Page 36 of Demon's Obsession
The size difference meant Silas’s head ended up squished against her chest as she gave him an enthusiastic hug. By thetime Silas managed to get free, his face was plum colored. Dakata’s lips twitched when Luka opened his arms in welcome.
Silas looked to gather himself as he took a step toward Luka. But Dakata, seeing the glint in his brother's eye, stepped between them and gave Luka a warning look. “Behave,” he muttered, and Silas once more lifted his hand, which Luka—the clever brother—took or he would have risked losing a few teeth.
“You’re Luka, right?”
“The more attractive brother, yes.” Luka was all smarmy swarthiness.
Silas eyed him. “I can see why you might think that.” His attention swung to Dakata, and the look he wore would have felled a tree. The emotions behind it blew Dakata away. All he wanted was a private place to express his reaction to Silas. “My tree and I are thrilled with the universe's choice for us.”
The sexy undertone hit Dakata smack bang in the chest.
“That told you,” Christa said gleefully gaining a scowl from Luka.
“Hells bells, I need someone to keep you both in check.” The moment the words left Dakata’s lips, the air shimmered to alert him to another demon’s presence and Merihem appeared, naked and furious.
“What did you do!” Merihem snarled at Dakata, all quivering limbs and flashing eyes. The demon looked about fit to explode into a raging rampage.
Dakata stepped quickly in front of Silas. “Me?” he exclaimed angrily, unsure what the hell was going on as he met Merihem’s anger head on.
Merihem jabbed a finger into Dakata’s massive chest, almost pushing him back. “Asmodeus, he sent me here as a punishment for helping you without seeking permission. I’m stuck in this realm until,”—his fingers made a motion for inverted commas—“I prove I can be trusted.”
Dakata deflated at causing his best friend to be demoted from his trusted position to the point of being cast out, no matter how temporary it might be. “Did he say how you were meant to prove that trust?” Dakata asked, getting a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. Was it possible that his comment was connected in some way to the decision to send Merihem here—now?
“To keep your siblings in order!” Merihem grumbled, sagging as he said it. He glanced at Luka and Christa and groaned. “It’s fucking babysitting. How damn degrading is that?”
The words lacked anger although they did hold a whole heap of self-pity as Merihem walked to the chair behind Dakata’s desk and sat down hard enough it groaned in distress.
Scott’s attention on Merihem’s ass garnered a grin from Christa and brought Dakata’s attention to Silas, who was getting more than an eye full.
“Can you put on some clothes?” He said, trying to make sure Silas’s view of Merihem was blocked.
Merihem waved a hand, and a second later, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he glowered at everyone. “I’ll be fucking expected to wear clothes all the damn time because of others shitty sensibilities!”
“Unfortunately, yes, you will. Luka, Christa, and Scott might be okay with you being naked and in your demon form. Those non-demons you’re gonna need to work with closely won’t be so understanding.” Dakata’s mind was racing with possibilities. Out of anyone, Merihem had more of an understanding of how his business worked, despite living in the demon realm most of the time. Dakata had talked through all his major decisions with the stoic looking demon who sat forward.
“You’re expecting me to manage your business,” he was back to jabbing with his meaty digits, “and these two as well!”
Dakata nodded because it was the answer to his worries about how he’d be able to balance his new life with his old one. “Whobetter than ‘the controller’,” he replied, doing his best to hide his glee at such a brilliant solution.
Whether or not Asmodeus realized it, he’d just done Dakata a huge favor.
Merihem threw up his arms and got up to stomp about. Christa looked as amused as Dakata, whereas Luka wore a pissed expression.
Scott’s face was neutral when Merihem stopped in front of him. “You’re gonna have to use some sort of code with me because I ain’t wearing clothes when I don’t have to!”
Dakata took that as Merihem’s acceptance. “Thank you, Meri.”
He glared at Dakata. “Don’t thank me yet! And I want your house. I’m gonna have to live somewhere, and I know you’re not a fan of slumming it.”
That was easy, Dakata didn’t need it when he would live with Silas close to their tree, although he did look to Silas for approval first. Silas came over and slipped an arm around Dakata’s waist, looking up with a smile. “You have lovely friends and family. And sharing is caring.”
Merihem snorted. “Don’t try sweet talking me, you’re on my shit list, too.”
Silas’s brows rose. “Shit list? Is that something I want to be on?”
The room erupted with laughter, even Scott couldn’t hold back.
Dakata ran a gentle finger over the furrow between Silas’s brows. “Not really, but I wouldn’t worry about it.” He couldn’t resist, so didn’t and kissed Silas’s sweet mouth. “I’ll get you out of it.”