Page 12 of How Not to Charm Your Human Colleague (Falling for Demons #2)

His tail was still curled around her waist, holding her weight but tightening ever so slightly to keep her from tilting her hips forward.

As much as he wanted to feel her small body press against his, as much as he wanted to be that warmth and shield for her, he had no intention of ruining this moment by showing her exactly how far he’d fantasized taking a kiss.

Kizros’s eyes dipped, catching a glimpse of her pink tongue slipping over her lower lip.

He was meant to be explaining how he liked to be kissed, but what if he just… showed her instead? It would be much faster, and from the way her skin flushed and her breathing sped up as he drew closer, he didn’t think she remembered her initial request.

His nose brushed hers, soft like her hand still cradling his face. He tilted his chin? —

“Hellooo!” came the sing-song voice over the shop’s tinkling bell.

Kizros groaned, pressing his forehead against Aofe’s as she snorted.

“Glad one of us finds this funny,” he grumbled, then tapped the ring between her nostrils, dragging his finger down to her pillowy lips. “This is not over.”

“Anyone here?” came the voice again, and Kizros rolled his eyes as he pushed away from his tiny human to attend to the customer, thanking all the gods that the surprise had interrupted the blood flow elsewhere.

But when he weaved out of the aisles, he stopped short. “Brioni.”

The red-haired human stood just inside the door, twisting her hips back and forth as her skirt danced around her knees. She whipped her head away from the counter to where he’d appeared from the back, her smile growing wider.

“Kizros!” she cheered, bouncing on her toes as he strolled past. She gave a little finger wiggle toward Tim. “And hello, cutie.”

Tim vibrated a vial off the shelf, but luckily Aofe turned the corner in time to catch it and tuck it back in place.

“Aofe!” Brioni nearly screeched, and if Tim hadn’t knocked the potion off the shelf, then Brioni’s excited jump would have. “You’re feeling better! Oh, Kizros was telling me you were feeling sick when I came by the other day, but I’m so glad to see you up and moving around.”

Aofe blinked, glancing between Kizros and the woman. “Uh, yeah. Feeling better. Brioni, I think I heard?”

“Oh, yes, sorry, forgot I only introduced myself to the green guy. Call me Bri,” she said.

Aofe snorted, then gave Kizros a once-over. “The green guy, huh?”

Kizros shrugged, leaning against the counter to watch the two humans.

“Anyway,” Brioni said. “I would love to stay and chat, but this is my last stop and I’ve been on my feet all day. Kizros told me to stop by to pick up the contraceptive and other medicines for the humans.”

He nearly smacked himself in the forehead.

“Did he, now?” Aofe hummed, then gave him a look that had him squirming.

Kiss-blocked by his own damn scheduling.

Brioni looked at him, then Aofe, back to him, and finally said, “You two are so weird. I love it.” She waggled her brows at Aofe. “Very friendly.”

Kizros didn’t understand what she meant by that. He was friendly with everyone, especially customers and humans who worked with him. That Kizros-special charm.

He reached behind the counter for the bag that he’d luckily had the forethought to pack while Aofe was out in the sunshine. “Here you go, Bri. Aofe has everything labeled so there shouldn’t be any issues. And…” He cleared his throat. “I guess it tastes good, too? ”

Aofe raised a brow at him, but thankfully didn’t say anything as he passed the bag to Bri.

“Ugh, this is a lifesaver, Aofe. You have no idea. Well, you do, because you were the only one of us who thought to have this. The only one smart enough to make it, too!”

“It’s not a big deal,” Aofe said, dipping her chin as a soft pink rose to her cheeks. Her fingers curled around her necklace, and he felt a surge of possessiveness that she sought comfort in something he’d gifted her.

“It is a big deal,” Kizros interjected, frowning down at her. “You worked hard on this, made sure it was perfect so that you and the other humans could be more comfortable. That’s not nothing, Aofe.”

She blinked her bright blue eyes up at him, and now he really hated himself for how he wanted to scoop her up and tell her repeatedly how smart and thoughtful she was. Preferably while kissing each freckle across her nose and cheeks. Maybe elsewhere.

Bri cleared her throat, but he continued to stare that truth at Aofe, hoping she’d understand. And maybe she did, because the nervous fidgeting of her fingers settled.

“ Very friendly.” Brioni laughed, turning toward the door, then immediately swung back around. “Oh! Almost forgot, this is for you.”

She shoved a letter at Kizros, then gave a dramatic wave as if she were saying goodbye to the entire shop. “I’ll tell the girls to come visit! Bye, Tim.”

The bell chimed, indicating the human had left, but Kizros was too busy staring at the letter to confirm. He slid a claw under the seal, swallowing his nerves, then unfolded the parchment.

“Kiz? Everything okay?” Aofe asked, blue hovering in his peripheral.

He grunted, realizing that his luck had finally run out. Cold seeped through his limbs, and if he’d been blessed with spikes or armor, they’d be fortifying. Slowly and methodically, he braced himself from the inside.

Kizros folded the paper back up but couldn’t muster more than a half smile as he looked at Aofe.

Human Aofe. Sweet, sunshine Aofe.

Not his Aofe.

“My parents have requested we join for family dinner.”