Page 30 of Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3)

NICO

A knock on the front door jolted Nico out of his drowsy half-sleep. Thanking his past self for cleaning up before flopping back into bed, he rose and pulled on jeans and a T-shirt.

“Who’s that?” Onyx whined, rolling over and burying his face in the pillows.

Nico’s attention fell to Onyx’s exposed ass.

As disappointed as he was that all evidence of his spanking had healed, he couldn’t complain as he stared at Onyx’s tail. He’d left his demon features out much longer than Nico expected after releasing them unintentionally.

The lavender blush had faded, leaving behind translucent blue skin that seemed to shimmer, and a spiderweb of delicate veins encompassing his tail’s sensitive base.

Nico tore himself away. “I’ll go see who’s here. My guess is the neighbor from across the hall.”

A quick glance in the mirror confirmed he was presentable, and he hurried from the room, shutting the door.

The whole day had a dreamlike quality to it. Nico needed time to think and regain his bearings. At least Onyx hadn’t left. He’d expected the demon to disappear after they’d washed up the second time.

What did him staying mean?

Butterflies swarmed Nico’s insides.

He tamped them down, checked the peephole, and opened the door. “Lucia.” Nico smiled at her and the foil-covered tray she’d brought.

“I figured I’d drop these off before I head out.” Lucia walked in, rounded the entryway corner, and made a beeline for the kitchen, where she set the tray on the counter. “Are you coming to Emilio’s with me tonight?”

“Who’s Emilio?”

Nico whipped around.

Onyx stood in the bedroom doorway, his hair tousled and demon features tucked away. He wore Nico’s clothes—a T-shirt and a pair of shorts—and damn, he looked well fucked. Positively scrumptious. There was no mistaking the ill-fitting outfit for anything other than borrowed.

Insides flaming, Nico became painfully aware that their clothes from earlier were all over the living room. Anyone with eyes would know what they’d been up to.

“Hello!” Lucia’s brows rose, and she clapped her hands in delight. “I’m so sorry for intruding. I guess that’s what I get for walking in like I own the place.” She swatted Nico’s arm. “You should have told me to go away.”

Nico’s face and neck burned. “I’d never send you away. Especially not after you’ve made me dinner.”

Onyx crossed the room and peeked under the foil. “Empanadas? These smell amazing.” He replaced the foil. “I’m Onyx, by the way.”

“Lucia.” She held out her hand, and Onyx shook it.

“Since it seems Nico’s not jumping to explain, Emilio is my son.

I go to his place for dinner every Sunday.

You’re welcome to join us. That might actually get Nico to come along.

We’re trying to suck him into the family,” she added in a stage whisper.

Onyx nodded, playing along. “Well, I won’t stop you. Unless… Emilio isn’t single, is he?”

Nico choked.

“Not at all. Married with kids,” Lucia said proudly. “I’m sure you two have a more exciting evening planned than tagging along with me, so I won’t feel bad if you don’t come.” She beamed at Nico. “I’ll get out of your hair.”

All Nico could do was nod and walk her to the door.

“He is stunning,” Lucia whispered, actually keeping her voice down, and squeezed Nico’s hand. “Hope I see him around more.” With that, she left.

Nico shut the door and pressed his forehead to it.

Onyx cackled. “She thinks I’m stunning. What a wonderful woman.”

Eavesdropping must be another demon trick.

Nico stalked back to the kitchen, where Onyx was eating an empanada. “She’s a good friend, but I didn’t need her knowing I spent the day in bed.”

“And on the couch.” Onyx pointed to their clothes.

“Don’t remind me.”

Onyx’s eyes narrowed. “Why does everyone get so embarrassed by the existence of sex around older people? She knows what’s what.

And don’t forget, I’m somewhere around three and a half thousand years old.

By your logic, you should have been too scandalized to say a quarter of the dirty things you crooned in my ancient ear. ”

“Good point. But I don’t generally share details of my sex life with Lucia, or anyone.”

Onyx’s gleeful expression faded, his face closing off. “Did I fuck up? If you wanted me to stay hidden, you should have said.”

“You didn’t fuck up. No, nothing like that.”

How did Nico explain that he didn’t want Lucia knowing because now she’d be asking about the stunning man named Onyx until the end of time, or until Nico and Onyx announced something official?

Normally, her encouragement didn’t bother Nico, but in this case, he wanted to be Onyx’s partner even more desperately than Lucia wanted to see him in a committed relationship.

It would be so much harder to brush off her questions. So much more heartbreaking to tell her Onyx had moved on.

Unless Nico was Onyx’s mate. Then everything would work out.

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 only way 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 phrase romantic relationship out 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.

Nico deflated in more ways than one. He should ask Onyx to say. He should ask about mates.

But Onyx had already opened up more than Nico expected. He had to be at his limit. Unless this was one of those times Nico was supposed to push. He was usually more sure of the right move.

Dammit. He was nervous in a way he hadn’t been before.

He couldn’t let it stop him. “You don’t have to go. I was hoping you’d stick around and play World’s End or something.”

Onyx ran a hand through his blue hair, combing away the freshly fucked look. “I’m aware I don’t have to go. But I need to round up Dante and Ash to protect this place. Are you okay with them having your address?”

“Sure.” Suddenly, Onyx leaving didn’t feel like it was putting distance between them.

“Good. Otherwise, I’d have to get mad at you.” Onyx threw Nico a sweet, lopsided grin and climbed out the window. “Don’t miss me too much.”

In a flash of blue wings, he was gone.