Page 9 of King’s Obsession (Obsessions #5)
Dougal
Dougal wasn’t going to pinch himself, although it was a close thing. They woke from their nap late in the afternoon, and Asmodeus was still in his arms. When Dougal’s stomach rumbled—they had worked up an appetite after all—Asmodeus zapped up a spread for them, fit for a king.
Yet there were personal touches on the menu as well.
Sun-kissed strawberries, which were Dougal’s secret pleasure, a delicious cucumber and mango salad but made with apple cucumbers, not the regular telegraph ones…
Asmodeus was showing him in more than words that he had paid attention to those little details that never would have imparted in a rush of sexual pleasure, and that they had watched each other for so long.
It was in the same vein Dougal knew when Asmodeus’s tail started twitching, that Asmodeus needed to walk, so after their food, he said, “I usually check on a few things in the afternoon. Did you want to come along?”
He wasn’t holding his breath, except again, it was a close thing. Asmodeus could’ve used his excuse for work as the perfect time for him to return to his own realm.
Asmodeus slowly nodded and then let out a long burp. “I think I’ve eaten too much,” he grumbled as he patted his belly. “There’s something special about eating here.”
“It’s all the fresh air,” Dougal said with a grin.
“Or it could be the company. Come along. Let’s stretch our legs.
” He held out his hand, quietly pleased when Asmodeus took it, letting him pull his mate out of his seat.
Small things, yet each one went a long way to healing the scars caused over centuries.
They had barely gone twenty feet from the cabin when Asmodeus stopped. Dougal glanced at him, seeing the demon peering at the leaves in the canopy above, his head slightly tilted and a puzzled look on his face. “Are those leaves actually clapping us?”
Dougal burst out laughing. “Yes, I think you’ll find they are.
I’ve been with this forest from the start, and over the centuries, the trees—all the living things here, for that matter—are affected by my moods, and me by them.
Your declaration, your acceptance of me, was an acceptance of them.
That thing you did to protect Wanda? It rippled through the entire forest, and of course, the trees are thrilled you want to protect me, too, even though they know I don’t need it. ”
“So that’s how come you could always stay hidden when we played hide and seek? Your trees were spying on me!”
“It’s not like I was cheating. I always let you find me, eventually.” Dougal’s grin wouldn’t leave his face. “The trees thought it was funny, too.”
“Hang on a minute.” Asmodeus tugged on Dougal’s hand, causing him to stop. “Are you telling me that when you had me pushed up against that bark just the other week—on that tree right there—we were being watched by a million leaves?”
“Technically, not a million. A couple of hundred thousand leaves, maybe. The ones over there, for example, couldn’t see, and nor could any of the ones away from our cabin. Keep walking.”
Dougal could tell Asmodeus was slowly connecting dots. “When we were playing hide and seek…”
“Fun times. I’m sure we’ll do it again real soon.” Dougal nodded as they walked.
“Yes. But so, when we were playing hide and seek, the trees were all communicating with you and with each other. They’d have to, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have known where I was all the time.”
“You give off a powerful energy no matter where you go.” Dougal nudged his mate’s arm, happy to be under the trees just walking along.
“I feel that power the moment you come through the portal. And yes, in answer to your question, the trees communicate with each other through the roots in the ground, and the swish of the leaves on the breeze, and they all communicate with me as well.”
“There. Right there. See, I was right then. That has to be a million leaves knowing every time we have sex.”
Dougal thought for a moment and then said with a perfectly straight face, “Actually, it’s two million, four hundred and seventy-two thousand, nine hundred and twenty-four leaves.
And that’s not including the blades of grass, or the ferns, succulents, flowers, or fruits that also grow in this forest.”
They had almost reached the riverbank when Asmodeus said, “In all this time I never realized you were such an exhibitionist.” There was a pause before a deep belly laugh burst out of him, and as Dougal joined in, he figured his mate really didn’t mind.
“The trees always applauded. They think we make a very powerful and passionate couple.” With excellent reason, because it was the truth.
It was after a late supper that Dougal dragged the elephant lurking from the corner of the room into the middle of it.
Asmodeus had enjoyed his time in the forest. They’d made love again, against another tree, to tumultuous leafy applause.
Asmodeus even gave a little bow, and Dougal couldn’t stop laughing.
It was the sort of day Dougal had dreamed they could have—magical.
Except, he couldn’t forget that his mate was the king of the demon realm, and he knew Asmodeus would never forget it either.
He just wasn’t bringing it up, and any time Dougal mentioned the party Asmodeus was going to hold, or anything related to his mate’s life in the other realm, Asmodeus found a way to change the subject.
“So,” he said slowly, tracing his hand down Asmodeus’s chest. They were sprawled across Dougal’s couch. “When do you think it would be a good time for me to go to the demon realm?”
Asmodeus’s muscles went rigid under Dougal’s fingers. “I am hosting a party in your honor. We will go then. I will present you to everyone in my realm.”
“Hmm, I’ve been thinking about that, and while I think the party is a wonderful idea and a great honor, don’t you think it might be helpful for me to visit the realm before the party?
It would help me gain my bearings, you could show me your private quarters…
” he trailed off, hoping Asmodeus would take the hint.
“We could do that.” Asmodeus fidgeted and then settled. “Only then people there would see you before I’ve made my proclamation about you being my blissful one.”
“I think that would be a good thing.” Dougal rolled over onto Asmodeus’s chest, smiling into worried eyes. “I could meet a few people. I don’t imagine for a second that you fill your living space and offices with hundreds of demons.”
Asmodeus shook his head.
“Meeting a small number of demons would give us an indication of how they’re going to respond to my presence in your life. Easier to handle than at a huge party.”
“They will accept you. They will have no choice because I am king.”
“And that’s not a kingly thing to say at all.
” Dougal teased. “People respond better to ideas when they’re introduced to them gradually, at least in my experience.
I’m also someone who likes to know the ins and outs of my surroundings.
The demon realm is going to be a new place for me.
I want to know where the bathrooms are, if your bed is as comfortable as it looks, and if there are places I can go for a quiet five minutes if the party gets too loud.
Maybe find a couple of allies there who won’t object to my presence in your life. ”
“You have three demons who are allies already, as well as the king of the realm firmly on your side.”
“That is all very true, but I’m curious about your realm.
Surely you can understand that. I know you want to keep me safe, and that warms my heart.
But our fear,”—he stroked Asmodeus’s neck—“it’s a shared fear, and I know that.
I can feel that. The only way we can get past it is by facing your realm together.
” Preferably without a thousand demon eyes watching while I get used to the place my mate calls home.
It was as if Asmodeus’s dark eyes were boring into his soul, but Dougal didn’t break their gaze.
He had nothing to hide. Asmodeus needed to learn Dougal could protect himself and watch his mate’s back, all at the same time, and Dougal knew that realization could only come on the demon realm.
Asmodeus had protected his forest already.
“Very well. We will go. I will share my private living space with you, my blissful one.”
“Aww, there’s no need to be so formal about it.” Dougal popped a quick kiss on Asmodeus’s nose. “Let’s do this.”