What's even more annoying? I want him to slide his hand higher.
* * *
MOM: Hear me out. I've read a lot of books about the old gods and faeries and the like. They're not trustworthy, but if you can get them into a binding agreement with you, that's the only safety net you have. Take him to some fly-by-night chapel, make him promise to love, honor and cherish you. He can't get you killed then.
* * *
MOM: It sounds squirrelly, but we're dealing with squirrelly things right now.
* * *
Kassam leans over, pressing his mouth to the side of my neck, and I bite back a moan. "My light," he murmurs. "I need you."
I look over at him, panting and distracted. "Five…five minutes," I manage. Good lord, how am I possibly going to get anything done if I can't go five minutes without wanting to jump on his dick and ride him? I never thought pleasure-seeking would be a curse, but it's definitely a distraction.
"I can give you five minutes," he agrees, his hand drifting down my arm and then brushing across my breast. He manages a little smile. "I will let it whet my appetite."
That makes me laugh, slightly hysterical. "Whet your appetite? Yours is non-stop."
"Hedonism," he agrees, his thumb drifting over my nipple and teasing it. "It is never-ending. Some think it is the best of flaws, but it can be a bit much."
A bit much. I'll say. I reach over him into the glove compartment and pull out a box of breath mints. "Here. Distract yourself."
Kassam's eyes light up and he shakes the tin, fascinated. "It smells wonderful."
"Tastes even better," I agree, shivering as I pick my phone up again. I have to fight the urge to crawl into his lap and just forget everything for a few hours. Focus, Carly, I remind myself, and slap my cheek. Focus.
I read through my mom's texts again. Get Kassam to agree to marry me in order to protect me. It sounds very fairy tale, but then again….I glance up as one crow, then another, land atop my car hood. They caw in excitement, staring through the windshield at Kassam as if they know him. A few more crows flutter in, and I glance over at the god, who is eating mints by the handful.
Right. This could actually be a fairy tale. My Disney princess here has the requisite birds and animals eating out of his hand, after all. I ponder my mother's words.
* * *
ME: I can't believe you're suggesting marriage. Even weirder, I can't believe I'm considering it.
* * *
MOM: It won't mean anything if it's just to keep you safe. Divorce his weird ass the moment you know you're safe…and you're done with the D.
* * *
I stifle a snort of laughter. Okay, I love my mother. I send her a couple of heart emojis and glance over at the god of lust and squirrels, or whatever he's calling himself. "Hey Kassam?"
"Yes, my light?" He gives me a minty smile, his gaze flirty.
"If you promised something as a god, you have to hold to it, right?"
He nods and offers me a mint from the nearly empty tin.
Okay, well, that could work. I take the mint from him and pop it into my mouth. "If I'm going to be your partner—"
"Anchor," he corrects.
"Anchor," I amend. "If I'm going to anchor you, I have a few requirements."
"Ask away." He closes the tin with a little sigh and then peers out the window at the gathering crows. "My friends," he murmurs. "Your services are not needed yet. Perhaps soon."
One crow caws at him, pecking at the hood of the car. Then, as if they share a brain cell, they all fly away.
I glance out the window after them. Weird. Just another distraction, I remind myself, and focus on Kassam. "I want to get married."
His brows go up.
"What, do your people not have marriage?"
"No, we do." That lazy, pleased grin curves his mouth. "Shall we bribe a priestess to join our hands and swear undying love for one another? Is that what you require from me, my light? Pretty lies in front of an audience?"
Ouch. "Pretty lies, huh?"
"I like you, my little light," Kassam says, smiling. "But I am a god and you are a mortal. I have used your body to sate my needs, but that is all. We are simply scratching each other's itches."
I stare at him, a little stung. "You're not even trying for romance, are you?"
Kassam gestures at our surroundings, chuckling. "What about this is romantic?"
He has an excellent point. It's like being drugged, being around him constantly. Drugged and somewhat exhausting. "Okay, well, if we're being truthful, I want to get married. Not because I'm in love, but because I need your sacred promise that you'll look out for me and won't get me killed."
Kassam gives me an impressed look. "You're trying to corner me?"
"You cornered me!"
"So I did." He tips his chin, grinning. "I don't regret it. If we're continuing truths…" He leans in, and my belly twists with a hint of dread. Oh god, what now? I don't think I can take much more packed into twenty-four hours. "Your cunt is the finest I've fucked in ages. And I love those little cries you utter when I make you come."
I blink. That was unexpected, but…still pleasant to hear. I guess if we're scratching itches, it might as well be enjoyable. "I'm sure you say that to all the girls."
"I do not. Nor do I fuck just women." He gives me that languid smile again. "I am a god who loves all."
Which brings up another excellent point. "If we're getting married, I need you to be a monogamous sort of hedonist, Kassam." When his brow arches, I shake my head. "I'm serious. I'll sleep with you, I'll help you with all your hedonism needs, but we need to keep it between us."
"Greedy wench." He beams at me. "I like how possessive you are. Very well, I agree."
That was a lot less difficult than I thought. For some reason, with all his talk and sensual teasing, I thought he'd be trying to bring others into our bed. Hell, I'm still trying to get used to the idea of sharing a bed with a god, much less sharing it with multiple people and a god. I can only imagine the shitshow if other people get involved. I picture diseases, or spontaneous orgies, and it makes my head hurt. I'm a traditional girl for the most part, and it's hard enough for me to think of having tons of sex with Kassam just to have sex, zero feelings involved. It's probably a good thing I remembered to set some boundaries, considering Kassam doesn't know what a condom is…
Oh shit.
I start the car. "We're going to the pharmacy."
"What is a pharmacy?" Kassam asks, curious. "Is that where you get married in your world?"
"Nope," I say. "That's where we panic and get a pregnancy test." I'm not sure if it'll work the morning after, but I can stock up and keep testing…and buy Kassam an absolute truckload of condoms.
He laughs. "Is that what you are worried about? Most would be honored to carry a god's offspring."