Page 19 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs
As they leave, Wren starts grabbing plates from the table, headed for the kitchen.
Thea and I do the same, but the moment Manorin and the rest are out the back door, she turns to me, grabbing my arm.
“Catherine! You let a dude like that get away? Tell me you’re not gonna let him get away again.”
I look between the Hectors, but even Wren nods. “He’stotally into you, Catherine. Strike while the iron’s hot, ya know?” She sets the empty pasta crock down with a wink.
I sigh. “I’m…it’s not the right time, girls. I just went out with Vikand yesterday!”
Wren smiles at me. “One date does not a relationship make. You could just…have fun. With two dudes.” She points at Lou. “It worked out for her.”
Lou giggles and pumps her hands in the air. “Double the dick is better, for sure!”
Oh, I know. I’ve done that plenty of times in my life.
Not with Nor though. No. One of him is plenty of dick to handle.
Oh fuck, now I’m thinking about his cock, and I really need tonot.
“It wouldn’t be right,” I reiterate, more to myself than anything.
Annabelle clatters all the dishes on the countertop, slamming the oven door open and closed in rapid succession, causing the triplets to jump.
She doesn’t agree with me.
CHAPTER SIX
MANORIN
Catherine’s “family dinner” was so lovely. It’s clear the Hectors and her other neighbors adore her. And a hellhound with puppies? I’ve never seen another hellhound outside of Pine Gulch. I thought about that a lot overnight, given that sleeping isn’t one of my better qualities. Eventually, I gave up on the shut eye and relocated to the gorgeous gym at the stadium.
Now I’m seated at what would be my desk in my office at the stadium, staring at my computer and a stack of paperwork. Figured I could do a planning session and get a feel for what it’d be like if this role is formally offered.
And if I take it.
I’ve still got concerns after a handful of meetings yesterday.
It’s clear that building up the skyball program is exciting to folks, but primarily driven by Arkan. The town leadership crew is aware of the need to expand, but they’re mostly doing it in response to the new Grand Portal Station, not so much out of a deep desire to have pro skyball here.
Before the portal station was created, each haven was linked to only one other in a giant ring of sorts. Monsters only traveledwhen absolutely necessary. If I’m honest, it’s the one thing that held skyball back from being adopted more widely across the haven system.
If you’ve got to go through fifteen individual portals to get to the haven hosting a skyball game, you’re pretty devoted to the game itself. Casual viewers won’t go to the effort. And for skyball to take off the way many human sports have, we need die-hard and casual fans alike.
I consider that as I begin sketching out what would have to happen to get the rest of the town on board with skyball expansion here. The pages in front of me contain lists of folks I’d need to win over, given my few conversations with Arkan so far.
My mind picks and turns over a handful of ideas before a knock at the office door pulls me from my thoughts.
Looking up, I find Catherine standing in the doorway wearing a dark blue wrap dress, a picnic basket over one arm. Gray waves are piled high in an elegant bun, highlighting her high cheekbones and those shocking gray eyes.
Gods, there’s really nothing like a succubus in all her glory.
I set my pen down and lean back in my chair, taking her in as she approaches the desk.
“Hello, Catherine.” I can’t help the deep timbre of my voice. She’s single. I’m single. We go well together. I don’t know how long I’ll be here for, but I don’t see why we can’t have a good time for the next few weeks. I’m gonna ask her out again, most definitely.
She dips her head. “Manorin.” Sashaying into the office, she sets the picnic basket down on the edge of my desk. “It occurred to me that I was a little, well, perhaps sassy is the best word, when we saw each other again on the pitch. I wanted to bring you some treats as a reminder that we’re excited you’re here.”
“Are you?” I shift back in the chair, clasping my hands behind my head.
