When my captors entered, I woke instantly. Sue me for napping. I was tired and obviously not going anywhere—or getting any action.

As they clomped into the room, I glared at Dale, the man responsible for me being tied up like a heifer. “Come to torture me some more?”

“Only if you deserve it.”

I gaped because the prick didn’t even deny it. “Jerk. What happened to you promising Pete you’d protect me?”

“We did. And you’ll be glad to know Pete just called to say we’re clear.”

“What?”

“What he means to say,” Sebastian interjected, “is the demon was killed.”

Dale picked up the story. “Pete and Anthony managed to keep the creature busy, and a collective of senior wizards destroyed it.”

The wizard thing really begged for more questions, but I had a more pressing query. “So, Chloe is safe?” Which then led my brain to the realization that, “I can go home?”

“Yes, you can leave.” Dale inclined his head, and his two henchmen circled to either side of the bed to release me.

As soon as I was free, I bounced to my feet, shouting, “Freedom!”

And then I launched myself at Dale.

He caught me instead of dropping me or hitting the floor, which, I will admit, was super hot. I wrapped my legs around him, but instead of plastering him with kisses, I hit him.

A lot. While haranguing him.

He deserved it.

Tying me up.

Leaving me alone.

He didn’t defend himself, just sighed as Mike and Sebastian peeled me off him.

“Asshole. I hope you get a rash and have to wear a cone for a month. No, make that a year,” I yelled as they dragged me out of the room.

“I don’t get rashes,” he replied, his calm demeanor annoying me further.

“I hope you get bitten by a rabid squirrel.”

“You already tried, kitten. You couldn’t even break skin.”

Oooh, insult me, would he?

“Let me at him.” I pulled, but the guys held me firmly.

“What should we do with her?” Mike asked.

Well, given their actions, they wouldn’t be doing me.

I stopped struggling. “I am going home now.”

“I’ll drive you.”

The offer came from Sebastian, the same guy who’d helped tie me up.

The size of his erection for me couldn’t erase that fact.

“No, thank you. I’ll take a cab home.”

“I’ll drive.” Dale grabbed his keys. He didn’t hold on to them for long, seeing as how I kicked them out of his hand.

“I don’t want to be anywhere near you guys.” I might be desperate for love, but I had some self-respect. And pride wouldn’t let me accept anything from these dogs. “If you’ll give me my purse, I can handle things from here.”

“But—”

A sharp look from Dale and Sebastian bit back what Mike planned to say.

My arms were released, and my purse handed to me, along with my shoes.

I didn’t look any of them in the eyes as I prepared to leave. I didn’t need them trying to con me with their puppy faces.

Obviously, any fantasy I’d had about getting with one or all of them wasn’t happening. Best to leave now while I had a shred of dignity.

Leaving with class didn’t stop my parting shot. “Don’t forget, summer is coming. Better visit your vet for your heartworm pills.”

And with that, I slammed the door shut.

Dale didn’t come running out to drag me back in.

Mike didn’t insist I apologize or accuse me of rudeness.

Even Sebastian didn’t come loping after me with his tongue lolling.

I knew how to deal with my old friend disappointment. I fed it the chocolate bar stashed in my purse.

The ride home didn’t take long, a regular cab showing up before I could even whip out my phone to call for one. A taxi dropped off some staggering folks at a house across the way, and I hopped in before it could take off.

The driver was more than happy to help me, his kind smile easing my bruised ego. A pity he was at least sixty years old and, according to his ring finger, married.

As soon as I got to my place, I tackled my persistent disappointment with food. I ate a pair of waffles—blueberry leggo-my-Eggo kind. Showered. Ate two more waffles, plain but smothered in Cheez Whiz. All the while, I tried to see how I’d gone wrong.

Wrong times three. How had I gone from starting last night in the presence of three eligible men—or so I assumed, I’d never confirmed their relationship status or sexuality—to alone, and unmolested.

Not that any of it mattered. Guys who thought they could just manhandle me—fully clothed and without offering a happy ending—didn’t merit a second chance.

A girl had to have some standards. Now, if only my prideful stance didn’t leave me feeling a little down.

I needed to talk to someone who’d totally be on my side. I needed my BFF.

When Chloe answered, though, I first asked her, “Holy fuck, what happened last night? I hear the demon got cremated.”

“Oh my gawd, Brenda,” Chloe squealed. “It was the scariest fucking thing.”

I twirled a length of blonde hair as Chloe told me about her most excellent demon adventure.

It turned out Pete’s neighbor’s cat was the demon, and it came after Chloe, intent on making her its victim.

“It came right after me, Brenda. And it had huge fangs.”

It sounded terrifying. Panty wetting in a urine kind of way, and yet…when Chloe recounted how her lovers came to her rescue and literally tore pieces out of the demon determined to eat her, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“You’re so lucky.”

“Lucky to be alive,” she grumbled.

“Lucky because you found two guys who love you enough to face a minion of Hell.”

“Anthony says Hell doesn’t exist.” Anthony being her vampire lover who worked as a district attorney.

Did I mention he was fucking hot? My best friend had hit the boyfriend jackpot.

“Hell might not exist, but apparently, demons do so I’m going to call bullshit on his answer,” I argued because I wasn’t about to agree with anything a man said today. Changing the subject, I asked, “How are you doing?” Because, despite the happy ending to her adventure, I could hear a hint of hysteria in her voice.

“Oh, you know, feeling a little off-kilter, what with a demon wanting to kill me and then my boyfriends turning into monsters and eating the demon instead.”

“Monsters?”

Chloe sighed. “Wrong choice of words. They’re not monsters. But it was scary seeing what they could do, Brenda. I mean, you hear about werewolves, but seeing one go all primitive, and then Anthony getting all fanged up…”

“Kind of freaked you out?” I prodded. “Made you feel all too human?”

I could kind of relate.

“I know it’s crazy. I mean, I love them, and they love me. Who cares if they have special powers?”

Judging by the tone of her voice, it bothered her. “Are you scared of them?”

It took Chloe a moment before she replied. “No. I’m not.” Then more strongly. “They would never hurt me.”

“If they wouldn’t hurt you, then why are you being stupid?” I didn’t hesitate to tell her. I’d never seen Chloe more alive and happy than with these two guys. The fact that they were different than she was shouldn’t make a difference.

“I am being stupid, aren’t I?” She laughed. “Everything has changed so much so fast that I think I’m still adjusting to it all.”

“They love your skanky ass, so get over it.” What remained unsaid was if those guys ever harmed a hair on Chloe’s head, I’d wreak vengeance the likes of which they would never forget.

“Enough about me, what about you? I saw those three hotties you went off with last night. If I wasn’t already hooked up…”

I would have arm wrestled Chloe for them. “Admit it, you are super jealous I was kidnapped by three werewolves.”

“Did you have a good time?”

Admitting the truth meant shattering Chloe’s perception that I was a woman of the world, a femme fatale. I wasn’t ready for that yet. “We had a howling good time. Even indulged in a little bondage.”

My BFF laughed. “You are incorrigible, Brenda.”

“I know.” Now, if only I were more loveable, then I wouldn’t be hitting the singles bars looking for love and coming home alone.

I should get myself a puppy. A real furry one that would love me unconditionally.

It might help me to not pine over the dogs that had not once tried to hump my leg or lick my lips—upper or lower, I wouldn’t have cared.