Page 13 of Demons Dig Donuts

“No.”

“What’s wrong?” Indy wiggled his hips. “Afraid you can’t handle all of this? Scared that once you have a taste of perfection, you won’t be able to enjoy fornication ever again?”

The corner of Mr. Heiss’s mouth actually twitched up into a smile. “I will take you to your lodgings.”

“My lodgings? How about you just take me home?” Indy looked down at the ring. “If this thing is as important and magical as you say it is, then that means other people are looking for it, right?”

“You’re safe.” Mr. Heiss stood. “After all, I was able to get into your apartment. Even with your badass grandmother there.”

“Okay, you didn’t give her a chance to kick your ass. Trust me. She probably could.” Indy crossed his arms, cocking his hip out as Mr. Heiss strolled toward him.

The way Mr. Heiss moved, liquid and graceful, was very much giving big jungle cat about to tackle a helpless little gazelle.

But Indy was hardly helpless.

He rubbed his thumb over the nail of his left ring finger.

Wait, shit. He’d already used the salt.

Okay, left middle finger.

Mr. Heiss grabbed Indy’s hand.

Indy tensed, expecting another attempt to cut off his hand, and he heard the leshy growling from behind him.

But Mr. Heiss’s touch was oddly gentle, his gaze only curious as he looked over Indy’s nails. He paused on the broken one and smirked. “Clever. What substances are in the others?”

“Piss me off enough and maybe you’ll find out,” Indy replied. “Unless you’re secretly a masochist, and in that case, well, just tell me when you’re ready for a hurting.”

Mr. Heiss smiled and it was positively wicked.

Indy hated how his body shivered in response.

It truly was a law of the universe that the sexiest men were always giant bastards.

“We’re leaving now.” Mr. Heiss hadn’t let go of Indy’s hand. “You are going to stay there, behave yourself, and I will be back for you very soon. Do you understand?”

“Everything except the staying there and behaving part.”

“You do realize I could crush you into a pile of bone and viscera with a thought?”

“You could definitely try, but I’m pretty sure this manicure and my new best friend, the Jolly Green Giant, would have something to say about that.”

The leshy growled in what may have been agreement.

Mr. Heiss eyed the leshy for a moment and then looked back to Indy. “You are staying, and yes, you will behave.”

“Why? Are you gonna punish me if I don’t?” Indy grinned. “Because that might have the opposite effect you’re going for—”

The office vanished in an unfocused flurry like before, and Indy now stood in the middle of a simple living room alone. The space was open, with white walls framed by big wooden beams, ugly brown furniture, and a bookcase with one shelf of books. There was no other indication a human presence had ever existed here, and the energy weirdly reminded Indy of a dollhouse.

Well, other than the big skull in the middle of the coffee table.

“Oh! I’m not in the drawer. That’s good.” King looked around slowly. “But I don’t know where I am at all now… Right, less good.”

“Hey. King, right?” Indy headed to the front door to see if it would open. Of course it was locked with some more magical crap. “Nice of you to join us.”

“I am very nice. That’s true. I’m Somhairle. King Somhairle, yes. Samm. Sammy. To me friends.” King eyed Indy suspiciously. “Who’re you again?”