Page 4 of Soul Redeemed

“Gav, I’m happy to—”

“You’ve got Ava to worry about. I’m just sorry that I can’t help you track her down, as well.”

“Yeah, well. Probably wouldn’t matter if you could. I doubt anyone’d roll out the red carpet for her.”

With a huff, Gavin crossed his arms and nodded. “She’d definitely need monitoring. Particularly as Calla could go into labor any time now. Logan will undoubtedly be edgy in the upcoming weeks. Perhaps less agreeable than usual.”

“Is that even possible?”

“It’s normal for a male to become overprotective in these final stages of his female’s pregnancy.” Gavin reached for his drink and kicked back a long sip until he’d emptied it, knocking the ice back into his mouth. “Logan just likes to assert himself every chance he gets.”

“Easy there.” Calix smiled and jerked his head toward the glass. “Don’t need you passing out on Elysia.” The nectar of the gods carried the potency of human liquor on a massive dose of steroids. One sip could kill a human. Multiple glasses could knock his demon brother flat on his ass, if he wasn’t careful.

“It’s ginger ale. I wouldn’t dare with Elysia right now. Which brings me to my next request. I’m going to have Maddox cover me at the casino while I’m out looking for Denya. If you could help keep an eye on Zeke in my absence, that would be great. The doc says he’s clear to be up and around. Maybe take him out. Get him drunk.” Gavin smirked and slid his feet from the desktop. “Or talking to a female. Anything to distract him from the worry, so his body can heal quickly.”

Great. Exactly what Calix needed. Trying to forget about sex would prove impossible with Zeke, since the bastard only ever talked about women.

“Gavin I don’t know if I’m the best person for that job. I’ve been struggling for a bit of distraction myself. Away from the hookup scene.” Struggling was an understatement.

His brother’s brows came together and he tipped his head, studying Calix. “You’ve been starving yourself, haven’t you?” He shook his head and rested his elbows on the desk. “My apologies, Brother. I’ve been so caught up in a shit-storm, I didn’t even see how all of this has been affecting you.”

“It’s nothing.” The last thing Calix wanted was Gavin worrying about his dick problems on top of everything else he had going on. He regretted saying anything as he watched the tension in his brother’s face tighten again. “I can deal with it. Know what? Maybe the bar scene is exactly what I need.”

“If you’re starving yourself for Ava, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Whatever the outcome with her, you’re going to need your strength. And until the two of you have bonded, or at least seen each other, you’re going to have to harvest that energy in another female.”

“Just doesn’t feel right, you know? I hate what I am.” Calix gestured to himself and grimaced. “I hate that my whole existence depends on how many women I can fuck.”

Gavin’s gaze fell from his and he nodded. “I feel you, Brother. I do.” His stare met Calix’s again. “But at least you have the freedom to choose now.”

A phantom tingle danced around Calix’s throat, prompting him to grip the place on his neck that the collar spikes had once poked into his flesh there.

A slave’s collar. Tied to a bed. Females touching him. Using him. Starving him.

Removing his hand from his throat, he blinked away those images and straightened in his chair. “You’re right. I need distraction. I’ll take Zeke to Sanctuary. Get him out of the house.”

Gavin blew out a breath and nodded a second time. “Thank you, Calix. It’ll be good for both of you. I’m certain.”

*

“Ever wish you could talk to it?” Propped on the stool beside Calix, Zeke rested his elbow on the bar and kicked back the shot of Elysia, shaking his head after. He’d only just healed to the point he could hang out at Sanctuary, but still wore a patch over the one eye that hadn’t yet grown back entirely.

“Talk to what?” Calix asked.

“Your dick. I mean the conversations would be fucking awesome, right? Reminiscing about all the amazing pussy the two of you ever had. ‘Cause only your dick would truly get where you’re coming from.” Zeke snorted and knocked Calix in the shoulder. “Get it?”

Calix dragged a hand down his face. “I think I liked you better when you were strapped to a bed, half-blind and screaming in pain.”

“I’ll bet yours would have some stories to tell.” Glass tipped almost vertical, he polished off the last of his Elysia and knocked the bar-top, signaling for another round. “Ever fuck a Bizetist demon? Man, I’d love a long night with one of those bitches.”

The Bizetists were double endowed, with two pussies instead of one. Yeah, Calix had been with one, many incubi recharged themselves that way, but they happened to be a species that mated for life, and getting rid of one after sex often proved to be twice the hassle.

“Think about it. You could have another chick eating her out while you fuck and finger her at the same time.”

“You can do that now. It’s called anal.”

“No, no. I’m talking the same female. They always get distracted. Then somebody ends up neglected when its time to come. ‘Sides that, females don’t get off on anal the same as they do the other. I like the hard-fucking-core orgasms when they shake and seize against me.” Zeke shivered in the stool beside him, impersonating it, and flexed his fingers. “That shit rattles my nerves and makes my hands all tingly.”

“You’re not doing something right if you can’t get a female to come with anal.” Calix tipped back his drink, letting the warm liquor slide down his throat, willing himself to focus on the buzz instead of Zeke’s distracting conversation.