Page 47 of Demon's Desire

Tension returned with a sharp snap. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

Nico’s hand tightened. “Then look at me, tell me you want to go home.”

He must know Onyx was lying. Why did Nico have to make him admit it? Could he sense that Onyx was even needier now than he’d been when he’d shown up outside his window?

The damn witch could give Onyx what he wanted, if he knew so much. But he wasn’t. He was making Onyx earn it.

It was enough to get Onyx to turn around.

But that left Onyx chest to chest with Nico. He craned his neck and met Nico’s eyes, finding soft understanding written all over his face. Fuck. Onyx choked on his next breath. Nico was easier to deal with when he was pissed off and playing along.

“I should have left you at home.”

Nico’s lips quirked. “But you didn’t.”

No, he’d been foolish. Nico was like an emotional support blanket, a beautiful and understanding presence that Onyx suddenly didn’t want to live without. One little spanking and Onyx was hooked.

The stress of seeing Luc was obviously too much for him.

Onyx bared his teeth. “Didn’t anyone tell you that I’m impulsive and make silly choices? Bringing you here was nothing but a whim. Don’t read into it.”

Nico’s brow furrowed. “I can’t imagine you making silly choices, and I doubt you could have founded your gallery on impulse.”

“I wasn’t talking about the gallery, I was talking about you, and all the other dumb shit I do in my life.”

“I don’t believe you.” Nico cupped the back of Onyx’s neck, fingers threading through his hair.

Onyx fought not to melt into the touch. “Ugh. It’s not like you know me better than I know myself.”

“Maybe not, but describing yourself as impulsive and silly sounds like someone else’s words. You don’t really think that.” Nico’s stare sharpened. “You shouldn’t.”

Onyx rolled his eyes even as his chest fluttered and stomach flipped. “Stop with the motivational crap. It’s gross.”

Nico laughed, hand tightening in Onyx’s hair. “Gross or not, you’re relaxed now. Aren’t you?”

“No,” Onyx snapped. But he was. His body had gone lax, and his raging internal fire was all but snuffed out. He was still mad at Ash and Dante, but whenwasn’t he?

“My mistake.” Nico’s eyes shone, and Onyx suspected he was laughing at him. “In that case, would you like help relaxing?”

Onyx would love it, especially if it involved Nico’s cock inside him. But he shook his head. Nico was too smug about all this. He acted like he had Onyx all figured out.

“No?” Nico teased, and Onyx’s fire sparked at his sheer nerve. “Then tell me you want to go home.”

Fuck, back to that? Damn him. Onyx pulled away, but not far enough for Nico to have to let go. “Why are you like this?”

“Like what?” Nico pulled Onyx close again. “You mean, why do I call you on your shit? Because you don’t want to go anywhere and you need to learn that it’s okay to admit it.”

It wasn’t okay, though. Onyx was sick of hoping people would like him as much as he liked them. He was sick of staying only to find out he shouldn’t have bothered.

Onyx pulled free of Nico’s hold. “That’s not a lesson I need to learn. Spanking me once doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do. You don’t know anything about me.”

Nico shoved his hands in his pockets, and Onyx was disappointed he hadn’t pulled him back into his possessive embrace. “I know a little about you, but you’re right. I don’t know you well. Yet.”

“You say that like learning more is a given. I might never want to talk to you again.”

Nico nodded. “Maybe not, but you still haven’t left.”

Onyx was making a fool of himself. All his quips were hollow, and Nico knew it. Dammit, Onyx couldn’t have Nico thinking he wanted to spend time with him. That would give him the upper hand and the power to hurt Onyx when he changed his mind.