Chapter 11 #2
“I’m not wrong, sweetheart. Just as Maliki isn’t wrong to suggest food. If you’re eager to take a knot, then you need energy to keep up.” He doesn’t sound at all apologetic about his bluntness or the fact that he basically just said I’m not in a state where I can properly “keep up.”
Which has me releasing Hades to look at the God of Dreams. “I’m more than capable of keeping up,” I tell him, irritated by the very prospect of him thinking otherwise. “I took your knot in my mouth just fine.”
His lips twitch. “I didn’t knot your mouth, little dreamer. I merely fucked it.”
My brow furrows. I’m aware of the distinction, especially now that I possess Persephone’s more intimate memories, but I still feel the need to say, “I took everything you gave me.”
“That you did,” he agrees. “But I didn’t let my knot attach to your throat. That would hurt. Not to mention suffocate you.”
Okay.
Right.
Fine.
Still…
“I can handle a knot, Morpheus,” I try again, right as my stomach decides to betray me with a loud grumble.
A sound that I promptly follow with an irritated growl.
Which causes Hades to release a rumble of a similar kind, only far more fierce.
My knees instantly shake, my legs threatening to give out before me.
Oh, this is just ridiculous, I think, dizzy as the harsh reverberation grows in his chest.
“I’m disappointed, Maliki,” he says. “Her needs come first, not yours.”
“She told me to fuck her, Hades,” Maliki returns without missing a beat. “So I took her to the Rutting Grounds and satisfied her urges.”
“The Rutting Grounds?” Hades releases me so suddenly that I nearly fall. But Morpheus is immediately there to catch me as Hades spins around to face Maliki. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
“That my mate told me not to hold back, so I didn’t,” he answers simply. “As I said the other day, I no longer report to you, Hades. Only her.”
“You never fucking reported to me,” he growls at him. “But at least I’m beginning to understand how you viewed me all these centuries—not as a friend, but as a boss.”
Morpheus nuzzles my neck, his arms coming around me from behind. “You smell amazing like this, little dreamer,” he whispers against my ear. “Freshly fucked with a hint of silky sheets. Like sinful decadence.”
I shiver at his words but also frown at what’s unfolding before me.
Hades’s shoulders are curving again.
“My expressed disappointment isn’t because you failed to follow an order, but because you failed to care for our mate,” Hades says.
“However, if you were following her wishes, then I stand corrected.” He takes a step to the side and runs his hands through his hair before glancing back at me.
“I…” His dark eyes go to my lips, and he swallows. “I really should check on Orcus.”
He vanishes before I can comment.
Maliki stares at the space he just vacated, his brows pinched a little, and I can hear his mind playing over their conversation. “Not as a friend, but as a boss” seems to be the loudest comment repeating in his thoughts.
Morpheus presses another kiss to my neck. “How about you and I go take a shower while Maliki cooks, hmm?” He nuzzles me a little. “I’ll teach you more about knotting while also taking care of you.”
My nipples harden at the offer.
I… I should probably refuse. Talk to Maliki about what Hades said. Or… or go after Hades and fix whatever seemed broken.
But I don’t know how to do either.
And I can sense from Maliki’s thoughts that he’s already considering doing the same—going after Hades for a chat. Or maybe waiting until Hades returns.
Regardless, it seems like an issue between them that needs to be addressed.
So spending time with Morpheus is probably a good idea.
“Here, take this with you,” Maliki says, grabbing a glass from the counter as it magically appears. “It’s a fruit smoothie. Should give you enough energy to… play.” He winks at me. “I’ll be here cooking.” His gaze goes to Morpheus. “I need forty-five minutes.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” the Alpha holding me replies, his accented tone deep and meaningful near my ear. “We’ll be at least an hour.”
Maliki nods.
And I begin to wonder if they have a mental bond, too. Because they seem to be having more than one conversation between each other.
But I’m suddenly too consumed by the scents coming from Maliki’s offered drink to ask any questions.
My stomach grumbles again. However, I don’t even mind this time. It’s in response to the sweetness caressing my nose. I reach for Maliki’s glass, wrap my lips around the straw, suck, and groan when the flavor bursts across my tongue.
Morpheus chuckles behind me. “That reminds me of something.”
“A great many things,” Maliki murmurs.
I ignore them both, too lost to the drink to care.
I’m only vaguely aware of Morpheus picking me up to carry me to the bedroom.
This drink is drugged, isn’t it? I think, hoping Maliki can hear me.
I may have requested an irresistible twist to the mixture, he replies into my mind. A very special ingredient.
I try to search his thoughts for the name of said ingredient, but it’s like hunting through a flower field for a specific petal.
Giving up, I just enjoy the drink and let Morpheus take me wherever he desires.
To the shower, I remember as we enter the bathroom. To play with a knot.
But only after I finish my drink.
Which is… almost gone already.
Wow, I marvel. Wow.
Right back at you, trouble, Maliki replies. Now be a good girl and do what Morpheus tells you to do, yeah?