Page 12 of Orion: Galaxy Huntress

She cleared her throat, jiggling her hand between us, demanding my gaze leave her breasts and look her in the eye. Mood killer. “Five gold coins?”

“No one trades in gold anymore,” I muttered. “No one smart, at least.”

These days we traded in fake currency. You know, the kind that didn’t exist, brought to life by the stock market. Brilliant, really. Great ruse, Dad. Kudos. Couldn’t have thought up a more fraudulent idea myself.

Her pretty little brow furrowed. “Well, what’s the equivalent of five gold coins?”

“Ten dollars,” I replied. What? So what if gold was valued at over a thousand dollars per ounce, and five coins equaled in excess of five thousand dollars. Just call me a swindler. It was my job and I was the best. One million souls under my belt. Dad’s top crossroad’s demon five hundred years in a row. Only my dad was an asshole. Too tight for bonuses or a gold trophy.

“Very well,” she sighed, rubbing her brow, confused. “I’ll get you steaks.”

Hang on one minute. I never verbally agreed on anything. Well, except with Ace. Annoying mutt refused to sign my contract. He was the exception, not the rule. I lifted a hand to produce a contract to bind the beautiful little kitten, but nothing came. Confused, I flicked my finger again. The same. What was wrong with me? Swindling had never been this difficult. Maybe I’d lost my grip. I tried one last time and gave up.

Fuck. Shit. Think of something, Vice, before she leaves.

“Wait! Don’t be in a rush, kitten.” I grabbed her by the shoulders, coaxing her into a seat beside me at the bar. Any demon worth his salt would not let a fine-assed vixen like her leave his side. “We must drink to it first.”

Her perfect little nails went to grip her wide hips. “That’s not my custom.”

“Well, it’s mine. No drink, no deal.” My gaze cast up her delectable body, pausing on the breasts practically spilling out of her tight-busted dress.

She eyed me with suspicion when I finally met her gaze. “Fine. Let’s drink.”

I flicked my wrist at my barman, and he dutifully poured us a shot of vodka. My chest thudded with excitement to see what my kitten could handle and to new deals with beautiful women.

“To a mutually beneficial working arrangement.” I clinked my shot glass with hers, then lifted it to my lips.

She frowned as if unsure what to do but followed my lead, throwing back her head and the shot down her throat. Oh, yes. Innocent. Naïve. Now I’d have to ruin her. A long hiss escaped her lips and she wiped them. “Everything in this world tastes like cow piss.”

I quirked a brow at her. “You’ve tasted cow piss? Is that your thing?” Not my kind of kink, but, hey, some demons dug it. Those bastards were usually into all kinds of nasty shit I wouldn’t mention. Me, I liked BDSM, role play, knife play, blood play, but I drew a hard line at bodily eliminations. “Dirty little kitten!” I tapped the side of her arm, enjoying teasing her, especially with the glower she aimed at me.

Ah, those kinds of hard looks warmed my cold, black heart.

“Tell me, kitten, what else would you like to bargain for?” I leaned into her, inhaling her arousing caramel and basil scent. “Fame? Bigger boobs? Barbie lips?” Her eyes tightened at that one. Where was she from? What little girl didn’t own a Barbie doll? Okay. She wouldn’t be able to say no the next one. “A sugar daddy? I could certainly play that part.” I grinned and winked at her.

She coughed into her hand. “I’m already famous.” I just loved the haughty way she said that. Oh, confidence turned me on. She grabbed her generous tits and jiggled them, mesmerizing me with the motion. “Already got big boobs, and no idea what a sugar daddy is. Is that a sweet father who treats his children well?”

I splutter laughed, needing to swallow some water before explaining to my naïve, little kitten. “Hell no, kitten. It’s when an older man takes on a mistress as such and spoils her with whatever she wants.” I ran a clawed finger down her arm, and it sprouted with gooseflesh. “More so, if she shares her body with him. And believe me, I’m a lot older than you, richer, and can look after that sweet ass of yours.”

“I assure you I’m older and I don’t need looking after.” There she went with the haughty again. I liked this woman! Self-assured. Sassy. Independent. “Don’t touch me like that again, demon. I eat beasts like you for breakfast.”

“Do you now?” That was something I must see, and I was all up for her cooking any part of me or cooking on my body since it burned at over three hundred degrees Fahrenheit. “All right, kitten. Off you go then. Catch me my steaks.”

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