Page 22 of How Not to Charm Your Human Colleague (Falling for Demons #2)

She was still mentally forming a list of tasks when they pulled up to Perennial Bloom. In silence, Kiz helped her into the shop, locking up behind them. He didn’t offer to carry her up the stairs, but he did hover behind as she took each slow step to the apartment.

Kizros set their purchases down on the living room table, then started to putter—reorganizing the throw pillows, shifting the vase of flowers, dusting invisible lint off the back of the couch. Delaying. Leaving her with her thoughts spiraling.

Sensing the inevitable, Attie whimpered and trotted into Aofe’s room.

Traitor .

Then she steeled herself. “Kiz.”

He stuttered a step but didn’t turn to face her. “Hmm?”

“Are you mad at me? ”

Kizros’s tail flicked, barely missing the vase as he spun to face her. “What?”

“You were looking forward to tonight, so I was trying to make it through, and then that demon… I made you leave?—”

She fiddled with her crutches, finally noticing that in the fall, the vines he’d braided over the wood had been trampled. Or, perhaps, he was the reason the flowers were wilting so soon.

Aofe hadn’t meant to cry, but that was a tear slipping down her cheek, and then another. A sob broke from her chest, and then she didn’t know how to stop any of it.

“Please, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin everything.

I’ll pay for tonight”—she still didn’t know how, or if she even had money to spend in this realm—“and work any extra hours to make up for it. Whatever you need, I’ll do it, just please don’t ignore me.

I promise, I won’t inconvenience you again, Uncle. ”

It was only as she hiccuped that she realized the slip, but it didn’t matter.

Suddenly Kizros was there, sweeping her into his arms. There was a gentle sway, and then he was sitting on the couch with her cradled to his body.

Another warmth wrapped around her, and Aofe was so desperate for his touch that she buried herself deeper into his embrace.

“Aofe. Aofe,” he whispered into her hair, his hand stroking over her neck. “Shh, nothing is ruined. You did nothing wrong, sunshine. Nothing at all. I’m not mad at you.”

The weight at her waist tightened, and she distantly registered that the extra limb holding her was actually his tail.

“I’m so sorry I made you feel this way. I wasn’t trying to ignore you, I swear. I was mad at myself.”

She sniffled, shaking her head against him to say she didn’t understand.

Kizros’s palm moved up her nape, tangling in her hair.

“I hate violence, but when I saw what that kid did to you… Aofe, I was so angry, I would have snapped off his horn. Maybe worse. I would have fought for you despite my morals. I was blinded by that rage, and it wasn’t until you shouted at me, couldn’t look at me…

you were afraid. I promised you that you would be safe with me, and I broke that promise. ”

Cheeks wet, Aofe leaned up so she could see the demon holding her.

His head turned away, but with gentle fingers, she guided his face back to her gaze.

“Kiz. Afraid for you, not of you. I’ve never…

” Her lip wobbled, but she swallowed the burn in her throat.

“I’ve never had someone stand up for me like that, but I don’t want or need someone to fight for me.

I just want someone to be with me. I want you to be with me, as you are.

The demon who braids flowers and turns them the color of my hair, who uses his tail to pick up my crutches, and the only one who gives me sunshine. ”

He blushed, cupping her jaw. “I just wanted to show you that there was more to Heck than work, this shop, and—” He cut himself off, shaking his head.

“But I should have asked what you wanted. What you were feeling up to. I never want you to feel pressured just because you think I’m going to be inconvenienced, Aofe. ”

“I know that, but I also like working, and this shop. I should have said something, but in the past…”

Her aunt’s glare cut into her mind, Uncle Eddie’s vitriolic words echoing between her ears. Loud enough she forgot her own promises to herself.

Kizros, however, didn’t. His thumb swiped away the wetness under her eye.

“They don’t get any more of you, not ever.

You get to live on your terms, now.” The words she’d given him about his family, now turned back on her.

“You said you weren’t afraid to go after what you wanted, but that goes for the rest as well.

I like doing things with you, Aofe, but I’m also perfectly content to stay here, especially if you’re hurting.

I just like spending time with you. But if you need a break?—”

“No,” she blurted, almost too quickly. She swallowed, leaning into his palms. “No, please stay.”

His shoulders loosened as he smiled, dipping his chin. “I’m here, sunshine. What do you need tonight?”

“I’m already going to be sore.” Aofe smiled, the necklace at her chest warming. “Want to help me at least be a good kind of sore?”

He was already standing, cradling her gently with his arms and tail. “What in the blazes are we still doing out here?”