Page 6

Kaz

S moothing a hand over his hair, Kaz walked into the bustling coffee shop. His eyes scanned the room for a head of red curls and came up blank. Perfect. He was early.

A demon with short horns and a cocky grin waved from behind the counter.

Kaz flipped him off and started hunting for a table.

Was it harsh? Probably. But Ace had snuck into his apartment and “borrowed” his shirt.

Until the perfectly broken in band tee was back in his dresser, his cousin was on thin ice.

“Rude!” Ace called after him. “And I was going to give you my family discount and everything!”

Kaz rolled his eyes. His chaotic cousin’s newest career was as a vegan barista. It was his fifth career in the last eighteen months, so it was only a matter of time before Kaz was paying full price for oat milk lattes again anyway.

A hulking purple demon dwarfed a too small table at the back of the room, his fingers tapping away at his phone screen. Huh. Small world.

Kaz wove through the tables. “Hey, Duke.”

The demon’s head whipped up. Pale eyes blinked behind tiny wire-rimmed glasses.

“Kaz?”

“Are you by any chance here to meet a curvy human with red hair?”

“I am. I assume you’re the other date?” Duke’s dark brows rose.

“Guilty.”

It figured it would be Duke. They’d been two members of a six monster clusterfuck of a relationship a couple years back— it stood to reason they would have the same taste in women.

That last relationship had imploded with no survivors.

Hopefully, he wasn’t about to walk into an identical mess with the redheaded human who had charmed him on MONSTR.

Kaz pulled out a chair and sat down across from the quiet demon.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?

Duke shrugged. “Not bad. I got a promotion at work and decided to learn to play the piano.”

“Oh yeah?” Kaz grinned. He couldn’t picture the huge demon hunched over a delicate piano. “How’s that going?”

“Poorly.” Duke held up a dinner-plate sized hand and wiggled his thick fingers. “Learning how to read sheet music was easy enough but the piano keys are too small for me.”

He laughed. Of course. Only poor, awkward Duke would choose a new hobby and find himself comically too large to actually participate.

“Maybe try drums instead, big guy.”

He shrugged, his enormous wings dipping. “How about you? Anything new?”

“Nothing exciting. Busy at the gym with more boxing sessions now that summer is right around the corner, but that happens every year. The offer’s still good if you ever decide you want to train.”

Kaz had offered the hulking demon boxing lessons more than once, but even though Duke was built like a brick wall, he was about as violent as a fluffy bunny. He didn’t even squish spiders; he captured them in cups and released them back outside.

He eyed Duke’s mile-wide shoulders. Just once, he’d like to see the big guy throw a real punch. Kaz would bet money his hammock fists could shatter stone.

“No, thanks. Not my kind of cardio.” Duke nodded at the door. “There she is.”

A curvy redhead stood at the front of the coffee shop looking more than a little bit frazzled. Her face brightened as she spotted them. The curls escaping her bun bounced as she wove her way through the maze of bustling tables.

“I’m sorry I’m late!” Miri said in a rush. “When I was trying to get this date straightened out, I completely forgot to put the laundry in the dryer. I had to wait for my jeans to dry before I could leave.”

Kaz’s eyes dropped to the denim stretched over her thick thighs. She definitely hadn’t waited long enough—they were definitely still damp.

“Not a problem,” Duke rumbled.

“It gave us time to catch up.”

She glanced back and forth between them, her freckled brow wrinkling. Kaz wasn’t surprised. The two demons didn’t look like they would be friends, let alone willingly exist in the same zip code.

Buttoned into a pristine dress shirt and slacks, Duke was a dark purple giant with equally enormous wings tucked against his back.

Delicate wire-rimmed glasses rested on his nose and his short hair did nothing to disguise his lack of horns.

In fact, he was the one of the only demons Kaz had ever met who didn’t have horns at all.

From the top of his neatly clipped haircut to his double knotted shoelaces, Duke looked like someone who arranged his entire closet by color and occasion. And Kaz… didn’t.

If Duke was the buttoned-up goody two-shoes, Kaz was one poor outfit choice from looking like a street thug.

His crooked nose had been broken more than once and one of his horns was partially shattered.

He kept his hair shaved on the sides and dyed a vibrant shade of purple.

More often than not, it was tied in a haphazard bun on the back of his head and caused grannies in the supermarket to clutch their pearls.

Duke might arrange his starched closet according to the rainbow, but Kaz looked like he’d never seen an ironing board in his life.

The big demon rose from his seat to pull out Miri’s chair. Round cheeks flushing, she cleared her throat as he pushed in her chair. Kaz followed the bloom of her blush down her throat. Her thin, flowered blouse dipped low over her breasts as she wiggled in her seat to get comfortable.

“So, you two know each other?” she asked, dragging Kaz from the staring contest he had just lost to her cleavage.

“Yes,” Duke said simply.

Kaz fought the urge to roll his eyes. Apparently, it was going to be up to him to carry their half of the conversation… while trying not to stare at the tempting woman sitting across from him. No sweat.

“We were briefly in the same— I don’t know what you want to call it— ‘group thing’ a couple years ago. It ended…“

“Badly,” Duke muttered under his breath.

“But we stayed friendly.” Kaz finished.

“No wonder you were okay with a joint date.” The sweet human winced. “I am really sorry about that, by the way. It’s been crazy at work this week and I got my days all mixed up.”

“Don’t even worry about it. For monsters, the poly thing really isn’t a big deal,” Kaz promised.

It happened more often than not in their community. After generations of dealing with a small female population, it had become the norm. Hell, the fact Kaz had grown up with only two dads had gotten him side eye from his cousins. One of his aunties had seven husbands all by herself.

“Were you two the only men in your past relationship?” she asked.

“No, there were six of us.”

“Six?” Miri gasped, her blush darkening. ”That’s… a lot.”

“Not enough apparently.” Kaz snorted. “We caught her banging a kraken on the side.”

She stared at him. Her warm brown eyes rounded behind her dainty glasses as her mouth gaped open. Kaz studied the golden freckles dotting her nose and nearly sighed. Miri was too damn cute for her own good.

She’d been pretty in her profile pictures, but the real thing was stunning. Her bright copper curls made her pale skin glow and her thick curves had his fangs aching for a nibble. Sharing her with Duke for the afternoon was a small price to pay for a sniff of Miri’s sweet coconut perfume.

“On one hand, I’m disgusted by the cheating… but on the other… I’m a little impressed,” she admitted. Miri propped her chin in her hand. “Six boyfriends and she was still looking for more? Was her vagina made of steel?”

Both demons laughed. Duke’s deep rumble was surprising, Kaz wasn’t sure he’d ever heard the quiet demon genuinely laugh before. After all these years, it was a little unsettling.

“Sorry, that was a bit blunt,” Miri apologized. “But seriously, was she a succubus or something? Because that’s insane.”

“Nope, she was as human as they come.”

And probably had some kind of monster fetish if he were honest with himself, not that Kaz was going to say that out loud. But, come on, two demons, a minotaur, a werewolf, and a vampire, and she was still on the hunt for more monster dick? That had to be bordering on pathological.

Miri shook her head. She still looked more than a little bit bewildered at their ex’s antics. Kaz was liking her more and more by the minute. She’d been sweet and funny when they’d chatted on MONSTR, but messaging just wasn’t the same as experiencing it in person.

Another teasing whiff of her coconut scent ticked his nose. His mouth watered. What he wouldn’t give for a giant slice of coconut cake right then. Did the coffee shop serve cake?

Kaz eyed Miri’s full lips. He might even be willing to share with the pretty human, if she played her cards right.

“Hello, hello,” a chipper voice interrupted. “What do we have here?”

Kaz groaned. He wasn’t sure what he had done in a previous life to deserve him , but he had serious complaints to lodge with whatever being was lazily running their universe.

Ace stood beside their table; a tray full of mugs in his hands. He grinned at Miri.

“What’s a gorgeous creature like you doing with these two lugs?”

Using his pointed tail, Ace started to pass drinks out without waiting for her answer. Miri blinked as he slid a mug in front of her. Kaz raised his eyebrows at the pile of whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. They hadn’t even ordered anything yet?

“Hello, Ace,” Duke said, accepting the latte that was passed in his direction.

“No, don’t engage.” Kaz sighed. If the charismatic nuisance wasn’t cut off from the get-go, he would take over the date in the blink of an eye. “Go away. Far, far away.”

Maybe if he didn’t take eye contact, his nosy cousin would walk away and never come back… not until Thanksgiving, anyway. His auntie would skin him alive if he drove the flamboyant flirt to abandon the holidays.

Ignoring Kaz, Ace gripped the remaining chair and turned it around. He kicked out a leg and straddled it.

“Is that any way to talk to your favorite cousin?” Ace scolded him. “I should tell Auntie Eris on you.”

Oh gods, that was exactly what he needed—a phone call from his mother asking why he was bullying his baby cousin and whether he had met a nice girl yet.

“Leave my mom out of this, you wank.”

“So touchy.” Ace shook his head, his golden-brown curls flopping into his eyes. “Besides, Miri and I matched on MONSTR yesterday. I have equal wooing rights.”

Of course, they had. Kaz looked up to the ceiling and wished for patience.

“The guy in the shorts!” Miri said suddenly, pointing at Ace. “I hadn’t had a chance to message you back yet. The cutoffs were a bold choice, by the way.”

That was putting it lightly. Kaz had seen Ace’s profile. He was pretty sure Ace had been a scant inch of fabric from violating every one of MONSTR’s nudity policies.

Ace clapped a hand on his denim-clad thigh. “Hiding these legs would have been criminal, doll face.”

Kaz rolled his eyes. “Plan your own date later, clown. This one is ours.”

He was already sharing this date with Duke; he didn’t want to share a single moment of Miri’s time with anyone else today.

“Sorry, Ace,” Miri said hesitantly. “I already screwed up and set up a date with these two at the same time. Forcing a third on them would be a bit much.”

Ha. Take that. Now he just need to scooch on back to the espresso machine and leave them to flirt with the delicious little human.

“He can stay,” Duke rumbled suddenly. “I don’t mind.”

Fuck. Kaz shot him a look. He’d been counting on Mr. Polished Cufflinks to be more inflexible.

“Dukeroo, you big ol softie.” Ace leaned across the table and gave him a lighthearted shove. “If you only want to keep one of these demonic snacks, go with the big grape. He’s way more of a catch than my hot mess of a cousin.”

Hot mess? Really? Kaz gritted his teeth. Sure, his hair could use a trim, but otherwise he was plenty handsome for a demon.

“I am not a grape,” Duke sighed.

“Hush, you lovely plum. I’m trying to hype you up to the pretty lady.

” Ace waved away his exasperation. “I’m just saying.

He looks great in a suit and those cute little librarian glasses, and he has a soft spot for my exquisite brand of buffoonery.

He’s not much of a conversationalist, but he makes up for it in muscles. ”

Miri laughed. The bright sound had Kaz’s heart somersaulting.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you rather be on a date with Duke than me.”

“I mean…” His cousin looked back and forth between Miri and Duke. “The big guy is easy on the eyes, but I’m a sucker for a redhead.”

From a purely heterosexual point of view, Kaz had to admit Ace had a point. Duke had a steady, well-paying job, cheekbones that could cut glass, and a calming personality. Compared to Kaz and Ace, the winged demon was by far the better, more traditional choice.

Not that he was any kind of slouch himself. Kaz was a boxing coach and personal trainer. He made good money helping social media influencers and bored housewives find their abs. He might not look as good in a suit, but he looked damn good without any clothes at all.

Ace leaned over and swiped the remaining coffee off the tray.

Kaz’s eyes narrowed as he took a gulp. The little shit had definitely planned this.

Oh no, I’m accidentally intruding on your date.

I’ll just sit down and chat while I sip this soy macchiato that I definitely didn’t prepare for this very moment.

Dickhead. Kaz suddenly wished he had given his annoying cousin more swirlies during their childhood. Maybe it would have waterboarded the attitude out of him.

“So, what were we talking about before my oh-so-rude interruption?”

“Duke and Kaz’s ex,” Miri supplied helpfully.

Kaz groaned internally. Here we go. Ace rubbed his hands together in delight.

“Oh boy, do I have stories about that cow.” His fanged grin was downright diabolical. “Did Kaz tell you about the time she told his mother her cooking was mediocre and made him order her a pizza during family dinner?”

He cringed. Did Ace really have to bring that up? He was definitely tying the little shit’s tail in knots later. Hopefully, Miri didn’t mind a little demon-on-demon violence.