No typos. A first for him.

Before he pressed Send, Katarina read the screen and said, “Don’t forget to add LMDO.”

He searched his mental files, but couldn’t place the acronym. “Why?”

“LMDO. Laughing my dentures out. You know, because you’re so old.”

He glared at her and pressed Send so hard the phone cracked. “Do you need another reminder that my age doesn’t matter?” He stuffed the device in his pocket. When can I fill her with my fingers again?

Next time, he wasn’t going to wear gloves. He could tolerate the pain in order to receive the pleasure. And there would be pleasure. The heat and wet of her...the tightness, her inner walls clinging to him...

She pretended not to hear him. “Or maybe you should have used BFF so BTW. Best friend fell so bring the wheelchair.”

Destruction...laughed? The sound, whatever it was, should be labeled cats being murdered.

“You’re more angry with me now than before, when I accused you of betrayal—for which I’m deeply sorry,” Baden remarked. “Why?”

A blush stained her cheeks, intriguing—and delighting—him. How low did it go? “I’m always angry with you. You’ve insulted me numerous times, and now I discover you’re holding another woman hostage.”

“She’s not my hostage, and I was wrong to insult you. I will beg your forgiveness later tonight. On my knees. While you sit before me.”

She shivered, then she gaped at him. “Wait. Let’s backtrack. Did you, a male, just admit to wrongdoing?”

“Surely not,” he quipped. “Such an unprecedented event would be marked by a chorus of singing angels.”

She grinned at him, but her amusement faded fast. “I saw the way you looked at her.”

The darkness of her tone...was she jealous?

If possible, he would have grabbed Destruction’s arm and held it in the air. They were champions who’d just won a mighty battle.

“How did I look at her?” He sifted through the weapons, selecting two daggers, a semiautomatic and three extra clips.

“Like you’re looking at those weapons,” she said, a little shrill. “As if they’re the answer to all your problems.”

“She carries a part of my past. But I’ll only be handling the weapons, not Fox. My desire isn’t for her.”

The pulse at the base of Katarina’s neck fluttered. “Who is your desire for, then?”

He closed the distance between them, his gaze hot on her. Rather than answering her question, however, he said, “Don’t pick a fight with her while I’m gone.”

Anger crackled from her. “Do this. Don’t do that. Bastard! I will do what I—”

“If she were to hurt you, I’d have to kill her, and then the demon would roam free or perhaps even try to inhabit me again.”

“Oh. Well. When you have such a valid reason...” Katarina melted against him and reached up to toy with the ends of his hair. “Besides, I’m too sweet to pick a fight with anyone.”

“You definitely taste sweet.”

A slow smile. “Am I a triple-X-rated porno in your mouth?”

“No, you’re better.” Far better. Finally, he told her what she wanted to know. “You are the one I desire.”

Beaming at him, she said, “Why don’t you remind me about my affection for your mouth, hmm?”

Denying her wasn’t a possibility. He dove down for a swift kiss, meaning to roll his tongue against hers once...maybe twice...but found himself backing her against the wall and feasting. He clasped her ass and hefted her off her feet, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist. He ground his erection at the apex of her thighs, drawing a ragged gasp of need from her.

“I’m remembering a lot of other things, too.” She purred as she arched to meet him thrust for wanton thrust. “Like the way your body makes mine feel. Hot and achy...needy.”

If he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t leave at all. Get the necklace, gain a point, finally have Katarina.

He wrenched away, leaving them both panting.

“Be naked when I return.” His tone—as hard as his shaft—offered no room for argument.

Shivers rocked her, but she maintained a bored expression as she said, “Ask nicely.”

For this, he would beg. “Be naked...please.”

“And deny you the privilege of undressing me? No! I’ll be fully clothed and you’ll thank me for it.”

Must have her now.

Yes—no! Must leave. Task first, woman second.

For the first time, his priorities seemed...off.

“I won’t be gone for long.” He palmed a dagger and a semiautomatic and flashed directly to the forest nymph...who was at a cocktail party. Water surrounded a clear dome, but the dome itself was dry. Crowds of immortals filled the space, like sardines in a can, each decked out in formal attire, the women in gowns and the men in tuxes.

Baden was seriously underdressed. And Destruction wasn’t happy, closed in by vampires, shifters, sirens, Harpies, Fae, Goblins, Gorgons, witches, even a Cyclops.

Calm. Steady.

A waiter passed with a tray of what looked to be Jell-O shots. Odd, considering the decor and the attire.

His ears twitched as a familiar “whoo hoo” rang out. Tense, he pushed his way through the masses, hissing anytime someone brushed against him. He passed towering marble columns chiseled to resemble Poseidon and came upon the nymph—who teetered on her feet beside Taliyah. The two were doing shots and sucking limes.

Behind them stretched a dais where Poseidon watched their antics from a throne made of coral. Baden knew the male spent half of each year in the water and the other half on land, weakened because of some kind of curse—but then, wasn’t every man’s downfall because of a curse? This was a land/legs month.

His attention remained fixed on the nymph, his features set ablaze with unfulfilled desire.

“This time,” Taliyah said, her words slurred, “we’ll do the shots while I’m you and you’re me. Quick, let’s switch clothes and jewelry.”

Baden tensed. She was here to steal the necklace, too, wasn’t she?

As if she was completely aware of her surroundings—and Baden’s presence—she peered over at him and winked.

“Dude! That’s the best idea ever!” The nymph reached for the clasp at her nape.