Page 24 of Demon's Desire

My fucking pleasure.

Onyx’s power flared, electrifying the air, but it didn’t scare Nico like it had on the rooftop. Onyx was so full of emotion, itwas beautiful, enticing, practically pulling Nico into his orbit. Onyx’s dark lashes framed his glowing gaze, and Nico wondered how they’d look fanned out on his cheeks.

What would Onyx look like when he let his emotions fly without the barrier of his indignation?

“Why does talking about mates bother you so much?”

Onyx clenched his fists, fire sparking, voice barely audible as he spat, “Because I don’t need one.”

Was that true? Was a mate not what Onyx wanted? The way he said it was different than his other protests, suggesting he didn’t always want to be challenged.

Nico raised his hands in surrender. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Onyx’s cheeks flushed, fire dimming, the blue that remained transforming his blush from pink to lavender.

Had Nico guessed right? He wanted to prove he could recognize when Onyx was goading versus setting an actual boundary. “Yeah, I hear you. You aren’t interested in mates the way other demons are. If talking about it bothers you, I won’t bring it up.”

Onyx’s fire went out, but he covered his apparent surprise with a sneer. “Damnation, you always have to be soreasonable.”

Nico scratched the stubble lining his chin. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Onyx made a frustrated gesture with his hand. “It’s annoying.”

Yeah, he’d read Onyx correctly. “So it’s annoying when I don’t understand and say things that bother you, but also annoying when I try not to?”

“Yes, keep up. You’re insufferable no matter what you do.”

Nico bit back a smile and dammit if Onyx didn’t too. “You like that I’m annoying.”

Onyx looked comically horrified. “Eww, no, I don’t. I like when youleave me alone.”

“Liar,” Nico teased, and Onyx actually grinned, anger seemingly forgotten.

Then his face closed off, fury snapping back into place. “Whatever. I’m going back downstairs.” Where he could get the uncomplicated attention from humans he apparently preferred.

Nico hoped Onyx enjoyed showering the dancers with money as much as he seemed to. “All right, I need to speak to Rowan.”

Onyx turned up his nose. “I don’t care. I wasn’t asking you to join me.” And with that, he left.

Nico scrubbed a hand over his face. He was sure Onyx wanted him to follow. In fact, saying he wasn’t inviting Nico was practically a formal invitation, at least based on everything Nico had seen of the demon.

But why did Nicowantto follow? He wasn’t trying to win Onyx over. He didn’t need to be on good terms with him in order to look out for Harper and Ollie, and Onyx wasn’t exactly helping spread the word about demons or manage the fallout.

That didn’t stop Nico from wanting to get through to Onyx and break down his walls. Nico wanted to show Onyx he didn’t have to push him away. He wanted… Nico wasn’t sure. To make Onyx smile. To feel that crackle between them. That excitement.

Onyx’s retreating form pulled on Nico like a magnet. Being around him was oddly enticing. Nico wanted Onyx despite it being a bad idea.

He craved the challenge Onyx presented. Nico was sure he could teach the imp a lesson, get to the bottom of what the demon really needed, and that both he and Onyx would more than enjoy the process.

But that wasn’t his priority right now. Nico hurried back to the private room.

7

ONYX

Onyx founda new seat at the foot of the stage. A different woman was performing, and more people had crowded into the club. The energy coursing through the room was high, music thumping, but Onyx wasn’t feeling it like he had been earlier.

A server appeared at his side almost instantly. “Can I get you a drink, darling?”