“Come on, Kitten. I’ll race you back to the treehouse.” Stone nudged me with his shoulder as the three of us strolled side-by-side.
“You’ll race me?” I pointed to my chest with my index finger. “Let's up the ante, shall we? If I’m going to race, then I want something out of it.” The idea of a small gamble had my mind distracted with all the things that could come out of this.
“What do you have in mind?” Stone wondered aloud.
“I don’t know if I like the sly look on her face or not, Stone,” Novak confessed as he leaned behind me to mock-whisper to Stone.
“I’m feeling pretty confident,” Stone retorted as he met Novak’s concerned look. “So, if one of us wins then you owe us both a lap dance. Three songs each. Winner's choice in music.”
“That’s all you’re asking for?” Novak barked at him. “You're supposed to say if one of us wins, then we’re having a threesome! Not getting three songs. Ask for something high and then work your way down to a lap dance.” I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me, and it had nothing to do with Novak’s response. Almost nothing.
“Agreed,” I chuckled as I made up my mind on what I’d ask of them when I won. Because let’s face it, I was about to win. “And I want you both to wear frilly maid uniforms, feather dusters and all, when I win.”
“Nope. I don’t like this, Stone,” Novak argued, but the demon ignored him.
“When? For how long? And in front of who?” Stone always asked the right questions.
“Tonight... or tomorrow. Two hours. And, well, in front of whoever sees you.” I took on his same business-like tone.
“Agreed.” Stone extended his hand to make our deal official with a shake. When I put my hand in his, he added, “And no misting or shadow jumping. We’re just running.”
“Agreed,” I responded again.
“Fuck it,” the vampire declared. “I think I hate you both right now.” He reached for my hand with a grimace as he agreed to our terms.
“Helios,” I shouted, and he bounded down the path to greet me. “Start our race off with a bark and then go back to Jack and Grim,” I commanded him. He gave me his signature “are you serious?” look, and I rolled my eyes at him. “Yes, do it.”
With a loud woof from the fiery hellhound, the guys flashed off. I stayed where I was and counted to thirty before chasing after them. We were miles from the treehouse rental. I had time. I spotted Novak ahead of me after a few moments and slowed my speed to run beside him. He stumbled when he saw me feet from him, and I tossed him a saucy wink as I blasted past. I could hear him cursing as he tried to catch up.
It took me longer to reach Stone. The demon was fast. The fastest one I’d met. He had a bit of a competitive streak, or maybe he just wanted that lap dance. I’d give him one either way, but the gamble made it more fun. He was gonna look ridiculous in a skirt. I pushed ahead of him as Novak caught up, and I cackled as they both yelled at me.
When I was sufficiently in the lead, I stopped and scaled up a tall tree. I used to do this to Jack all the time when we were kids. I moved as high as I could, keeping a clear path straight to the ground. I heard them before I saw them, and as they rushed towards the tree I was in, I dropped down in front of them. Stone stopped dead in his tracks. Novak slid across the ground so quickly he couldn't catch himself before he went tumbling. Stone and I keeled over with laughter as Novak stood and dusted himself off, muttering obscenities with each brush of his hands.
“Ha. Ha,” He huffed at us. “That’s got to be cheating.”
“Definitely wasn’t in the rules,” Stone approved.
“Bye,” I taunted with a wave as I took off again.
“FUCK!” Novak snarled. “Catch her! I’m not wearing a fucking skirt,” he shouted at Stone, but his voice grew quieter the further away I got from them.
Stone was hot on my heels when I finally decided to stop playing around. The idea of them in skirts was fueling my motivation to win. The losing side of the bet was nothing. I agreed with Novak, Stone could’ve asked for something more. I’d give them lap dances, that wasn’t a problem at all. I wanted to make a memory. Something that I would remember two hundred years from now. I planned on taking some pictures too. Possibly show our kids when we’re older.
Fuck. Did I say kids? Slow down, Sloane. I slammed my metaphorical brakes on and stared dumbly ahead of me. I didn’t want kids. Never had. So why had I just thought that?
Something solid collided with my back. Not something. Someone. We both went ass over tits for a few feet before we came to a halt. I was flat on my back, breathlessly gazing at the overly exuberant demon pinning me down. “Got her!” he called out to Novak, who went racing by. Oh, hell no, you don’t.
I pushed my butt out to the left, twisting my body as I moved and threw Stone off balance. It was called a shrimp in training. I flipped him off of me and jumped up, not even bothering to get the twigs and leaves off of me as I started chasing after Novak. The chase was my favorite part of hunting.
No more playing with them. Nope. Time to win.
I moved at the speed of light. I thought I did, anyway. It took me seconds to catch Novak again. He growled his frustrations in that feral way that had me so turned on it could melt the panties right off my body. I accelerated to my top speed so I didn't stop to show him what that sound did to me. It took me a full four minutes of high speed running to make it back to the treehouse. I may have gotten a little lost in my excitement.
I was breathing hard as I jogged up the stairs, pulling the debris from my hair. I’d won, but I wasn’t ready to be back so soon. I didn’t wait for them to catch up. I walked inside with a victorious grin on my face. Heading straight to the room where my bag was, I stripped down so I could shower and dress in clean clothes. “Don’t immediately tell them that I beat them, okay?” I sang out as I moved past everyone.
“Sure thing, Love,” Palmer agreed readily while towel-drying his hair.
As I eased into the bedroom with the attached bathroom, I heard the front door open and close. “We fucking beat her?” Novak questioned, disbelief pouring from his tone.
“Beat who?” Vaughn’s confusion sounded honest.
“Sloane. We were racing,” Stone informed them.
“Oh.” Briggs was amused and let them bask in the glory of their victory. He drew the rest of his reply out after a minute break. “No, she's in the shower.”
“Fuck!” Novak shouted again, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. “I told you that was a bad bet to take. But nooooo, you were feeling too cocky for your own good and you dragged me right into it,” he complained loudly to Stone.
“What did she win?” York sounded healthier already. My expression fell as my heart gave an abrupt twinge of pain.
“I don’t want to tell you guys,” Novak whined.
“You’ll see tonight, or maybe tomorrow,” is all Stone added before I heard the door to the bedroom open, and a very dirty demon interrupted my shower. A very welcome, dirty demon. After our time in the pool this morning, I had been dying to get my hands on his lean physique again. I licked my lips as he set his weapons in a bag on the bathroom counter and started untying his boots. I watched, transfixed, as he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing that delectable V cut and his hard lined abs.