promise I’ll live forever—no one can promise that. But I’d never leave you on purpose.”

“I wouldn’t let you. I claimed you, and I’m keeping you.”

“But not in, like, a dungeon or anything, right?”

He frowned. “Why would I ever keep you in a dungeon?”

“Why would you ever deny you have a mammoth-size cock?”

Keenan ground his teeth. God, she was off her fucking rocker.

She snickered. “Your blood pressure just shot up, didn’t it? Will it improve your mood if we play Park the Porpoise again?”

“Park the Porpoise?”

“You know … getting a hole in one, having a hot beef injection, burying the sausage, parting the red sea, going to the boneyard, mining with the meat shaft—”

“Enough, enough.” He sighed and looked up at the wall. “So this will be my life.”

“You’re excited, I can tell.”

His mouth hitched up. The thing was … she was right.