Page 140 of He Who Sleeps

“I couldn’t not work,” Petra said. “Carter and I are going to open a sanctuary at the new house.” She beamed at him. “And Leo’s pharma company is working on the depression issue with natural ingredients.”

Carlee arched a brow. “So like... Okay and don’t take this wrong, but you guys are straight up serial killers, but you...care about the world?”

"Most of us didn't kill for the fun of it," Finn pointed out. "We had been brought up to believe that it was necessary for the survival of the God and the Earth. We tried to take people who didn't deserve to live."

“I do...” Kendrix said with a shrug.

“And just what is it you do?” Carlee asked him.

“I’m a spinal surgeon for dogs and cats,” he said with a grin. “Best in the world.”

“So clearly it’s all about balance,” Carlee said with a smirk.

"We're not bad people," Finn said with a shrug.

"Speak for yourself," Leo sniggered. "Kendrix is bad to the bone."

Kendrix grinned. “No, I’m balanced.” He winked at Petra. She shivered and Carlee grinned.

“Ooh, this is the one that chases you?! Okay, I can see the appeal. He wear that mask, too?”

Petra blushed and Carlee laughed, the sound hearty and light.

"We've all got our kinks," Leo said with an easy shrug. "It's the way we were raised. Don't be surprised if you find yourselves getting chased by guys with a few surprises up their sleeves."

“Do not threaten me with a good time, Leo.”

Petra looked at Vic and Fiona, knowing that while she was quiet about it, Petra wasn’t close to being the wildest of them.

"I don't know why you're looking at us," Victoria said. "Carlee's the hoe of this group that's up for anything. I doubt any of these guys would be into my kind of kinks. I doubt they're into being dominated."

Carter choked and covered it with a laugh. "Brad is going to love you," he said. "Not all of us are into topping. You kink how you kink. The God loves you anyway."

"On which note, it's been lovely to meet you all, but I need to go and take some meds and lie down in a quiet and dark room for a few hours," Fiona said regretfully. "But I'll see you all for dinner?"

Petra nodded. “Up the stairs, first door on the right is your room.” She winked.

They watched Fiona leave and Carlee looked at Victoria. “I didn’t know you topped.”

"That's because any time anyone mentions anything vaguely sexual you jump right in about dick sizes and whether they have brothers or not," Victoria pointed out. "You're not exactly the most discreet of people, and the world I move in is all about discretion."

“Clearly,” Carlee said. “Also, there is nothing wrong with being an out and proud sexually liberated woman. Cuts out the middle man when they know what you want.”

“She has a point,” Jack said.

Petra rolled her eyes. It was an old argument about Carlee’s sexual liberation. “Remember when Carlee lost her virginity?” she asked Victoria. “We didn’t hear the end of it for weeks.”

"No one is saying there's anything wrong with it," Victoria said. "You can fuck who you want to fuck and I'm not judging. As long as you're safe. It's just not how the rest of us operate, and in my world it would be dangerous."

Emerson nodded to her. “You’re in Chicago, right? Have you heard of Façade? It’s a members-only club but it’s super high-end clientele. I used to belong to it, well technically still do, legacy membership.”

Petra arched a brow at her lover. “I didn’t know you were into the scene...” Some of her guys were into some severe kinks but none mentioned the scene until now.

Emerson shrugged. “I explored. My kinks are tame compared...”

"Heard of it?" Victoria chuckled. "I'm on the VIP list. I'm not rich like most of the members, but I have an excellent reputation."

“Indeed. And here I was going to offer to sponsor you.” He winked. “Family and all.”