Page 1 of Bottoms Up

Chapter 1

Silver

I shut off the water, grabbed the bath towel with my eyes closed, and rubbed my face dry before lowering the towel.

And there he was. An absolutely gorgeous man leaned against the far wall of the bathroom like he’d stepped out of a wet dream. My dick hardened and my pussy clenched, but I ignored both.

“Xaephan,” I said. “In the flesh.”

“Jules Alva Copperfield,” the demon replied, voice like sin on velvet. “Stage name Silver.”

I knew the necklace was back because I could feel the cold metal against my heated skin, but I ignored it.

“No deals,” I told the sexy-as-fuck Lord of Lust.

His grin was slow, wicked, with the promise of countlessdevastatingtemptations, and the visual wrapped around my spine and squeezed my dick like a vise.

He opened the glass shower door so there was nothing between us, and used a smoky voice that vibrated through my blood like bass under my skin to ask, “Even if I could turn you one gender or the other? Choose, and all your sexy bits will fit. I can change those pretty pussy lips into gonads, or I can make your lovely dick into a proper clit. I can deepen that tight little cunt and make it fertile. You want kids, Jules? I can make it happen no matter which side you choose, makes no difference tome whether it’s balls pumping sperm or ovaries dropping eggs.” A shrug. “You know your issue isn’t a DNA thing, so no worries about having healthy kids.”

I stared at him.

If he’d given me the offer at twelve, or fourteen, or probably even sixteen, I’d have jumped at the deal without blinking — whatever the cost. Well, not my parents or stepsiblings, but maybe my first-born child, since I wouldn’t have met it yet.

But now?

No.

I like who I am. Sure, a deeper vaj would be nice, butfuck. I actually like having a dick and a pussy.

“No deal.” My voice didn’t shake. “I’m supposed to tell you we can arrange a time to talk with Kirsten and her Shifù present, but that’s all I have to say.”

The steam coiled around us, curling around him like it wanted him. The steam wasn’t the only thing attracted to him, but I needed to focus.

He didn’t smile, hesmirked, and I realized he probably knew what was in my head as easily as Marco and Mordecai.

“I used to listen in on Kirsten’s therapy sessions, and I remember you. A real-life hermaphrodite, and a kinky one, to boot.”

“You aren’t welcome here. Leave.”

“Hand over the coin and I’ll walk right out,petite perle.”

Red flag number one was him showing up at all, but red flag number two was being given a nickname — a term of endearment that was a thousand percent bullshit no matter how fucking sexy he made it sound.

He was standing in the door, but I turned sideways and made it out without touching him, and he didn’t move to stop me.

I strolled to my phone without rushing, opened the text app, and sent anXto Kirsten.

No bars. No service.

“She’ll get your text when I’m gone,” he said, casual as breathing, now leaning against the doorframe. “Care for a roll in the hay while we negotiate?”

I settled my phone back on the side table and met his gaze. “No negotiations. No deals. You aren’t welcome. Leave.”

Someone popped into the room, but it wasn’t Kirsten.

Xaephan took three steps towards us and crossed his arms over his chest. “Nike. Or should I say Victoria?”

“You should.” Her tone stayed even. “Silver told you to leave. You should do so.”