Skin of a Goddess (Goddess Ascension Book 1) by Victoria C. Johnson Page B

wouldn’t let me! Now we’re both just going to have to deal with it,” I say.
    “Or you could tell her how you never fucked to begin with?” Julian suggests.
    “That would ruin all of the good progress we made.” I look at him like he’s crazy.
    “I swear you’ve gone completely insane. She’s going to be pissed when she finds out, and you know she eventually will. Do you really want to be stuck with a pissed-off goddess for six months?”
    This I think about, since he finally has a good point. “I’m sure by then she’ll have succumbed to my natural charm and will forgive me easily. Or, you know, never find out. I could always give her a sparkly from my treasure as compensation.”
    He just gives me a look. “That would literally be turning her into a whore.”
    “Didn’t think that one out.” I shrug, not really listening as I watch Peitho jump on Lyssa’s back just as she’s about to swing. Her dress rides higher and higher until I can almost see—oh God, I hope she’s wearing panties. A quick glance around the room tells me every other guy here is hoping the exact opposite.
    “Fine, whatever, we don’t have to talk about it anymore. I still don’t understand what you’re going to do with her for six months. The novelty is going to start wearing thin by month three at least. Besides, I hear her and the other goddesses travel a lot. Are you just going to tag along like a faithful puppy? Or take her to your cave? You can’t expect a girl like that to want to live with you in your cave, even if it is just temporary.”
    “She said she doesn’t always like to socialize,” I point out.
    “Sure, but I’m sure she always likes to be around a working toilet. Most of us have enough memories of before that, and don’t need a modern replay,” Julian says.
    “I have a working toilet in the cave, but thanks for that thought,” I say absently.
    “Let’s just leave that one alone for now. You’ll come to your senses soon enough. What do you think about the meeting earlier?”
    “What meeting?” I ask.
    “Hunter, snap the fuck out of it! The meeting about the girl who was found this morning. You know, the dead one! What do you think about that?” Julian says angrily.
    “No reason to snap,” I grumble. “I didn’t know her personally or anything, but it’s always unfortunate to hear that someone’s been murdered and tortured.”
    Julian asks, “Are you worried?”
    “About what?” I ask in confusion.
    “I don’t know, about the murderer? Someone like that isn’t just going to up and stop at one. Hell, it probably wasn’t their first kill. Are you worried that others here will be hurt?” he asks.
    “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that much. Dragons don’t usually have to worry about being attacked or anything. Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit dangerous. I’m sure the supernatural enforcers will find the killer soon enough. I doubt he’ll strike the same place twice anyway. That would just be stupid.”
    “Hey, excuse me,” a little guy breaks in, motioning to reach across me to the pretzels in a bowl on the bar.
    “Oh, no problem.” I move back from the bar a bit, still seated.
    “Hey, I’m Vincent,” the man says, easily six foot or so to my seven.
    “I’m Julian, a merman, and this is Hunter, a dragon,” Julian says, nodding at me when he says my name. “What about you? Not a shifter, right?”
    “You’re very right. As much as I’d love to be a shifter, I’m actually a human. I’m here as a representative of my vampire companion. He’s the coven leader and was unable to come to the convention,” Vincent explains.
    I look him over but don’t see any bite marks. “Coven leader?”
    “It’s kind of like the leader of a group of vampires. It’s a monarchy,” Vincent explains, then notices me eyeing him and says, “The bites heal.”
    “That’s nice, must be easier to hide them from the humans. I mean, other humans. Do you like it here so