Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Naomi stiffened. “You promised you wouldn’t do that to someone I care about ever again. I’m still traumatized by how you tossed poor Donatello into an abyss down there.”
Lou’s jaw tightened at the memory. “The little bastard bit me.”
She scoffed. “No he didn’t.”
“Yes he did!”
“He was a turtle. They don’t have teeth.”
Luka shifted slightly, drawing Lou’s attention. “Normally I wouldn’t care what anyone thought of Naomi and me claiming each other. But as you’re her father, I’ll give you the assurance you need. Still, I’m going to say this to you only once; whether you believe it or not is up to you. I’m not a good person. I’ve never tried to be. I’ve done nothing to deserve having something as good as Naomi in my life. Nonetheless, I’m keeping her. There’s not a single thing more important to me than she is.”
Lou pulled a face, flapping a hand. “Blah, blah, blah, words are cheap, blah.”
“Dad,” Naomi groaned.
“I’m not wrong,” he maintained, folding his arms. “I don’t believe him. And I don’t like him. And you can’t make me be nice to him. So there.”
“Your level of maturity is overwhelming.”
Lou squinted. “I detected a hint of sarcasm there.”
“Oh, it was no hint. It was full-on sarcasm.” Naomi put her hands on her hips. “Why would you find it so hard to believe that he cares about me? Are you saying I’m unlovable?”
Lou wagged his finger at her. “Don’t. Don’t start trying to talk me in circles. I’m too stoned for that shit, it’ll make me dizzy.” He crossed to her and rested his hands on her upper arms. “Listen to me, men are the worst. Pigs. Liars. Adulterers. We have no practical relevance other than to help ensure the propagation of our respective species. That’s it. That’s all we have to offer.”
“So what you’re saying is you’d prefer I was into women?”
“Celibacy,” he asserted. “Celibacy is the only avenue that leads to happiness.”
“Are you celibate?”
“No. But I wouldn’t know happiness if it took a steaming shit on my head, so we don’t need to worry about me. Only you. Just. You.”
Beyond exasperated at this point, Naomi said, “Maybe I should telepath Jolene and ask her to come over. She can help bring the tension down a few notches.” Or, more accurately, the Prime would annoy the crap out of him—they’d been frenemies for years.
Lou stilled, his mouth dropping open. “Oh, you’re diabolical.”
Naomi grinned. “Thank you.”
Releasing her arms, he dropped his own to his sides and let out a dramatic huff. “Is it so wrong that I want you to have a decent man in your life?”
“I thought you said all men are pigs.”
“There are some exceptions. You could find one easy. They’d flock to you because they’d sense you’re special.”
She snorted. “If I had a decent man anywhere in my general vicinity, you’d hate him because he was decent. You’d say he was weak and boring and you’d throw things at him for fun. Tell me I’m wrong—and mean it.”
Lou gave her a sulky look. “It’s occasionally discomforting that you know me as well as you do.”
“Just occasionally? I’d better put a little more effort into it.”
His lips curled. “That’s my girl.” His smile faded as he glanced from her to Luka. “So it’s a done deal? You insist on giving him a home?”
Naomi felt her brow crease. “He’s a person, not a pet.”
“He’s a man. Men are pigs. Pigs can be pets. Ergo . . .”
“Oh my God, you are unbelievably ridiculous.”
He frowned. “Why do you always say that?”
“Because it’s so very true.”
“What’s ridiculous is you taking a legion as your mate. Come on, you’re smarter than this!”
Luka stepped closer to her, his attention on Lou. “You’re free to disapprove of me, but don’t raise your voice at Naomi. I don’t like it.”
She winced. Uh-oh. Her dad was going to flip his lid for sure.
Except . . . he didn’t. He didn’t bristle. Didn’t get mad. Didn’t give Luka a load of shit. Hell, he didn’t even look her mate’s way. As if refusing to acknowledge not only Luka’s words but his very presence.
She heaved a sigh. “You’re going to pretend Luka’s not here, aren’t you?”
Lou shrugged. “It’s that or beat him bloody. He’s defiling my once-virginal daughter.”
Naomi scratched her cheek. “Uh, sorry to burst your bubble, Dad, but I lost my virginity years a—”
“La, la, la, la, deaf ears.”
Fuck this shit. “That’s it, I’m calling Jolene.”
Lou scowled. “Don’t bother, I’m leaving. I’m gonna smoke another joint, eat some munchies, and pray to the lunar gods that this was all a funky-ass dream.”
She tipped her head to the side. “Are there such things as lunar gods?”
“We’ll soon fucking find out.” He clicked his heels and disappeared.
Blowing out a long breath, she shoved a hand into her hair as she slowly turned to face Luka. He wore the look of someone who’d just been poleaxed. Sigh. Plenty of people wore that look after meeting Lucifer.