Page 74 of Demon's Desire

Nico’s heart leapt.

Harper had said Lucifer might think Nico and Onyx were mates if he caught wind of them together. That had to be why Lucifer mentioned him to Onyx. Why else would the Devil notice him? Harper had to be right.

Then why hadn’t Onyx said that when he’d explained?

Fuck, maybe Nico was seeing what he wanted to see. Even with his distrust of the mating bond, he couldn’t help wanting to belong to Onyx. Apparently, he’d throw his scruples to the side for him.

That was terrifying, but after the day they’d shared, doubts were on the back burner. Nico wanted to be Onyx’s fated mate. It had become that simple.

If only wanting made it true. Maybe Onyx hadn’t told Nico that Lucifer believed they were mates because Lucifer was wrong.

“I’m glad I didn’t fuck up.” Onyx finished off the empanada and wiped his hands. “Wouldn’t want to overstep and mess with your friendships. Unless Lucia was setting you up with her son, then there’d be an issue.”

“Oh?” Nico smiled slyly. That hint of possessiveness had to mean something.

“I’d say I don’t share”—Onyx frowned—“but that’s not true. I like to share. Just not with your neighbor’s son.”

Nico bit his lip so he wouldn’t grin like an absolute dork. Was Onyx saying what Nico thought he was saying? “I’m not opposed to sharing either, but why don’t we lay out some boundaries since it seems we’ll be doing this again?”

Onyx went stock-still, his eyes flickering as his face reddened. “Doing this again? What makes you think I’m still interested?”

Oh, please. It was like Onyx couldn’t help trying to hide his feelings even when he’d already given them away. “You’re staking your claim. That’s why you came out here, and why you keep asking about Emilio.”

Onyx lifted his chin and made a sniffing sound. “Is that so? Guess I’m more transparent than air.”

Nico would have laughed if he hadn’t been tamping down dangerous levels of excitement. “Don’t feel bad. Nothing gets by me.”

Onyx grumbled unintelligibly.

A laugh slipped out, and Nico cleared his throat. “I’ve got no issue with you claiming me, or that you like to share. I can be non-monogamous.”

“Really?” Onyx’s brow creased. “If Lucia had set you up with her son, would you have expected to be exclusive with him?”

An odd question. Nico scratched his chin. “It’s irrelevant since we were never set up, and I was never interested. But how about I answer what you’re really asking,hmm?”

Onyx glared but didn’t object.

“I’ve had monogamous relationships, but that’s not the onlyway I operate, and being non-monogamous doesn’t mean I’m any less serious about someone.”

Onyx took a small step forward, seemingly without realizing, his glare losing its intensity. “Do you have a preference?”

Nico’s chest swelled. Onyx was finally comfortable being direct. “I prefer having a romantic relationship with one person, and exploring sexual relationships with others, usually together as a couple, but not always. How about you?”

Onyx stilled as if stunned. Or perhaps spooked.

Was letting the phraseromantic relationshipout into the open too much? Nico might be pushing his luck, but Onyx had started it. He couldn’t act like he cared who Nico was involved with and then run from this conversation.

But he didn’t run.

Onyx planted his hands on his hips and his eyes raked over Nico as if inspecting him for the first time. “My preferences seem to align with yours. So, while we’re doing this, there’s no one else unless we’re in it together or discuss it beforehand.”

“Sounds perfect to me.” Hope surged through Nico. Everything seemed to fit as if they were made for each other. Could this be a sign that they were mates?

In one fluid motion, Onyx stripped off his borrowed T-shirt.

Nico’s cock came to attention like it had never been touched in his life. “What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving.” Onyx dropped the borrowed shorts, picked up his discarded underwear, and put them on, followed by his pants.