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SEVENTEEN

willow

T here was something about knowing I had someone at home waiting for me that made me giddier to leave the shop each day than I ever had before. Maybe that was what made the time pass quicker than it felt like it ever had before.

Damien.

I smiled to myself as I wiped down the counter, eyes focused on the clock, waiting for Eryne to come in for her shift. I’d been cleaning for the last hour, and as soon as she took over, I’d be free.

To head home to my demon, and whatever festive activity we’d choose for tonight. In the last week, we’d watched countless Halloween movies—I had to educate him, after all—as well as tried all my favorite kinds of candy. I was determined to find something he liked. I wasn’t below resorting to black licorice, if that was what it took.

I especially liked it when he’d give up halfway through and pin me to the couch, kissing me roughly with that mouth I’d grown so fond of. Sometimes it felt like he was trying to commit every inch of me to memory, like if he kissed me enough, I would never fade from his thoughts.

Thinking about him leaving—my house, my bed, my life—hurt, so I tried not to. To just appreciate this thing between us, no matter how short-lived it would be.

We hadn’t talked about our feelings, though. Every time he brought it up, I brushed him off. Everything was so good, and I didn’t want to ruin it by talking about the future.

I had to remind myself that no matter how he made me feel—when he was so tender and caring with me—that this wasn’t a relationship.

But October was coming to a close faster than I’d have liked.

So was the month he’d promised me. The town’s big Halloween party was only a few days away.

Our pumpkins we’d carved were now sitting on my front porch, complete with flickering lights I enchanted to never burn out. Sure, I could have used electric LED candles, but where was the fun in that?

Some nights, we would sit on the porch swing outside as the sun set, hardly speaking a word. It was almost like we didn’t need to.

And losing ourselves in each other’s bodies every night… I was pretty sure Damien had turned me into some sort of sex demon, because I couldn’t get enough of him. He’d leave me exhausted, totally boneless, and I would fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I grinned, just thinking about whatever he had planned for me tonight. Even as I taught him human things, I was learning new things about myself too—my preferences. How he could key up my body and turn me on with just the faintest of touches. The whisper of a touch, the brush of his powers against me, or the feeling of his sharp canines brushing against my throat.

I shivered at the thought.

“You look smitten,” Luna murmured as I spun into the kitchen.

“What?” I came to a stop, attempting not to drop my armful of dishes that I’d brought with me, using my free time to tidy up the front of the bakery. Were my cheeks pink? “N-no.” How vehemently could I deny it?

Especially when it was true.

Okay, I was smitten. Too smitten. It was a problem. “I… I like him, okay?” I dropped my shoulders in defeat as I dumped the dirty pitchers and spoons into the sink. “It’s never been like this for me before.”

“And he feels the same way?” Luna asked. I could tell she was skeptical ofDamien—and maybe that was fair. It wasn’t like I’d really told her what was happening between us. Who he was.

“I mean, I haven’t asked him for sure, but I think so.” It felt like he did.

“What are you afraid of?” She probed, and I folded, just like always.

I didn’t want to say it, but I couldn’t stop the words that slipped from my lips. My deepest fears, brought to life. “That he’ll leave. Decide I’m not worth it and walk away.”

“Willow.” Luna’s voice was soft. Reassuring. And yet filled with so much care and compassion, my heart nearly broke at the love pouring out of her. “You don’t even know how amazing you are, do you?”

“You have to say that.” I shook my head. “You’re my little sister.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I mean it. You always take care of everyone but yourself. Even me. It’s time to put yourself first. Besides, if that man really leaves, he’s not who I thought he was, anyway.”

“He’s a demon,” I murmured, turning around and facing the sink.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Turning on the sink, I let the dishes fill up with water before washing them.

When I finally turned back around, Luna rolled her eyes at me. “I’m just saying. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

“Like what?” I was almost too afraid to say it.

“Like you’re his entire world.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.” She pinched my arm. “If you don’t tell that man how you feel about him, I’ll do it myself.”

“ Luna,” I complained, drawing out her name. “It’s still new. I don’t want to ruin it.”

She raised an eyebrow, and I held up my arms. “Fine, fine! I’m going home now.”

Luna raised her fingers, giving me a little wave. “Tell your man I say hello.”

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my stuff, heaving my bag over my shoulder. “Don’t stay too long yourself,” I added. “Goddess knows you could use some time away from this place. You practically live here, I swear.”

She didn’t dignify that with a response.

Waving goodbye to Eryne at the counter on my way out, I headed home.

To the demon waiting for me.

* * *

“Damien!” I shouted, tossing my keys on the front table and my tote bag onto my designated stuff chair. “I’m home!”

Part of me liked being able to say that to someone. Sure, I used to say it to my sister—and to my cat—but now, knowing that the being in this house was mine, even if it was just for now, made me giddy.

“I brought home some of the extra scones Luna made today,” I added, carrying the box into the kitchen. “They’re pumpkin and chocolate chip.” I was watering just thinking about the contents. As if I hadn’t had two this morning.

“What are we doing tonight?” His arms wrapped around my shoulders as he placed a kiss on my temple. “Does this town have any other fun festivities I should know about?”

“Have you ever gone bobbing for apples before?”

Damien looked horrified. “Willow. What?”

I laughed, unable to keep a straight face. “I’m kidding. Though you wouldn’t believe what some of the kids here can do. They’re champs.” I brushed a hair back from my face, grabbing the other bag of supplies I’d brought home with me. “I thought maybe we could make caramel apples and then just watch a movie. There’s a new one on tonight.”

Slowly, I was going to convert him to like my silly Halloween romance movies. I had no idea what he watched before meeting me, but I’d watch them all year long if people let me. We’d already watched Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus, two of my favorites, but I had an entire cabinet full of options.

“Mmm. Sounds good. But I have an idea before that.”

“You do?”

He nodded, taking my hand and guiding me outside to the back patio.

“Is this…” I looked back at him. “Did you do all of this?”

Damien gave me another nod. Not only had he strung a canopy of lights over the backyard, but he’d laid out a blanket—laid out with a complete picnic and a glass of wine. The last rays of sunset showed through the trees, lighting up their orange and yellow leaves. I loved New England in the fall. Truly, even though I could have moved anywhere, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere but here.

“It’s probably not as good as the one at the festival, but…” He pulled the lid off of a dish, exposing a freshly made pumpkin pie.

“Damien…” My eyes watered. “You made me my favorite pie?”

“Of course.” He kissed my forehead as we both settled onto the blanket. “Anything for my little witch.”

“You gotta stop spoiling me,” I murmured, staring up at his chiseled jaw as I settled against him. “Or I’m never going to let you go.”

My admission was too close to the truth, and I promptly shut my mouth. I didn’t want to ruin this moment with that conversation. It could wait.

He gave me a lopsided grin before starting to unveil the rest of the dishes. It must have taken him all day to do this. Damien placed a glass of wine in my hands, and I took a sip, enjoying the flavors as they blossomed on my tongue.

The lighting, the ambiance, it was all simply perfect. He was perfect. How could he be anything but? He’d come into my life in the most unexpected of ways, but he fit so perfectly.

Fit with me so perfectly.

I gave a happy sigh, leaning my head against his shoulder. The aroma of the food wafted towards my nose, and I was suddenly starving. I couldn’t wait to try everything he’d made for us.

“Oh. And one more thing.” He pressed a button, and a low, soothing melody started playing. “Now it really is perfect.”

I shook my head in disbelief. He’d really thought of everything, hadn’t he?

Which led me to the question I’d been asking myself for the last week…

How was I going to let him go?

* * *

“I’m so full,” I bemoaned, talking to the black cat who laid at my feet.

I didn’t know why he still insisted on sleeping in cat form some nights, but part of me didn’t want to complain, either. As much as I preferred falling asleep wrapped in his arms, I enjoyed having his little bundle of weight at my feet.

His little vampire teeth were visible as he laid on his back, all sprawled out in cat form on my bed. One paw was dangling over the edge. Damien in cat form was simply adorable.

Moving my hand to scratch his head, he nuzzled against my palm. I stifled a giggle. “You’re pretty cute like this, you know?”

Damien shifted in a flash, lying on his arm on top of my comforter, his fangs still poking out over his bottom lip. “And what about now, little witch?”

Much like that first night where I’d kicked him off the bed, he’d shifted completely naked. I was wearing my favorite nightgown, which wasn’t particularly sexy. And with him draped on top of my bed like that…

“Damien!” I flushed red, throwing my arm over my face. “You can’t just?—”

Nuzzling his face into my neck, he ran his sharp canines over the sensitive skin of my throat. “Can’t what?”

I wondered what it would feel like if he were to bite me. He didn’t need to drink blood, as far as I was aware. At least, I’d never seen him do it—but did those sharp teeth serve another purpose? Every time they touched my skin, they sent sensations straight to my clit. Like I could explode with one touch.

“Do that .” Not looking, I gestured at his body.

Not that I needed to look at him to know what his body looked like. I’d memorized every line, traced every one of his abs with my tongue. I’d gotten more comfortable with him than I had with any human who I’d ever slept with in the past.

They all paled compared to Damien, anyway. My passionate, caring, thorough lover, who knew exactly how to use his tongue and fingers.

And don’t get me started on when he used his magic on me.

In a flash, he’d moved, pinning me to the bed, his muscular arms positioned over me. “What about now?”

“ Please ,” I moaned, not sure what I was begging for. Him to stop, or him to keep going?

He kissed at my throat, his talented tongue making me squirm within a matter of minutes.

More . I needed him brushing his shadows over my nipples and my clit.

I wondered to what extent he could use his powers—how else he might use those tendrils of darkness on me. Inside of me?—

Damien’s nostrils flared, like he could smell my growing arousal. Sense how wet I was getting, just from his teeth and my lewd thoughts. “What are you thinking about, little witch?”

“Nothing.” I blushed, shaking my head.

He raised an eyebrow. “Willow.” He pressed his hips into mine, and I let out a small moan. “Tell me, baby.”

I shook my head as he started working my nightgown up my hips, exposing my purple underwear covered in ghosts.

He rocked into me, pressing up against that thin fabric, as his lips connected with the pulse point on my neck. Damien’s fangs dragged over the sensitive skin—not enough to pierce it, but to send shudders of pleasure through me. “Tell me,” he murmured, “and I’ll give you what you want.”

“I-I was thinking about how else you could use your shadows.” I knew my cheeks were as pink as ever. “Besides just… you know .”

He chuckled roughly, nibbling on my ear. “Do you want me to fill you up, baby? Stuff you so full of me you can barely breathe?”

“ Yes,” I choked out. “I want that.”

Who was this girl, and what had she done with Willow? I’d never had the courage to ask for what I wanted before. Even if I was still embarrassed. Even if he had to encourage the words.

It was like I’d come to life completely from just his one touch.

And I wanted more, and more, and more.

The question was… would I ever stop wanting him?