Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning #6)(40)

“So you raped him as some kind of twisted revenge scheme? It’s borderline brilliant, but still very stank of you.”

“Look. I did not rape him. The whole thing was really an accident.”

“Oh, yeah, like Rashod a.k.a. X’s unfortunate murder one accident.”

“No, not like that. I was trying to relax him. Apparently Achilles doesn’t sleep, or at least not much.”

“So you, what, gave him a relaxing blow job and that made you come? You’re seriously more desperate than I thought.”

“Again, no. I didn’t give him a blow job nor am I desperate, Jacqueline. I hypnotized him.”

“And then came the blow job?”

“No! I didn’t blow him. I jerked him off. But not before I’d taken my pleasure from him,” Kat said with a satisfied smile.

“You sat on his face while he was hypnotized? Guys can do that when they’re under?”

“I didn’t sit on his face! God, you’re nasty beyond belief.”

“Oh, please. I’m not nasty; I’m a nurse. This is all clinical to me. Pretend like you’re at the doctor’s office. What happened?”

“I, uh, rubbed myself against his, uh, pee pee,” Kat said, feeling her cheeks get hot.

Jacky fell back against the cushions and burst into gales of giggles. “Oh, god, you said pee pee!”

“Would you stop!” Kat shoved her friend’s shoulder. “Look, I really didn’t mean for it to happen, but there he was all naked and muscular and angsty, and then I touched his scars, and then his, uh, penis”—she enunciated the word carefully, glaring at Jacky who unsuccessfully tried to stifle a giggle—“got all hard and he said he wanted me to keep touching him and I did. And I did not shtup him because I was worried that the berserker would show up. Plus, if you want to get all technical about it, he wasn’t exactly one-hundred percent himself.”

“As in not exactly conscious?”

“Whatever. So that’s what happened. The end. Could we please change the subject?”

“You know, this whole hypnotize-’em-and-make-’em-service-you thing is really an excellent idea. Think you could teach me how to do it?”

“Absolutely no way in hell.”

“Well, there is a rumor going around that we might be in hell, so you want to rethink that answer?”

“No. And now to officially change the subject—how’s Patroklos and what did you do last night?”

“I, not being as stank as you, slept. And my white boy is fine, thank you. At least I’m assuming he is. He was gone when I woke up this morning.” Jacky’s lineless brow furrowed. “I suppose I should find him and be sure he hasn’t gotten those stitches dirty or whatnot.”

“In other words, Patroklos stayed passed out all night.”

“Totally.”

“That ‘totally’ sounded kinda wistful.”

“Kat, you are displacing your stankish-ness on me. I’m not interested in the white boy like that.”

“Oh, that’s right. He’s all tall and young and muscular and handsome. Icky. Who would be interested in that?”

“He’s white. White boys think I have too much ass and attitude.”

“Uh, Jacky, you’re currently a skinny white girl, remember? So all you have is too much attitude.”

“Please. I’m in denial. What say we get something to eat and I work on filling out this skinny ass?”

“Good idea. I’m starving.”

“Rampant stankness will do that to you.”

“Jacqueline, your blond and flowing tresses are looking rather disheveled this morning. If you’re not good I won’t tell you how to deal with them.”

“Fresh,” Jacky muttered as Kat dressed. “So damn fresh…”

* * *

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Kat and Jacky were munching cheese and olives and some kind of fried swine, and as a side dish arguing about the ethics of hypnotism, when Aetnia, the maid who had recognized her the night before as princess, went rushing by, and then paused when she saw Kat.

“What is it, Aetnia? Where’s everyone going?” Kat asked.

“The men are drilling by the beach, Princess. I’m—I’m sure Achilles would wish for you to come, too.” Then she scampered away.

“Last night he certainly seemed like he wished for me to come, too,” Kat said smugly.

“Really? You mean when he was conscious or afterward?”

“Both,” Kat lied.

“Well, then, let’s go check him out. Unless you’re scared to face him whilst he’s actually walking and talking.” Jacky jumped up and started quickly after the disappearing maidservant.

“He was talking last night,” Kat muttered and pulled a face, but followed Jacky anyway.

“I mean, I for one would love to see if he’s still under your diabolical spell.”

Three women who were headed in the same direction as them gave Kat fearful looks and began whispering amongst themselves as they overheard Jacky’s words.

“There is no spell, you dork,” Kat said loud enough for the huddling women to overhear. Then she lowered her voice for Jacky only. “The hypnosis ended when he woke up this morning—refreshed, and hopefully, good as new.”