Page 13 of Sin: The Mate Games (Apocalypse #1)

Chapter

Thirteen

MERRI

I ended my live stream and plopped back into my chair with a satisfied sigh. That was the most fulfilling “Get Ready With Me” session I’d had in a long time without adding on a private breakout with a client. As I wrapped a soft robe around my shoulders, I let myself scroll through the comments I’d missed. It was important to interact with every one of them, even if they didn’t see it until after the show was over. Andi taught me this trick when I first started. She’d been such a great help, like a big sister, really.

A pang hit me when I realized how long it’d been since we’d talked properly. She was off on some all-inclusive vacay with one of her clients. I was looking forward to hearing about all the trouble she’d gotten into as soon as she got home.

“Let’s see how you all felt about the pedicure.”

I grinned as the comments filled my screen, most of them from the usual suspects, but there were more than a few newbies this time too. Like... way more.

EverySteve: I’d suck the shit out of those.

Shyguy25: Please let me paint your nails for you next time, beautiful girl.

Magic_Fingie_Dingies: Can you do your fingers next time too?

PimpinAintCheezy: Daaaaayum girl. Sit on my face.

LongWalksOnTheB: Spread those toes, and your thighs.

OriginalSin: You should let me pick out the color, darlin

I smirked at the comment Emmett left. I hadn’t realized he’d been in the chat this time. My reaction to him was close to the same as how I felt every time I saw Cole’s handle pop up. Comforted, aroused, seen. Honestly, I was a little put out that neither of them tried to book any solo time. But I’d made it clear I wasn’t open for those kinds of sessions tonight, so I supposed they were upholding and honoring my boundaries, unlike a couple of the others.

ThisLilPiggy:

Trash4Toes: I’ve never seen more perfect feet.

GaryRunsFast: I know what you could do with those little babies.

Mayor_Poundtown: We can start with the feet, but I want to eat your

DILF79: Looking for a daddy? How do you feel about an age gap?

BigRichard: Make $200,000 without leaving home. Click here to find out more!!!

I rolled my eyes at the spammer. Usually the mods were pretty good about keeping those jackholes out of here. I appreciated the hustle, but they really fucked with the vibe. Especially since I didn’t care how much cash my members brought in. I needed lust-filled engagement, not bots who got past my paywall.

With a swift click, I blocked his ass, then continued reading and loving each of their horny as fuck comments. Seriously, the high I got reading through these thirsty posts was better than any joint.

Bob1212: I vote we do the lipstick-smearing contest next time.

CreamPieLover: Take off your panties and let us look while you work on those nails.

TIs4Tony: I know what I’ll be dreaming about tonight.

PeeperBPeepin: Boo!

MakeItClap22: I’d paint them white, then lick them clean.

BigMan69: You’ve got me over here like the Kool-Aid man. Oooh yeaaaah.

That one made me snicker. I could picture the Kool-Aid man in all his glory bursting through my wall. I did not want to fuck him, though. BigMan69 would be so disappointed.

Tittiesinmyfayce:

CumGutters11: Anyone else dehydrated? Fuck me.

URDreamLover: Tell me what your pussy smells like.

JohnBoy27: I just made a mess of myself.

ThisIsSparta: What the fuck did I join?

The snort that escaped me was loud and undignified, which set off a full belly laugh. Oh, that last one. I had to catch my breath before I could like his comment. Sorry, Greek boy, you stumbled in on the wrong night. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d come back. If he did, I made a mental note to make it up to him.

Caught up on the comments, I also noted the explosion of new members. They were all from tonight, i.e., people who joined the stream but didn’t necessarily comment. Close to a hundred new names were listed, all at the minimum membership pledge and all with generic handles that made me think these might be bots, but one stood out in sharp relief, both because of the name and the dollar amount pledged.

1N3V1T@BL3 has joined the Prince Charming tier

My mouth fell open. Wow. He must have really enjoyed the show. That was my highest tier and only had one other member: Mr. Shy Guy himself. It was $500 a month and included one private session plus a personalized video message for each month they were an active subscriber. I’d limited it to only five spots to ensure it didn’t get too unwieldy fulfilling their rewards.

I shot him a quick direct message.

Dear 1N3V1T@BL3,

Thank you so much for your support. I see you identify as male on your profile. Does that mean I can call you Daddy?

Keep an eye out for more from me soon.

Kisses,

Merri

All in all, a good night’s work.

So why was I still feeling a little restless? I’d fed better than I had since arriving at this pretty little prison of mine. I should be sated. Calm. Content. Instead I was like a tiger in a cage, pacing in my own mind.

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t that much of a mystery. A pretty prison was still a prison.

I’d occupied one form of cage or another since Lilith took me in, but this was the first time I really felt the walls. I needed something to ground me.

Drumming my fingers on the desk, I let my mind stumble toward a solution. Sometimes, you really just had to get out of your own way. Lilith had taught me that long ago. Let your gut guide you, darling.

Lilith’s voice glided through my mind as clearly as if she were sitting on the bed beside me. How many times had she said that exact thing to me?

The memory had a small smile curling my lips. Auntie Lilith always had the best advice. Maybe that’s what I needed. A little dose of her magic. I could call her. Tell her everything and ask for her help.

My shoulders slumped almost as soon as the idea percolated, however, because Malice confiscated my phone. He’d been so smug when I asked for it. Motherfucker.

Just as I was about to accept defeat and fling myself back onto the bed in a full sulk, I realized that an actual phone was no longer the only means of making a call. Tapping my computer back on, I navigated my way to Lilith’s contact information and hit the video call button.

There. Problem solved.

Take that Grumpy Brit Number Two.

The call connected after two rings, and Lilith’s perfectly made-up face came into view. Her hair was done in a pinup style with a red silk scarf tied in a neat little bow at the crown of her head. She looked ready to pose for a rockabilly photo shoot. Shoulders bare, black corset, cleavage cleaving, lips painted crimson to match the scarf. Damn, she was good.

“Merri, darling. What a surprise. I thought the boys would’ve had you under lock and key.”

“They do. That’s why I’m calling.”

One of her perfectly sculpted brows arched. “Oh? Do tell. You know I love a piping hot tea break during a session.”

As if it had been timed, Crombie’s voice rang out from somewhere off-screen. “Oh bloody hell, Lilypad. Not again.”

Lilith’s lips twisted into a faint smirk. “Quiet, Drystan. Or I’ll make it last even longer.”

Her submissive—though, in truth, there wasn’t much submissive about the fae prince—let out a low grumble before she turned her attention back to me.

“What’s got you looking so down, sweet girl? Are your guards mistreating you?”

“Mistreating?” I repeated, mulling over the word. “No. Not exactly. Ignoring, more like.”

“Ignoring you? I find that hard to believe.”

“You wouldn’t if you could see how they act around me. Seriously, they barely speak to me. One has exchanged all of five words with me. Two of them would rather watch paint dry than even look at me. And then there’s Sin, who just wants to fuck me.”

She grinned. “Of course he does, my love. You’re exactly what he needs.”

Examining her manicure as though this wasn’t my entire life we were discussing, she hummed.

“Auntie Lilith, please. I need to get out of here. I can’t live like this. I have no one to talk to. No one to keep me company.”

At this, my aunt frowned. “I’m sorry, darling girl, but you must start considering your new lodgings as your home for the foreseeable future.”

“What?” I all but screeched. “Auntie Lilith, no. I can’t stay here indefinitely. Surely you’ll handle whatever threat is out there like you always do, and then I can come home.”

“You are home, darling. Best make peace with it. This isn’t the sort of threat one can handle easily. It could be... a while before it’s safe for you again.”

Once again, Crombie’s derisive snort met her words, but my aunt silenced whatever he might have said with a warning glare.

Panic and frustration warred inside me. Stuck here with four men who hated me, feeding off of nothing but my clients. That wasn’t sustainable. Not if my appetite had anything to say about it. And the truth was, I didn’t do well in pure isolation. I never had. I was like a flower denied sunlight, and I’d wilt until there was nothing left. Being around others, even if I didn’t engage with them, filled me with energy.

Iniquity had offered that in spades. And even Blackwood, to a degree, had provided me with the buzz of overwhelming emotions to siphon as needed. By comparison, being locked in Grim’s penthouse was a bit like being on an unwilling hunger strike. These four had all the emotions of a fucking rock garden.

“She has four cocks at the ready. Explain to me why she’s whinging.” Crombie came into the frame, fully nude, save the cage Lilith had put around his package.

“Ugh,” I cringed, shielding my eyes. It wasn’t the nudity, mind you. But Crombie was practically my uncle. No one wanted to see a family member under these conditions.

“Go back to your corner, pet. I’ll see to you soon enough.” Lilith’s voice was a steely purr that told me he was in a lot of trouble. Then she returned her attention to me. “He’s right, though. You must win them over. Make them your allies.”

“Were you not listening to the part where three of the four refuse to engage with me?”

She waved a hand as if that was no big deal. “Use the charm you were born with and gain the devotion of each and every one of them. That will make your life much easier.”

“Lilith—”

But she cut off my protest with a tight smile. “You know what you need to do, darling. So do it.” Then she clapped her hands and blew me a kiss. “Right, well. It was lovely to see you, but I must go. Brats to punish.” She winked. “Ciao, sweet girl. I can’t wait to hear how you bring these men to their knees.”

As the screen went dark, I let her words tumble in my head, knowing she wouldn’t have given that advice if it wasn’t exactly the right thing to do. Auntie Lilith was the wisest creature I knew. She was also ancient. The original demon. If anyone knew how to get shit done, it was absolutely her. I simply had to use some of the tactics she always kept in her pocket.

Charm.

Manipulate.

Outsmart.

She was a master of her craft. If she could build an entire empire because of it, surely I could handle a few grumpy immortals. But how?

“Hmm,” I mused, tapping my index finger to my chin. “What would Lilith do?”

Releasing a determined breath, I stood and popped my hands on my hips. I wasn’t going to get anywhere allowing these men to continue thinking they were the ones in charge. I might have to live in their house, but they were going to start playing by my rules.

Out of sight, out of mind seemed to be the name of their game. So I’d simply have to flip the script. I was about to be all up in their business every moment possible.

I adjusted my tits so they were at their most perky and tempting, then opened my door with one particular silver fox in mind. Or should I say crosshairs.

Operation Make The Horsemen My Bitches was about to begin.