Steal the Sun (Thieves #4)(72)

“How were you supposed to help Herne?” Daniel asked. “I would think if he wanted backup in fighting an ogre, he would come to me.”

I should have lied. I should have, at the least, massaged the truth a bit, but Dev was distracting me with his teeth and his tongue. His fingers spread open my labia so he could taste every centimeter and I just answered without thinking. “Turns out I was bait.”

Dev’s head came up, and I didn’t like the expression on his face. His eyes darkened, his jaw forming a stubborn line.

“I was bait, sir,” I tried.

He turned and started to stalk out of the pool. I had a strong suspicion where he was planning to go, and I didn’t like his odds in that fight.

I scrambled down from my perch and wrapped my hands around his waist to stop him. “Danny, help me. He’s going to go do that thing where he slaps the shit out of someone and then they fight.”

He’d started the process with his brother when we were all in Colorado. It was apparently a traditional way to resolve differences in Faery.

“Why the hell would he do that?” Danny had his arms over his chest, a fierce frown on his face.

Dev stopped and turned, utterly ignoring the fact that I was still hanging on to his waist. He just moved like my weight was no concern to him. “That man tried to use our wife as bait for an ogre. I cannot let that go unanswered. I will challenge Herne for what he did.”

“And he’ll kill you.” I looked desperately at Daniel, who just stood there. I was pretty sure that Herne’s god could kick Dev’s god’s ass. If it had been a competition based on sexual prowess, Bris could win hands down, but this was combat and he was a lover, not a fighter.

“What’s up with you, man? Ever since we got here you’ve been acting like some f*cking eighteenth century gentleman,” Daniel complained. “Did this * inform us of his intentions to sacrifice our wife? Did he give us fair warning? Why the hell would you make a public announcement of his future ass-kicking? What happened to the man who didn’t play fair? You never have with me. I don’t expect you to do it now.”

“What do you suggest?” Dev asked.

Daniel’s fangs had popped out, a sure sign of his rage. “Well, I thought I’d give him a day or two to feel comfortable then we can jump him when those dogs of his aren’t around. I intend to beat him to death, unless that will start a war, then I’ll think about leaving him alive but I assure you, his balls won’t work after I cut them off and shove them down his f*cking throat. Or we could have some pansy-ass duel that will probably get you killed and fulfill the prophecy Z was trying to avert.”

“Fine. You’re right. Don’t you dare jump him without me,” Dev said and his body relaxed against mine, content that he would have his revenge. He turned back to me. “Did I give you permission to leave your place?”

“No, sir.” I rushed to get back to where I was supposed to be. I shot Daniel a grateful look. I was comfortable with Dev beating on Herne if Daniel was there to make sure he was all right. I tried to remember exactly how he had me and my hands brushed against my *. Dev slapped at them.

“None of that,” he said, pulling my hands firmly to the side. “That belongs to us.”

I smiled. “Yes, sir.”

“Daniel, turn around,” Dev commanded, picking up the soap again. “You have something all over your back. It’s probably some distant relative of mine.”

My mouth started to water and I was sure my eyes were as wide as saucers as Danny turned around and allowed Dev to run his hands across the skin of his back. Dev’s strong hands ran down Daniel’s spine and I couldn’t help my reaction. Dev soaped his back, carefully cleaning him. They were so f*cking gorgeous together that everything below my waist tightened.

Daniel’s head came up, and I knew he had caught my sudden interest. “Seriously, Z? This gets you hot?”

I could only nod my head as I watched.

“Is our wife having those thoughts again?” Dev asked, brushing his hands across Daniel’s broad shoulders and pronouncing him finally clean.

“You can’t tell? I can smell it from here.” Daniel practically growled. “And her heart is beating like a race horse.”

“Should we try an experiment?” Dev suggested.

Daniel looked at him, wary. “Are we ready for that?”

“Nothing too out there,” Dev promised. “I just want to see if our wife is interested or if she just thinks she is.”

I could have just told them the answer to that question. I was really interested, but I kept my mouth closed because I wanted to see what Dev had planned. He had a creative mind, and I liked to watch a master at work.

Dev walked over to where the soap had been. There was a small tray with soap and washcloths and a straight razor. I was sure Dev had already used the razor as his face was perfectly smooth. He picked it up now and turned back to Daniel. “One of the perks of being a fertility god is knowing what turns people on. I knew from the moment I met Zoey that she needed some light, playful domination. As a man who enjoys dominating a woman, I was more than willing to provide the service. Don’t think I don’t know what you want, Daniel.”

He brought the edge of the razor to his perfect lips and quickly drew it across his mouth in a shallow cut that had blood welling out of it.