Friends with the Monsters (Friends with the Monsters, #1)

by Albany Walker

wrap my arm around Grim’s back, tugging him closer. Grim turns so the front of his body is flush to my side. I give his butt a nice little pat as a reward. There’s no way I’m going to let someone else touch him.

but some part of me did choose all three of them as mine.

I wrap my other arm around Calix just for good measure. I don’t need any...

“Comfortable, q...

I give his ass a pinch in response. “Don’t distract me. I’m working.” H...

Grim would be under me, tied to the bed so he couldn’t escape. Calix would be behind me. A little double dipping sounds so damn good right now.

“You may not like it, but I refuse to share you.” Grim licks his lips in response.

“Same goes for you. Don’t do anything that will piss me off,” I warn him.

Vanessa leans a little lower and winks. “Strong silent type. I like it.” “Don’t,” Grim tells her.

Grim quickly releases my arm and takes hold of my waist, turning me so I’m standing directly in front of him, then he pulls me snugly against his body. Wrapping his arm around my stomach, he lowers us to the couch with me on his lap, as if he’s done it a thousand times. I get a little thrill, liking the way he can so easily control my body.

Calix saunters over and sits on the arm of the sofa, before reaching for my hand and laying it over his thigh.

Grim locks his arm around my waist again and starts to move us backwards, like he’s keeping me hostage. Kinky—I think I could do the whole Stockholm thing with him.

In my ear, he mutters, “None of them have any real power, but their souls are corrupted. There’s something else going on here.”

Calix stuffs himself into the tiny stall with us. “Oh my God. Work, girl!” I hear someone smack their lips together.

“Oh wow, both of you? But I’m not that type of girl.” Then I burst out laughing. “Just kidding! Who wants my ass?”

Calix moans next, then smacks his hands together while he lets out a man whimper. “Do it again, mistress.”

run my fingers up the inside of his thigh, watching as he squirms the tiniest bit, and heat starts to build in his eyes. “Don’t like to play?” I finally ask, when I reach the button on the top of Grim’s jeans. I let the nail of my pointer finger drag over the skin of his lower stomach.

“I thought you could only take one at a time?”

“I never said that.”

“Berserkers were created by shamans, or witches,” Calix explains. “They were short-sighted, as usual, when they created the beasts. When they cast the spell creating the warriors, they only gave them a single purpose, to defeat that current threat, which they did, but when there was no one left to fight, the warriors went mad.”

As soon as he’s gone, I turn to Calix. “The robe and sickle are a smart play. He’s too damn pretty to be scary.” “Are you kidding me? Don’t ever tell him I said this, but he’s one scary motherfucker, with or without the robe.”

“I’m always down to eat.”

“Anything in particular you’re craving?” I lick my lips. Calix’s eyes roam over my body. “Crave is too small a word to describe what I’m thinking.”

Just being around him and the others lights me up enough that I may have to start carrying extra panties, so I don’t go around in damp undies all the time.

I wrap my arms around his neck and hop up, locking my ankles around his back. His hands go right under my ass and he holds me in his arms.

“But it will change something in me. You can’t give me that and then take it away.” He drops his forehead to mine and takes several long breaths.

“You don’t have to choose just me. I’m just asking you to choose me too, Damiana.”

“Are you even listening to me? I’m not asking you to choose one of us; they’re idiots to even think you could. I just want you to know it will change something between us.”

“But I don’t think you’re ready for that.” He examines me for a brief moment before turning his back on me and walking away.

“I don’t care what you think about me,” Calix growls. “I’m telling you she’s cut herself off from any emotion, and if we push her too hard, too fast, we’ll lose her. Not one of us, all of us.”

“Go upstairs and hug her, not kiss her, not try to have sex, but connect with her. Try talking to her about a relationship.”

“Because you have the emotional maturity of a thirteen-year-old,” Calix snaps.

“I could have, but I wanted her to know I want more from her, and she…” Calix curses under his breath. “She looked fucking terrified.”

Berserker or not, I’ll rip his fucking arm off and beat him with it if he tries to touch me.

“I’m not going anywhere, Damiana. I’ve waited your entire life to be with you. You can be pissed at me all you want, but I’m still not leaving.”

It was only our selfishness that wanted you to choose, but deep down I’ve always known it would never happen.”

“I won’t ask you to choose. I just ask that you give me a chance,” Grim implores.

Calix is somewhat relaxed, with his hands loose by his sides. Grim is stoic, I would need a hammer and chisel to break past his hard exterior, and then there’s Gunnar. His arms are crossed over his puffed-out chest, and he’s separated himself from the others by space and with his attitude.

“Make her doubt us again, and I will seek her forgiveness after slaying you, rather than ask her permission.”

It’s so stupid, but a big part of me is happy they didn’t leave. Maybe I’m the one with the emotional maturity of a thirteen-year-old.

I take a whiff of the air, and yummy, buttery goodness hits my nose, except I never think that butter smells like yummy goodness.

“Are you saying I’m not going to age?”

“I couldn’t have walked away from you, not even from the very beginning. I didn’t realize how different you were, but I should have suspected something.”

“Yeah, you just sneaked into her house and left rocks all over the place.” “At least I didn’t try to trick her into thinking I was just a human. And they’re not just rocks,” Gunnar mutters defensively.

“What’s a Mimic?” I trade glances with all of them. “A being that can take over another’s shape. Some people call them Doppelgängers,” Grim informs me.

“Suck it up, Kitten. I’m the best partner you’ll ever get.” “Of that I have no doubt. It’s dropping you into the wolf’s den I don’t like,” Gunnar grouses back. “No worries, Berserker, I’ll take care of our little lamb.” Calix smirks.

“I haven’t slept in a few days; that would be good.”

“I have no need for sleep.” Grim is still sitting rigidly on the couch.

A smile spills over my lips. “Do you watch me sleep? I don’t know if that’s creepy or cute.” I playfully narrow my eyes at him. “It’s not creepy,” Grim deems it so, as if by just saying it’s not, all is settled.

“I’m about to head up to bed now, care to watch?” Grim stands up quickly. It’s probably the fastest I’ve ever seen him move. “Yes, thank you. I find watching you sleep very…relaxing.” He flounders for the word for a moment. I chuckle, not at all expecting him to take me up on the offer, and if he did, I wasn’t thinking we’d actually sleep.