Page 18 of Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3)

NICO

Wafts of orchids and sweet wine strangled Nico’s senses, almost as intense as the throbbing in his cock. It must be Onyx’s scent. Demon pheromones. Nico’s downfall. Fuck. Nico breathed deep, the sound loud to his own ears.

He wanted to smell Onyx forever.

Onyx was beautiful. Nico hadn’t exaggerated when he called him perfect.

His round ass was pink with Nico’s punishment, his skin flushed hot under Nico’s possessive grip.

Onyx looked boneless, like he was at peace, all spread out.

Nico wanted to strip off his shirt and get him naked, see his fully tattooed back, and explore the tattoo of his tail.

Onyx blinked, dark lashes fluttering. His eyes glowed bright blue, turning his flushed cheeks lavender. His hair was soft between Nico’s fingers. He was so pliant right now. So owned. Nico couldn’t believe Onyx let him undo him like this.

After a long moment, Onyx tried to get up and Nico automatically pushed his head down, hand tightening on Onyx’s ass.

Onyx hissed and wiggled his rear. “Hey, I have to move to get you off. Let me up.”

“No.” Nico wasn’t ready to let him go. Not that he could stop Onyx if he really wanted to get away.

The fact that Onyx—an immortal closer to a God than a man—allowed himself to be manhandled was dizzying.

Nico massaged Onyx’s scalp. “Let me take care of you.”

Onyx’s brow furrowed, some of the sharpness returning to his face. “In case the mess staining your pants didn’t clue you in, I’ve been taken care of.”

Nico laughed softly. “Not what I meant, brat. Now stay still. You can get me off in a minute.”

Apparently mollified by the promise, Onyx relaxed, muttering, “Whatever,” as he shut his eyes.

The rosy flush to Onyx’s ass was already fading. The spell Nico used worked better on vampires. Maybe he could tweak it to suit Onyx and prevent his healing from erasing Nico’s mark so quickly. If there was a next time. Onyx might never let him do this again.

Nico rubbed the abused flesh. He flicked one cheek and watched it bounce.

“Umf.” Onyx squirmed.

“Sorry.” He wasn’t really. Nico could play with Onyx for hours. Instead, he summoned a bottle of lotion from the bedroom. It floated toward him, and he grabbed it from the air.

At the sound of the cap clicking, Onyx’s eyelids fluttered open. He craned his neck. “That doesn’t look like lube.”

“It’s not. It’s to soothe your naughty little bottom.”

“Fuck.” Onyx’s face flamed deep crimson, his neck flushing to match, eyes flickering with fire. He shook himself, and the flames went out. “Don’t bother. I’ll be healed completely before I get you off at this rate.”

Nico frowned. “That may be, but I’m taking care of you anyway.”

“Ugh, so kind it’s killing me. Don’t be a bore, and fuck me instead. That lotion will do. Or skip it altogether and stick your dick in me.”

Nico’s heart stuttered. Onyx was such a little shit. He couldn’t let anyone be nice to him. “You’d let me fuck you?”

Onyx propped his head on a hand. “Um, yeah. It wouldn’t exactly be a chore.”

Damn, Nico wanted to. “Not tonight.” He needed more than one night with Onyx and wasn’t above playing dirty to get it.

“You’re no fun.” Onyx pouted, but didn’t say it was now or never, so that had to be good.

This was probably a mistake, but it was too late to go back now. Nico would figure it out. If things got awkward down the road, he’d manage. When Onyx moved on, Nico would have to deal with it.

His chest pinched at the idea of Onyx finding his mate and forgetting about him as he got wrapped up in fated love. But Onyx wasn’t as enamored with mates as the other demons. Maybe Nico didn’t have to worry.

He rubbed lotion into Onyx’s pinkened ass, one cheek, then the other, as the color faded. The demon sighed, eyes falling closed once more.

When he was done, Nico patted Onyx’s bottom one last time. “Good boy.”

Onyx’s eyes flew open. His fire didn’t reignite, but his glare still burned. Nico watched as he struggled to decide how to react. “I’ll be a good boy if you let me suck your cock.”

“Damnation.” Nico dropped his head back. “Yeah, all right. If you insist.”

Onyx wiggled out of Nico’s lap with some difficulty caused by the tight jeans tangling his thighs. He managed to stand and pulled up his pants and underwear, his shirt falling back into place.

Nico hated every stitch of clothing. “What if I want you to suck me naked?”

Onyx’s hands stilled on his pants button. “Too bad.”

It was worth a shot. Nico almost reminded Onyx he wasn’t the one calling the shots, but didn’t want to push too far. Onyx had let go so completely—more so than Nico expected—it was no surprise his prickliness had come rushing back.

Nico cupped his bulge, hand sticky with Onyx’s drying cum, and Onyx’s eyes tracked the motion. “Need me to take it out for you? You’re going to have to get closer to finish what you started.”

Onyx muttered something that sounded suspiciously like fucking asshole, his lips twitching as if he was trying not to smile. He glared for a moment longer before giving in.

Nico hummed in appreciation as Onyx got to his knees, pushing between Nico’s thighs, his slight form fitting in the space as if he were made for Nico.

Onyx met his gaze like a man confident he was about to ruin Nico for anyone else, his conviction splitting Nico’s heart open and laying him bare.

The vibrations of a ringing phone cut through the charged air. Onyx’s smug expression wilted, and his gaze turned distant. All the crackling energy between them seemed to snuff out.

Nico cupped Onyx’s worried face on reflex, stroking his cheek. “Is that your phone?” He’d left his on the kitchen counter.

Onyx pulled away. “Yeah. I don’t have to answer.” The buzzing stopped and started again, and Onyx extracted the phone from his pocket with a frown. “Fucking useless brothers.”

Nico’s cock rapidly deflated, Onyx’s displeasure stealing his complete focus. He didn’t want Onyx blowing him if he wasn’t fully in the mood and enjoying it. “It’s okay if you need to get that.”

“Ugh, fine, but I hate them.” Onyx stood and answered the call, pressing the phone to his ear. “What? I’m in the middle of something.” He winced. “No.” He paced the length of the room, then turned toward the couch. “I didn’t. Dante—I’m busy. Can I call you later?”

Onyx sounded pained, and Nico wanted to wrap his arms around him. He would have if he hadn’t been ninety-nine percent sure Onyx would shove him away.

“Why do you care where I am? No. I’m with Nico.” A pause. “So? What does that matter?” Onyx’s words got tighter and tighter. He was more upset than Nico had ever seen him. There was no playful edge to this fight.

“None of your business,” Onyx snarled into the phone.

“Is that why you called? See, this is why I never pick up.” He listened for a few moments.

“Fine, but I’m not flying all the way to your eyesore of a house.

” Onyx’s gaze cut to Nico, and he lifted the phone away from his ear. “I have to meet them.”

Nico was shocked Onyx bothered telling him anything. He figured Onyx would storm out. “Okay. Uh… Want me to come?”

Onyx chewed his lip. “Can they meet us here?”

Nico’s chest swelled. He’d fully expected Onyx to tell him to mind his own fucking business. He must be really shaken about something. “Let’s meet at The Herb Emporium. I don’t like having people over.”

Onyx nodded as if not wanting people visiting his home was normal. “See you at the apothecary,” he barked into the phone before hanging up. He closed his eyes, and his nostrils flared, breaths audible from across the room.

Nico stood and approached cautiously. “I’m going to change my pants.”

Onyx blinked and glared at him. “You wouldn’t…you’re not…” His gaze fell to the stain on Nico’s crotch. “Don’t tell them what a mess I was.” His cheeks flushed pink, and he didn’t look up.

Nico clasped his shoulder. “I don’t blab about who I fuck around with. Hell, Onyx.”

“That’s not…” He stiffened under Nico’s grip and pulled away. “Don’t tell them I was upset when I showed up here.”

Nico rubbed the back of his neck. Onyx actually admitted he’d been upset? Wow. “I won’t say anything. Not about any of it. Let me change, all right?”

Onyx flopped onto the couch and waved him away.

Nico hurried to his room. He pulled off his ruined jeans and precum-soaked boxer briefs, then grabbed new clothes from the dresser and threw them on.

Onyx didn’t want his brothers knowing he was upset—beyond the anger Onyx directed at them anyway.

Why was anyone’s guess. There was clearly more going on here.

But Onyx had come to Nico when he’d needed someone, even if he wouldn’t admit it to Nico or maybe even himself, and Nico would guard that kernel of Onyx’s trust with everything he had.

Back in the living room, Onyx ran his fingers through his hair. He muttered, “Fuck it,” and with a flash of light, his hair was styled, and the last remnants of tears were wiped from his face.

Onyx rose from the couch. “Come on. I don’t want them beating us there.”

Nico followed Onyx to the front door. “What’s going on?”

Onyx paused, giving Nico a look that said he’d forgotten Nico had no clue what this was about. Was he going to change his mind and tell Nico to stay behind?

“It’s…” Onyx seemed to war with himself, chewing on his bottom lip once more. “It will take too long to explain. You’ll never get it.”

“Try me?” Nico did his best not to sound pleading.

He wanted to help Onyx more than he ever had with anyone. If Onyx pushed him away now, Nico would fight, dammit. He’d said he wasn’t leaving, and he meant it. Especially after Onyx had gone to pieces at the mere mention of Nico being there for him.

“Luc showed up last night out of the blue, but he fucked off pretty quickly.” Onyx turned and opened the door, marching out into the hall.

Nico quickly shut and locked his door. “Lucifer tracked you down?”