Page 42 of Demon Dating Service

“Oh…that might be a problem.”

Luke’s stomach dropped to his knees. “What do you mean? We agreed that there would be no scaring of Matteo. This hangout is for reconnaissance. Not romance.”

“Yes, but Bath’tuk, Mullmag, and Tog felt you were being too cautious. Look,” Azroth directed, pointing over Luke’s shoulder toward the living room. “I believe that’s Mullmag now.”

The poor human spun and discovered Mullmag approaching from the opposite hallway in his demon form, all four spidery arms raised, as if he meant to grab Matteo. Thankfully, the college student was staring at something on his phone as he sat low on the sofa, blind to the frightening creature from Hell that was drawing near.

Cursing himself and meddling demons, Luke bolted out of the kitchen into the living room. He leaped, planted one foot on the back of the couch, and launched himself the remaining several feet through the air to crash into a stunned Mullmag. He tackled the demon to the ground, where they slid across the marble floor to crash into the wall.

“What the fuck—” Matteo gasped. Luke tried to pull himself higher on top of Mullmag, blocking Matteo’s view of the creature.

“Sorry about that. Luke needed to rush off to help one of his other roommates.” Azroth’s smooth voice cut in and Luke tensed, waiting.

“Oookay. I thought I just saw him flying through the air,” Matteo replied.

“You did. He’s such a dedicated, hard worker. Always willing to help anyone who needs him,” the demon said. “I’m Azroth, by the way. Luke’s landlord and friend. You must be Matteo. We’ve all heard such wonderful things about you.”

Luke groaned. Leave it to Azroth to lay it on thick. He turned his attention to Mullmag still lying under him with big, wounded eyes. “What are you doing?” he growled.

“I was trying to help.” Mullmag’s oversized bottom lip jutted out in a sad pout.

“I know, but he’s already scared of the house. If you scare him more, he may never talk to me again. Just leave it to me for now. Spread the word. No scaring Matteo.”

“Okay.” Mullmag didn’t sound pleased with the idea, but he disappeared, leaving Luke sprawled across the cold marble, new aches and pains settling into his bones.

Luke sat up and located Azroth standing over Matteo, who was still on the couch, blocking the human’s view of the hallway. He needed to get in there to keep anything particularly disturbing from coming out of Azroth’s mouth.

These demons were going to be the end of his love life before it could even get started.

Chapter 17

Can You Just Die of Awkwardness? Asking for a Friend…

LUKE

Oh God, he was not going to survive this non-date.

Luke pushed to his feet and scrambled to the family room, where Azroth was regaling Matteo with tales of Luke’s intelligence and handiness. He’d gotten back to the room when the demon began in on his overall manliness, and Luke almost prayed for the floor to open up and swallow him. He stopped that thought short and shuddered. In this house, something like that was very possible.

“Azroth? That’s an interesting name. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that,” Matteo said politely.

“Oh, have you ever visited Estonia?”

Matteo shook his head. “No.”

“We’re all from Estonia.”

Luke’s eye twitched, and his grin froze on his lips. That was enough demon nonsense for one day.

“Thank you, Azroth!” Luke cut in a little louder than necessary. “I got that…thing handled for Mullmag. You can go do whatever you were doing.” He mentally rolled his eyes at himself and his awkwardness. It was amazing that Matteo spoke to him at all.

“Not a problem.” He turned toward Matteo and beamed. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Matteo. I hope you and Luke have an enjoyable evening.” Azroth stepped away from the sofa and exited the room as if he were gliding an inch above the ground on a pocket of air.

Luke collapsed onto the sofa with a loud sigh and closed his eyes for a second. Except the cushion next to him dipped, causing Luke’s eyes to pop open. Matteo’s smiling face hovered above his own.

“You okay?”

“Yep. Sure. Right as rain,” he answered, aware that his tone was unnatural, but the demons were driving him crazy, and now Matteo was so damn close. Like close enough that he could see how full and perfect the curve of his lips was. They looked soft. Really soft. Like delicate pillows of fluff soft. Or rose petals and cotton candy.