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

by Albany Walker

“Considering I would probably kill anyone that dared call me a kitten, I would say no one.” “You know you love it when I call you Kitten, Kitten,” I goad him, really enjoying the way Gunnar’s body is relaxing behind...

his face is slightly red, and I burst out laughing. “That was so cheesy.” Gunnar chuckles dryly at himself. “Shut up and go to sleep,” he orders, back to his bossy self.

Calix grabs my fingers and holds them to his chest. Leaning his head down, he kisses my knuckles and lets out a soft sigh.

I think about the way Gunnar’s body is softening behind me, and the little sigh of contentment that Calix just let out.

What was it like for them, knowing there was someone out there that was supposed to be their match, the one person...

“I’m still on your skin, shower or not.” He licks his bottom lip.

“Anyone with any sense of power would know he was with you.” Calix pushes his hands down his thighs as his knees start to bounce.

Only I don’t want his sins, I want his entire soul.

“Bad choice, witch.” And all hell breaks loose.

He reaches out—his span is nearly double what it would be in his more human form—and grabs a male witch, palming his entire head before tossing him to the side like a ragdoll.

The thud he makes when he splats into the wall makes me think he probably won’t be getting up anytime soon.

Grim is just standing a few feet away from me with a circle of bodies all around his feet. Not a hair is ruffled on his head.

“He taught us how to siphon the powers and not take the kickback, how to disperse it through the seekers,”

“The Brownie!” I demand.

“I’ll take you to her,” she croaks,

“If she’s hurt, I will scoop your eyes out with jagged spoons and cauterize the wounds. Then I will peel each piece of your flesh off and feed it to Theius.”

I storm over in his direction and get into his space, forcing him to take a step back. I don’t stop until we’re behind the car and he’s out of the witch’s sight.

“Don’t get pissy, Kitten. I like your freaky teeth, too.”

“Do you really like my teeth?” He sounds unsure, like he thinks I might have been teasing.

“There’s no doubt that your beauty has edges, Damiana. One look is all it takes to be ensnared. Most are just too captivated to heed the warnings.”

Without any warning, I lean up on my toes and wrap my arms around Gunnar’s neck and hug him. It’s a little foreign, but when his arms come around my back, I lean further into him and a calmness settles over me.

His chest expands once, and he tucks his head down until his face is nestled in my hair. I step back without meeting his eyes, and mutter, “Be right back.”

allowing my night vision to adjust.

I feel Grim as he comes up behind me and molds his front to my back. I don’t miss the erection he’s sporting, either. I snicker—he’s like a randy teenager.

“She would know it was me even without the cloak, Damiana,” he reasons.

“You better have clothes on,” I growl. “What happens if I don’t? Do I get a spanking?” Calix jokes.

“You have my word, I won’t touch a hair on your head.”

Brownies aren’t just deadly, skilled assassins. They’re also able to infiltrate your thoughts and then implant an idea in your mind—like a maggot that eats away at anything and everything—until that thought is all you know.

Aeson sighs as a little weariness comes over her features. “I knew you guys couldn’t stay away forever. Some of you never did.” She cocks up one eyebrow at Grim. “Mind your own business, Brownie,” Grim mumbles, sulking. “You sound like a two-year-old,” Aeson points out.

“No need to envy a dick, I have one ready to use,” Grim pipes up, completely serious.

“He’s like asexual or something, everyone knows that.” Her eyes travel over Grim. “Such a damn waste too. Why do you think I’ve been trying to get you to fuck so many people? I knew he would show up soon enough, and your pussy would shrivel up and die.”

“That shit is happening whether you accept it or not. I say fuck them and enjoy every second.” Her eyes close slowly as she lets out a heavy sigh.

“Come on, Calix, I can see Gunnar’s big head peeking out the window. Hope he’s not trying to be stealthy.”

I curl up in the corner of my sofa. Grim takes the seat next to me, grabbing my feet and placing them in his lap.

I prop my head on my arm as Grim uses his thumbs to make tiny circles over the soles of my feet.

Grim reaches for my chin and plants his lips on mine. He slides his tongue across my bottom lip

“I don’t need to be alone with you to claim you.”

I pat his thick-as-a-tree-trunk thigh—it’s as hard as one, too.

Gunnar licks his lips and looks down at mine quickly. His hands ball up again. “Well…” He looks out at the empty room. Oh goodness, he’s acting as nervous as a whore in church.

“He knew I was going to kiss you, and he did it first.” Gunnar juts out his jaw and crosses his arms.

leans forward to place his lips tenderly against mine. He gives me several open-mouthed pecks, almost nibbling on my lips. It’s the last kind of kiss I would expect from him.

“If you’re looking for more than a soft mattress,” I tug my hand back and cross my arms over my chest, “I’m going to need some motivation.” I arch one eyebrow at him.

Calix wastes no time ripping his shirt off over his head and kicking his shoes off. His hands go right to the button on his jeans, and he pushes them and his underwear down his hips.

“Impressive. I like your style.” We both knew it wouldn’t take much. “But I’m going to have to give you a low score on creativity.”

I wrap my arms around his neck. In one swift move, Calix has his arms locked under my butt, and he hoists me up.

I step back as I reach down to take him in my hand. He’s hard and heavy against my palm. I tug a bit and watch Calix’s eyes close.

“Go over to the window,” Calix orders, slitting his eyes open and watching me.

That next morning, with the window, I was thinking about you. It was your cock I imagined I was riding.”

“If I hadn’t been so fucking mesmerized, I would have scaled the wall to get inside this room. Do you have any idea how much I wanted you?”

He spins me around roughly and fists the back of my hair. My back bows and the bottom of my ribs hit the wall in front of me. I grind my ass back against him.