Page 8 of Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3)

NICO

Was inviting Onyx to poker night a mistake? Probably. It was too late to do anything about it now.

Nico wished he could say he didn’t know why he’d done it, but that wasn’t true. Onyx had pushed him away and then gotten mad when he’d left him alone. Onyx clearly wanted to be involved despite all his proclamations to the contrary.

Was it a test or something deeper? Nico needed to figure it out. Onyx had been on his mind all week. If Nico didn’t know better, he’d almost believe his incessant thoughts had summoned Onyx to his apothecary shop.

Nico arrived at Rowan’s club and found Onyx sitting at the foot of the center stage, sliding money into a dancer’s thong.

The demon looked downright gleeful, smiling smugly, eyes bright.

Another dancer, wearing a tiny blue outfit that matched Onyx’s dyed locks almost perfectly, sat on the arm of his chair, playing with his hair.

Onyx seemed to bask in the attention.

Nico strode over, hands in his pockets. “Enjoying yourself?”

Onyx spared him a darting glance before refocusing on the woman on the stage. “Is it a crime?”

“Certainly not.” Nico grinned.

It was early in the evening, and the club wasn’t busy. The dancer performing ignored the few other men hanging around in favor of Onyx. He threw money at the stage, and Nico caught sight of more than one twenty-dollar bill.

A woman with bright pink hair approached. “Are you two together? Pull up a chair, handsome.” She batted thick lashes at Nico.

“We aren’t together.” Onyx slipped more money into the performer’s thong. “At least not like that. I don’t even know if he’s gay.”

She probably hadn’t meant it like that, but okay.

“Either way, want a dance?” the pink-haired woman asked Nico.

“I’m actually here to drag my friend away.”

She pouted, and Onyx beckoned her closer. She leaned forward, and he slipped money into her top. Beaming, she blew him a kiss.

“You’re here to see Rowan, aren’t you?” asked the woman in blue, eyes sweeping over Nico. “Thought you looked familiar.”

“Yeah. You’ve probably seen me around.”

Not everyone who worked in the strip club knew about the magic world, and a quick, silent spell looking for any signs of magic showed both women were human.

“I’ll be back another time,” Onyx promised them. “Especially since no one I’m here to see holds a candle to any of you gorgeous girls.”

The women giggled.

Onyx stood and brushed back his hair. “Lead the way.”

Nico showed Onyx to the stairs. “Was that you asking if I’m gay?” He hadn’t known how Onyx identified, and couldn’t help the spark that had ignited at the confirmation that Onyx wasn’t straight.

Onyx’s eyes went wide. “No, I wasn’t asking or making any assumptions. I only mentioned it when I arrived so the girls knew they could give me as much attention as they liked without worrying I’d get inappropriate.”

“I think tipping with twenties was getting you more attention than anything else.”

“That too.” Onyx didn’t sound bothered.

As they reached the first landing, Nico found himself saying, “I’m bisexual.”

“Noted.” Onyx proceeded upward. When Nico didn’t immediately follow, he paused. “We aren’t playing poker in the strip club, are we?”

Nico had stopped outside the club’s second story, which housed the men’s stage. “No, we’re playing in the casino.”

A funny sensation spread within him, almost as if he’d anticipated something changing now that everyone’s sexual orientation was out in the open. Nico shook it off and continued up the stairs, but that little spark inside him remained.

Onyx matched his pace. “Good. I’d be distracted otherwise. Seems rude not to give the dancers the attention they deserve.”

Clearly, confirmation that Nico liked men wasn’t of any particular interest to Onyx. Nico bit back a misplaced swell of frustration. It didn’t matter.

Except apparently, it did. Possibilities opened in Nico’s mind, and he tried to ignore them.

At the next landing, Nico nodded to the vampires guarding the casino door. Their gazes lingered on Onyx, but he either didn’t notice or did a good job of pretending he didn’t.

“Good luck,” the man on the right said as he opened the door.

“Thanks, Jack.” Nico led the way inside, the demon at his heel. “Would you like a drink?”

“No.” Onyx wrinkled his nose. He was cute all scrunched up like that.

It wasn’t as if Nico hadn’t noticed Onyx’s attractiveness before—far from it—but now he wanted to do something about that attraction. Nico’s insides fluttered. Damnation, it was like he couldn’t stop his train of thought now that it had started.

“You sure you don’t want anything?” He had to say something other than what was going through his mind. “There are non-alcoholic beverages too.”

Onyx took in the casino with an assessing eye. “I figured as much.”

“Do you not drink?” He’d bypassed refreshments at lunch and the meeting with Rowan.

Onyx’s sharp gaze finally landed on Nico. “Only blood.”

A shiver wound down Nico’s spine, his heart rate picking up. He tilted his head, cracking his neck to ward off the pleasurable sensation. Fuck.

Onyx laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not after your life force. I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself.”

“Of course you are.” Nico was suddenly hot in the cool casino. “I’m going to grab something. Have a look around and I’ll show you to the private room after.”

Onyx didn’t hesitate to wander off, and Nico stalked to the bar and ordered a bourbon.

He wasn’t usually into blood or biting, and couldn’t even blame his reaction on curiosity. Being friends with vampires his whole adult life, it had been inevitable that he’d let a partner or two bite him during sex. He’d enjoyed it well enough. But he’d never craved anyone’s bite.

Onyx’s fangs piercing his flesh was another story. A second shiver raced through him. Onyx was beautiful and very much Nico’s type. Even remembering Onyx’s terrifying glowing face from the night they met didn’t make his bite less appealing. Onyx’s fury was as intriguing as the rest of him.

Did his and Onyx’s tastes align?

Just because Onyx acted like a brat didn’t mean he wanted to be disciplined.

He probably had no interest in Nico hauling him over his knee and spanking his ass until it turned red.

Right? But if he did…and if Onyx was good for Nico, he could reward Onyx with a taste of his blood, among other things.

Nico cleared his throat and braced against the bar.

He had to stop. It wasn’t a good idea to find out what Onyx was into. Nico didn’t want any drama, and Onyx seemed ripe for it.

Nico planned to be present in Harper and Ollie’s lives as long as they allowed—even after everything settled down—therefore, he’d be in the demons’ lives.

Hooking up with Onyx even once would complicate his long-term relationship with the group, and it wasn’t smart to get involved with someone who was waiting for a fated mate.

Sounded like a recipe for heartbreak.

Nico wasn’t Onyx’s mate and didn’t want to be. He’d never been interested in immortality and had no desire to be bound to anyone.

Nico hoped to find a partner to share his life with long term, whether exclusively or more openly, in a relationship that included others. There was no reason to get attached to a demon who was destined to be part of a perfect pair when Nico wasn’t the other half of the equation.

Scooping up his drink, Nico left the bar and found Onyx at a slot machine.

“The strip club was more fun,” the demon complained.

Nico suppressed a smile. No doubt, Onyx could whine about anything. It shouldn’t be charming, but it was.

“Come on.”

A hallway lined with private rooms was situated at the back of the casino. High-stakes games, and ones where players wagered magical items and favors rather than money, were tucked away from prying eyes, though tonight wasn’t anything like that.

In the last room on the left, Leo—one of the casino bartenders and a good friend of Nico’s—waited with an air of excitement. Nico had texted to say he was bringing Onyx, and Leo must have come early to get a look at him before everyone else arrived.

“Glad you made it.” Leo pulled Nico into a one-armed hug. “Who’s this?”

Onyx braced a hand on his hip. “You mean my reputation doesn’t precede me?”

“Okay, you got me.” Leo raised his hands, palms out. He had pale skin and short brown hair, and was about Onyx’s height. “You must be the demon, Onyx. I’m Leonardo Valero, but you can call me Leo.”

“Pleasure.” Onyx extended a hand, and Leo shook it.

Leo’s eyes swept over Onyx. “I can’t detect your magic at all. It’s amazing.”

“Most things about me are.”

Nico hid a snort of laughter with a sip of his drink. Not well enough, going by the glare Onyx shot him. Nico smiled wider.

Leo ignored Nico’s amusement. “Can all demons hide their magic?”

Onyx raised a brow. “Are you fishing for information?”

Leo’s smile fell. It was more likely he was trying to show friendly interest.

But Onyx didn’t wait for a response. “I already told your boss that suppression is a demon trick. So no reason to pretend we can’t all do it.”

Leo brightened. “It makes it nearly impossible for anyone to spot you.”

Onyx hummed in agreement. “Unless we want you to.”

Leo laughed. “Right.” He turned his attention to Nico. “You weren’t online on Sunday.”

“Sorry.” Nico rubbed the back of his neck. He’d been too busy cleaning his apartment to log in and play World’s End.

He still had no idea who’d broken in. Nothing had been taken, or at least nothing noticeable, and they’d left no trace of magic behind. It seemed unlikely that any of the favors he’d done recently could have led to bad blood. All the requests had been low-key.

There was no point worrying Leo about it. “I got caught up with the neighbor. Hope you didn’t miss me.”

“We always miss you, but we did all right, so maybe we don’t actually need you.”

Nico shoved Leo’s shoulder and rolled his eyes. Leo grinned.

Onyx’s assessing gaze jumped between them.

“Do you play World’s End?” Leo asked.