Demons (Darkness #4)(41)

A small tinge of sadness swirled in the link. I brought him closer for a kiss. “He’ll be your father-in-law. We’ll be one big, happy family. Me, you, Dominicous, and Sir Stares-A-Lot.”

A bark of laughter rumbled out of his chest. “Can’t wait. Shall we?”

“Who does Jonas get to go to town on?” I asked as we stepped out into the hall.

Charles flashed me a glare before calming his features for Stefan. “Do you need me anymore, Boss? Can you handle her?”

“Better than you can, yes. You can go.”

“Oh, well, everyone’s a critic today,” Charles mumbled as he took himself the opposite direction down the hall.

“Go to town on?” Stefan asked softly.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a big, leather paddle. Doesn’t he practice BDSM and what not? To relieve his temper?”

“Ah.” Stefan nodded to a fierce-eyed woman passing us in the hall.

“Boss. Mage.” The woman touched her heart.

“Sandra, right? She’s in the Watch?” I recalled.

“Estel. She’s in charge of the grounds. Great magic worker—terrible with a sword.”

Damn it! There were so many people, all of whom were brand new to me. It was taking a long time to get everyone’s name, not to mention their duties as well.

“Anyway,” Stefan went on. “He only engages in that type of sex when he’s on the receiving end. You have to be in firm control when you’re the one in charge. Since he only reaches for that vice when he’s not in control, he challenges people to attempt to dominate him. One female can do it repeatedly, and isn’t afraid to.”

I realized belatedly that my mouth was hanging open. “He’s … the one getting whipped and all that? By a chick?”

“Yes. It can be quite erotic.”

“Have you done it?”

Stefan gave me a perplexed glance. “Of course. I don’t much like it, though. If it’s to be rough, I prefer war. All parties fighting to get closer. But if you wanted to try…”

“Nope.” I stared straight ahead. “I’m good. War is good. I have no desire to whip you. Or get whipped—I’d probably lose my gravity and think someone is accosting me.”

“Someone would be accosting you.”

“And then I would reach for magic and accost him back…”

“Not if I did it right…” Stefan countered softly.

I couldn’t help the giggle.

We paused in front of Dominicous’ door. Stefan took a steadying breath as I said, “Speaking of dominance games…we’re not playing them in here tonight. We’re just getting to know our new family. That’s all.”

Stefan nodded. “Easier said than done.”

“I know.”

A knock brought Dominicous to the door. He gave me a small smile, and then bowed to Stefan. “Welcome. Please, come in.”

We stepped into the same finery that the whole mansion had, with the same classy yet conservative furnishings and décor. Stefan had a quick glance around, surveying, before he honed back in on Dominicous, who was waiting by the couch.

“I trust everything remains to your satisfaction?” Stefan said in firm tones.

“Everything is perfect. Please, come in. Sit down. We’ve left our titles outside. In here, tonight, we are two different species having a quiet evening.”

With a small tug on Stefan’s hand, I led the way to the couch and sank in. Stefan leaned back and draped his arm over the back behind me. Dominicous sat in a recliner as Toa emerged from one of the bedrooms. He wore a strange Kimono-style robe with his feather-blond hair draping around his face.

Odd.

“Welcome, Sasha. Stefan.” Toa brought over a tray with glasses of red wine. “We have no servants tonight. No helpers. Just us. Easy and friendly.”

I blinked a couple times as I took my glass. It wasn’t the most comfortable start to a comfortable evening.

After another glass of wine and some random small talk about the weather and Stefan’s operations, a small knock sounded at the door. Toa glided over immediately, coming back with a wheeled tray covered in silver domes.

“No servants, I thought,” I commented lightly as I got up to help load the trays onto the table. “Are these all the same?”

“Sasha, I am fascinated with these witches you found,” Toa responded, straightening next to me.

“Oh. Yes. Um…but these dishes—are they all the same?”

“Yes, of course. Burgers or some such. Dominicous is pandering to you. He kept with your choice of cuisine. I have no idea why.”

I squinted my eyes into his blue stare. “When you choose something, you like it better when someone ignores you and gives you something else?”

Toa cocked his head to the side. “Hamburgers, Sasha? I would not choose hamburgers. They are for barbarian Americans. I pushed for a beautiful rack of lamb with a wine reduction demiglaze and a touch of mint sauce.”

“Toa, you’re making me tired. C’mon you guys, come eat,” I called.

“She doesn’t like when we dally to the table,” Stefan informed Dominicous with twinkling eyes.

Being that he was starting to relax, and also that it was true and justifiable, I ignored him. I also ignored the pat on the butt. I sat in the chair he pulled out for me, and waited while Stefan whisked the silver dome off my plate.