Page 76 of Friends With the Monsters
“Big spoon!” he shouts, scooting up behind me in the same moment.
“You said no dibs.” Grim enters the doorway with a frown on his face.
“Because you thought of it before me,” Gunnar answers, unrepentant.
Grim’s eyes travel over Gunnar as he lays his arm over my torso and pulls me back to the mattress. “I have things that I need to attend to,” he mutters dejectedly.
“When will you be back?” My voice is soft, sleepy. Gunnar is warm, and it’s surprisingly easy to accept having him in my bed.
“Soon, Damiana, most likely before you wake.” Grim comes over and sits on the side of the bed, and pushes my hair behind my ear.
I reach for his arm, suddenly more alert. “The last time you left, you said it was because of the Mimic. Did another monster die?” I search his eyes. Worry for Aeson eats at my stomach; should I really be resting right now?
Grim lays his hand over mine, and his eyes soften. “No, I would just rather check on the other side now than have to do it later when I could be here with you,” Grim confesses easily.
“You’ll tell me if you find out anything…” I can’t bring myself to say the words.
Grim leans down and places a gentle kiss on my temple. “I will,” he whispers. I feel the portal open up behind him. A wave of rage boils through, and it turns my stomach. Grim tilts his head as he pulls back. “When was the last time you fed?”
I gather my hand over my stomach, holding the blanket tighter. “A few nights ago.” It feels like so much longer though.
“Are you hungry?” Grim assesses me.
I shake my head. “No, not in the least.” I scrunch up my nose.
Grim makes a humming noise and brushes my hair back again. His eyes go above my shoulder. “I’ll be back soon.” The tone of his voice shifts, and I know he’s talking to Gunnar.
“We’ll wait for you,” Gunnar tells him, and Grim nods his head quickly before standing and taking one large step backwards, his eyes on me the entire time.
I pat Gunnar’s hand over my waist once the portal closes. “Look at my kitten, being all nice and shit.”
“Your kitten?” I can hear the grin in Gunnar’s words.
“Of course you’re my kitten. Who else would you belong to?” I scoff, and resettle myself next to him.
“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 mine.
“Only because you know I’m going to make you purr.”
A low chuckle starts in my chest, and I feel Gunnar’s body jerk. I twist and look over at him, 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.
I snicker a few more times but turn back around. “What’s so funny?” Calix questions as he comes in. Using his toe on the heel of his boot, he steps out of them and yanks his shirt off next.
“Nothing.” Gunnar pouts, which makes me laugh even harder.
When I open my eyes, Calix is grinning down at me and pulling back the covers. He’s back in the tight, white undies that seem way too sinful for the childish moniker I dubbed them earlier. I lick my lips as something warm blooms in my lower stomach. All the humor dies, though, when he skootches his body closer to me.
Being between two men isn’t new to me, but being between these two is, and having Grim only seemed to whet my appetite. I close my eyes and force my breathing to even out. Calix brushes against my nipple with his arm as he settles himself. I ignore the ache and focus on lowering my heart rate. Gunnar doesn’t need to tell me he’s not the kind of guy to share, it’s in every fiber of his being. I know Calix likes an audience, but I somehow doubt Gunnar would be up for that either.
“Should we set an alarm?” It’s such a mundane question coming from Calix. I want to punch the bed over the fact they can seem so completely unaffected.
“Go ahead.” Gunnar’s voice is lazy as he dips his face until his lips are hovering right over the spot where my neck and shoulder meet. I feel every heavy breath that passes his lips. I should have put on a turtleneck and leggings. Why am I letting them into my bed to begin with when I have plenty of other rooms?
I kick my legs back and forth a little. “I’m hot. Are you guys hot? I think I need a drink.” I lean up on my elbows.
