Page 7 of Demon Touched (The Demon Syndicate #2)
“Your hands are shaking.” Dex wrapped his wings around them both and it instantly cut the wind. “Are you cold?”
“Yes, but it’s fine.” She wasn’t going to complain about the wing covering her like a blanket though. “You came back.”
He grinned down at her. “I told you I would.”
Nova took a bite of the burrito and leaned her head against his shoulder. With the building against her back, Dex next to her, and his wing over her, she started to relax.
The city sparkled over his wing and she sighed. “I’m glad you brought me here.”
“It’s amazing, right?” he asked, eating his own burrito. “I love coming up here.”
“It’s definitely something to see.” But Nova found herself looking at Dex instead of the view.
“Honestly I didn’t expect you to freak out.” He chuckled. “Not after I saw you jump from building to building like you don’t give a fuck if you die.”
“It’s not the same thing,” she grumbled as she finished her burrito. Dex handed her a water, and she took it gratefully. “Have you ever ridden on the back of a motorcycle?”
He gave her a weird look. “No, why would I?”
Nova shrugged. “Let’s just say the situation called for it. Would you?”
“If you were the one I had to hold on to,” he teased, nudging her with his elbow.
Her hand grabbed his thigh and she gripped him hard as she tried to calm down her sudden anxiety spike. “Please don’t do that up here.”
Dex’s arm went around her waist, and he held on so tight she instantly relaxed into him. “Sorry, you manage your emotions really well. I should have been more careful.”
“I have to,” she murmured. “Emotions cloud judgement and I can’t afford to let that happen as a hunter.”
“Something I can relate to,” he muttered. Dex sighed and rubbed his chin against her hair. “I don’t get attached to anyone.”
“You’re a liar. I saw the way you took care of the wolf girl.”
“A.J.? Yeah, she works for me. Of course I’m going to take care of her.”
She could scent his sincerity, but there was more to it than that. “You’re allowed to care about people.”
“I’m not,” he snapped. “Because people die.”
Nova managed to hide her flinch, but she felt his anger like a slap to the face.
“Okay, then what the fuck is this?” she asked, turning to face him so he had to see her scar. “Is it a mistake?”
His eyes flashed but only for a second. “Yes.”
Nova knew he was right.
This entire relationship – whether it be friends or more – it was a mistake.
No matter how much she liked him, they were standing on opposing sides.
“I can’t stay away from you,” she whispered. “I wish I could.”
Dex flexed his arm and suddenly she was straddling him. The weight of his wings settled against her back, keeping her warm.
“Even knowing it’s a mistake, I can’t give up whatever this is,” he confessed. “But if you told me you never wanted to see me again, I would respect that.”
She stared into his eyes, trying to understand why he felt the same way she did.
Nova traced his slitted eyebrow with her fingertip and didn’t know what to say. “How are you even real?”
“I could ask you the same question.” Dex kissed her neck softly and her eyes fluttered closed.
Her fingers threaded through his hair and she arched her neck to give him better access.
A small rumble came from Dex, and she shivered as the sound went through her. Her grip on his hair tightened and the surprised moan that came out of his mouth…
Nova she stared at him, not sure if she’d actually heard what she’d heard.
Dex smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “Don’t pull my hair if you don’t want that reaction.”
The sudden blush made her cheeks feel hot, but she didn’t let go of him.
Yanking back until his throat was exposed to her, she watched as in shock as his hands spasmed on her waist and a soft moan spilled from his lips.
Nova kissed his neck, his jaw, and then the corner of his mouth. His breathing was harsh, and it made her heart pound so hard it almost hurt.
When she gently released his hair, she kissed him on the mouth to taste him.
She was in so much fucking trouble.
Dex’s tongue was suddenly in her mouth and his hands ran up her spine, pressing her into his chest.
Fuck he tasted so good – his tongue ring teasing her in ways she hadn’t thought were possible.
Then his hand was in her hair and Dex pulled. She arched into him, exposing her throat to ease the pain. It felt so good she could barely think.
Nova bit her lip when she felt his sharp teeth rake across her skin.
“I want you to be mine,” Dex whispered into her ear.
There was a soft growl in his voice that warned her just how close he was to losing control and Nova could feel the possessiveness as if it were his wings against her back.
“For how long?”
“Forever.”
“When my mission is over, I have to leave.”
Dex snarled his displeasure. “I know.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she sighed and held him close. “How is this going to work?”
“Do we have to figure that out right now?”
She pulled back and studied his face. It would be the smart thing to do, but Nova knew their situation would never be simple.
What was she going to do if she decided not to work for the council anymore? Would she live here permanently? For a guy?
It sounded ridiculous, but Nova couldn’t forget her dad’s advice even if she wanted to.
Would it really be so bad to stay here if this was the place where she could find love and happiness?
That wasn’t a question she could answer on her own, so she decided it would be better to do this at Dex’s pace.
“We’ll take it slow,” she murmured. “We don’t have to decide anything yet.”
His hands pressed into her back and his inhale was shaky. “It’s too late.”
Nova’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
“Holding you in my arms is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Dex admitted. “But we can try and take it slow.”
She rested her forehead against his with a sigh.
Dex was right. It was definitely too late to pretend they didn’t already have strong feelings for each other, but they didn’t have to decide what to do about them just yet.
She just hoped her father was right and this happiness wouldn’t slip through her fingers like it always did.