Page 9

POE

I wake to a screeching cat batting at my face. “What’s wrong, sweetie pie?” I hold Creamsicle up to keep her from swatting at me again. Which is when I hear the noises coming from Beau’s room. The flutter of wings, then the screams. The cries. My heart twists as I push to my feet. Beau’s having another nightmare and I hope I can help him.

He’s stuck in the same shifting between human and bat as before. Every time he shifts to his human form, he thumps so hard on the ground or the bed.

“Beau!” I grab the stuffed bat from the bed and the small blanket Sparkle told me to hang somewhere secure and hold them both in the air. “Beau, sweetheart, you’re having a bad bad dream. Can you come to me? I have a nice blanket to wrap you up in. I have Berry.”

Beau screeches and flies right at me, and it takes everything in me not to flinch. Those talons look sharp.

He latches onto the stuffed bat and cries.

“I know. You had a long day. Let’s get some rest.” I walk us both back to my bedroom with me clutching the stuffed bat to my chest. Creamsicle meorrros next to me, but careful not to trip us up. She’s as concerned as I am. “We’ll help him. He needs to know he’s safe.” I kiss the top of Beau’s tiny bat head. “You’re safe here with me and I’ll make sure Hex is even safer.” I don’t know if that’s even a thing, but I’ll do my best.

I settle on the bed and lay back with Beau and the stuffed bat in my arms. Creamsicle hops on the bed and nuzzles into my side with her paw on my arm, claiming me and Beau, no doubt.

Beau’s breathing calms and he falls asleep quickly in my arms. My eyelids close even though I want to watch him.

My alarm hasn't gone off yet, but I’m wide awake. In the night, Beau shifted to his human form. His weight feels right in my arms, especially with Creamsicle softly snoring next to me. I can help Beau. I know it. And if not, I know several therapists he can talk to. Actually, that's not a bad idea. Many of my crossroads demons have talked to a therapist.

I know sometimes I wasn't the best person for them to look up to, but I always did what I could.

I punished who needed to be punished, but not so harshly it destroyed their lives. Not one of my demons has died under my watch.

Beau sighs in his sleep, he looks so sweet and content. He moans and ruts against me. My arms go stiff. What the fuck do I do? He adjusts in his sleep and he's nestled against my neck, his breath tickling the hair there, and I swallow back a moan. My throat is sensitive, and it's been centuries since I've last slept with anyone. He straddles my thigh in his sleep and humps my leg as he clutches me tighter.

I stare at the ceiling. If he wakes himself up, he's going to be so embarrassed, I bet. But fuck, the little grunts and moans make me hard.

"Beau," I croak out. "Sweetheart, it's—" My alarm blares from the nightstand and Beau startles awake, pushing away from me.

His heart pounds and he sucks in breaths as he looks around.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask.

"What happened?" He swipes a hand through his hair and his eyes go wide when he notices my erection trapped in my sweatpants. He probably notices the trail of pre-cum as well.

"You had a nightmare, and I brought you in here to sleep. I think you slept pretty well, even Creamsicle was impressed." I scratch under her chin when she comes to lick my nose.

Beau nods and pulls his knees to his chest. "Sorry. Sparkle says sometimes I have nightmares and I find him in his cat form in my bed comforting me."

"That's very sweet of him."

Beau's face flushes a pretty shade of pink, and he waves towards me. "Sorry for... uh. Humping you. At least I think I did. I was dreaming about something wonderful and sometimes apparently I act out my dreams."

I bite back a grin. "You can hump me anytime."

"Fucking hell, Poe!" he laughs and buries his face in his hands. His skin turns even darker.

"Darling, no one's touched me since before I got cursed." Mostly my own choice, but also everyone knows why I was cursed and don't want to have anything to do with me. I've also not been looking for partners. So many think all demons are horn dogs, and that's not the case with me.

"Well, I didn't mean to and I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. Hungry? Have you messaged Sparkle about coming over today? I need to eat breakfast, then I'll need to head out."

"Sparkle said he'd love to come snoop around your house."

I snort. "That sounds exactly like Sparkle."

"Sparkle is definitely going to snoop if he comes over."

"I'm prepared for that. He's going to be disappointed because I have nothing interesting to snoop for."

"I'm sure he'll find something interesting to him."

I swing around to the side of the bed and stand, forgetting I have morning wood at full attention. It seems to capture Beau's gaze before he snaps his eyes away.

"Sorry," he mumbles as he slides off the bed.

"I'm okay with you looking, sweetie." I'd be okay if he wanted to experiment while he's here.

"It's rude. At least according to Edward."

"What do you mean, rude?" My teeth grind. "So help me if that man was homophobic."

"What? No. No. He didn't care, but he did say it's rude to stare openly at people, especially if I thought they were good looking. And... so... I figured opening staring at your dick is probably rude too." He grins up at me and bites his bottom lip. "Sorry."

I snort and lean over to pet Creamsicle's head. "It's fine. How about you get dressed and meet me for breakfast, then I'll grab Sparkle and the two of you can snoop away the day."

Beau nods and pads out of the room, and I watch his cute butt as he walks away.

“Sorry!” I call out.

He peeks back around the door. "For what?" His brows scrunch and I can't hide my smile.

“For watching your butt as you walked away.”

That makes him laugh, and the sound makes my soul so happy.