Page 33 of House of Pain
The music was blaring with full volume, bass so strong the windows were vibrating. There were people already standing on the stairs and around the little front garden that had only a small patch of artificially preserved green grass.
Jack Riverblood, the High Priest of the House of Tigers, stood by the door, a whole array of glitters and paints propped on the small foldable table by his side.
“Ladies,” he greeted Alecto and Jolene with a nod as they approached him. His green eyes greedily took in Alecto’s outfit, lingering longer on her naked legs.
For tonight, Alecto wore high-waisted short leather shorts with a zipper going down the front that left a huge part of her ass exposed. The white tank top Alecto chose to wear with nothing underneath let her nipple piercings be the stars of the show.
“Riverblood,” Alecto acknowledged. They locked eyes.
Most witches were fucking crazy according to mortal standards. But Jack was crazy even for witches.
“What do you have here for us?” Jolene chirped, leaning closer to look at the table by his side.
“Tonight’s a special night,” Jack teased, his voice low. “Need to look the best. Not that you ladies lack in the looks department tonight.”
He emphasized his words by shamelessly looking over them both, biting on his lower lip.
“You’re cute.” Jolene chuckled. “But no amount of flattery will change which team I play for.”
Jack only cracked a half smile. “Lucky girls, what can I say. Pick any paint or glitter you’re feeling like rocking tonight, ladies.”
Alecto glanced around at the assortment of all sorts of magical paints and glitters swirling inside the pots, dancing to the beat of the music.
Without much consideration, Alecto pointed at the deep crimson pot with black chunks of sparkle, and Jack took it in his hand. Then, he stepped closer to Alecto, slowly dipping two fingers in the pot. When he slid them out, the crimson paint covered his fingers, not a single drop dribbling.
Jack dragged the paint over her right cheekbone, then the left one, his touch light as a ghost over her skin.
His eyes dipped lower then, and he trailed his fingers down the middle of her throat, right until he reached the small crevice in the middle where her collarbones met. One finger lightly traced the line of her right collarbone, and Alecto barely held the shiver back at the touch.
Jack read her body, and a small smile settled in the crevice of his mouth. He slowly repeated the motion on her other collarbone and then stepped aside, looking her over as if admiring his handy work.
Alecto blinked, feeling the skin under the paint warm up, tingling.
“What the fuck is that?” she demanded, trying to look down at the paint on her chest.
“It’s something special to make things more exciting,” Jack explained, moving over to take the pot of blue glitter that Jolene picked.
The glitter paint was warm and pleasant on Alecto’s skin. Too pleasant. It made Alecto’s nipples hard. She scratched the back of her neck, fighting the sensations as the warmth spread through her whole body.
Of course the Tigers had to pull something like that. Surely, it was some sort of spell to make everyone more excited or crazy or whatever the fuck else that would cause havoc amongst the partygoers tonight. The Tigers were known for their subtle manipulation after all.
Alecto sighed, seeing Jolene getting dowsed in the blue glitter.
Once her friend was satisfied, they headed inside the House, making their way towards the kitchen where Alecto hoped they would find drinks.
Andro and Blaze were already there, leaning against the kitchen island.
Gael stood by Andro’s side, Andro’s hand resting on his waist casually, and Blaze wasn’t alone either—two gorgeous twins, Izzy and Lizzy from the House of Oxen, were pressing their half-naked bodies close to his tall frame.
“Right on fucking time!” Andro screamed when they approached. He sent multiple air kisses, and Alecto laughed. She caught one in her palm and placed it on her lips.
“We’re always on time,” Jolene screamed back. It was the only way to communicate when the music was so loud.
Alecto tried very hard to pretend that Blaze didn’t exist, only greeting the twins with a smile and a nod.
“Where’s our leader?” Alecto asked, coming over to stand by Andro and Gael.
“She’s in the living room,” Andro snorted, rolling his eyes. “Probably fucking someone already.”
