Page 33 of Demon Heart: The Complete Series

Our eyes locked, my lips craving his. Round two before Darcy woke up? Ride him in the chair? We’d probably break it, but fuck it. As long as he was inside me.

More than lust, is it?

Ugh. A flush of heat in my cheeks.

A soft snicker from the demon, as if reading my dirty mind. “The best thing to do is see how things play out.”

Actually, the best thing would be for him to leave. But never mind. This thing between us may burn out quickly, over before anything starts.

“I have work tonight,” I said.

“Okay.”

“What will you do?”

Please say you’ll leave. Screw the dangers of Tanith and the silver pricks.

“I’ll decide later,” he answered.

Please don’t leave…

“Great,” I said. “Thanks for being big spoon, by the way.”

“Is that what it takes to have your kiss?”

I blushed harder. “Apparently so.”

“Do you want me to spoon you again, right now?”

Yes. “No.”

“A shame. I could do with another kiss.”

Me too. “We’re seeing how things play out, right?”

Wicked delight played across his features. “That we are, Roman.”

Take me now . “I’ll get the brekkie done.”

“I cannot wait to taste it.” Man, such a smooth, rich tone.

I got to cooking, glad to have my back to him, hiding the tentpole in my trackies.

Xavier leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. “Who knew such perfection existed?”

I chuckled, pleasantly full. “Welcome to the club.”

“I think the lashings of butter on the crumpets really perfected it.”

“Nail on the head, my friend.”

He picked up his cup. “And you really know how to make a good cup of tea.”

I winked at him. “Stick with me and I’ll see you right.”

Interesting choice of words.

“Do you have tea in the demon realm?” I asked.

“We do. Many varieties grown across the levels of the realm. Earthly tea leaves are much better, however.”

I nodded. “What about crumpets?”

He gulped more tea, looking like he fit into this kitchen, my life, the demonic male equivalent of Cinderella’s glass slipper.

“Unfortunately, no,” he replied. “There are many spectacular baked goods in the demon realm, though. I’m quite partial to a cranberry and custard Danish.”

“Ooo, sounds yummy. But don’t you eat flies?”

“I am partial to fly demons, yes.”

Yuck. “Let’s stick with the Danish talk.”

“I’ll have to make you one some time.”

This was nice. Two guys chilling at a table, talking.

Like a first date…

He switched things up again. “Now Tanith’s pet cyclops is recovering in the demon realm, she’ll be wanting a new one to play with.”

I guess we weren’t talking about Danishes anymore.

“I’m still confused by her intentions,” he said. “Does she mean to use the demon as a weapon? A distraction while she tries to force The Word from me? How does it line up with the hunters? Why is she associating with these humans? There has to more than her wanting Ismael back.”

“She’s started a demon monarch cult?” I suggested.

Really, the queen should know about this.

“How are you dealing with this Ismael stuff?”

He shook his head, saying nothing.

Right. Change the subject. “What about this?” I announced, taking a long breath.

He waited, his eyes back to blue.

I pulled on my collar, feeling too hot. “We capture Tanith, film her after I cast a truth spell. Send the footage to the queen. Done.”

He crossed his legs. “A good plan. We could try it. There are plenty of places we can take her for interrogation.”

“Yeah.”

“I still have one pink fairy charm left to resist her Lemon Drop.” He looked at me like he wanted to eat me. Again. “Although I have no idea where to start looking for her. I suppose I could use myself as bait by returning to my house. I would imagine she’s having it watched.”

“Too risky,” I countered.

“Pardon?”

“You’re not handing your powerful arse over to her.”

A curious tilt of his head. “Is that so?”

“You know it makes sense. This is the safest place for you.”

“Until she discovers it,” he said.

I got up, Synth dancing on my fingers.

“What are you doing?”

He followed me to the front door.

“Setting an alarm.” Red energy formed across my hands like gloves. I swept a hand across the door in two lines, making an X. The magic glimmered on the wood, quickly absorbed. I did the same with every window, dull throbs in my fingers.

“This spell will alert us to any potential break ins,” I said, marking the living room window last.

“Morning,” Darcy greeted me from his cage.

“Hi,” I returned, streaking magic across the glass.

“What you doing?”

I explained.

“I hate the rain.” Not the answer I expected.

Vowing not to use anymore magic until my job tonight, I gave my little buddy’s head a rub and fetched his breakfast.

“Are we really going to stay inside until you set off later?” Xavier asked, following me.

“That’s the plan.”

“I think I like this plan.”

Pouring out a cereal and nuts concoction for Darcy, I had a thought. “What if they have a video of us this time?”

“I hope not.”

I sighed. “I can’t be worrying about that now. I refuse to spiral.”

Clear head for tonight, please.

I gave Darcy his food, freshened up his water bottle, emptied his toilet tray, the demon watching me go about my menial tasks.

“More tea?” I asked when done, gasping for another brew.

“Lovely.”

We sat in the kitchen again, sipping on our hot beverages. The rain continued to pound the city, miserable gray clouds filling the skies.

“Now. The Danish,” Xavier announced, finishing his drink. He listed off a string of ingredients.

I blinked at him. “Huh?

“Do you have those ingredients?”

“You want to make one now?”

“Yes. Why not?”

I blinked at him. “You want to bake? In my kitchen?”

“Isn’t that what kitchens are for?”

My brain struggled with the new turn. “You want to make these Danish in my kitchen right now?”

“How hard did the cyclops’s balls hit you in the face?”

My cheeks flared.

He leaned across the table, pinching my chin. “Adorable.”

I smacked his hand away. “Mean.”

“Calling you adorable is mean?”

“Yeah. I don’t do adorable.”

“I see. You are one of those modest men who doesn’t understand their own cuteness.”

“That’s a hundred times worse.”

“It is?”

We weren’t having this conversation. “I don’t have those ingredients. Sorry.”

“Fine. What about the shop downstairs?”

“Maybe. No. I mean… No.”

“No?”

“No Danish today. But thanks for the offer.”

He ran his tongue across his upper teeth. “Another time.”

“Yeah. Great. I think I’ll take a nap.”

Xavier’s aura cooled. “I can’t do this.”

“What?”

“Sit around talking about baking.”

“You brought it up.”

What about being the big spoon again?

Xavier growled, getting to his feet. “Stuffing my face and hiding. This isn’t me.” He paced my kitchen.

He pissed me off. “What’s your problem?”

“ This is my problem. You. This flat. My life.”

“You’ve changed your tune.”

He stopped pacing. “I can’t be here.”

My insides twitched. “Then don’t be. Get the fuck out.”

What happened to the nice vibes? Where did they go?

“Go on, screw us all by handing yourself over to Tanith,” I added.

A hot, measured gaze pinned me to my seat. “Do you think you’re enough to keep me safe?”

I swallowed. “Better than nothing.”

“I can stay hidden.” He stared at me for several long beats, leaving me on the edge of melting under his beauty while wanting to kick him in the jaw at the same time.

Prick.

“I’ve lost my mind,” he said.

“You and me both.”

“I’m sorry for everything.”

Is this really goodbye? “Me too.”

Without another word, he left. The front door opened and closed, the demon gone from my life just like that.

I gasped, more confused than ever, my palms sweaty.

“Fuck…”

Him being gone was a good thing. The madness could now be over.

So why did my throat tighten up like this?

Why did it sting so fucking hard?