Page 17 of Claiming a Demon

He sat uneasily on the edge of the bed, his expression pensive. Stepping up to him, I put my hand on his head to give him a little comfort.

“This doesn’t mean anything, Mal. I know we’re just friends. You said I’m good at distracting you, so I want to help. If you’re really uncomfortable, you don’t have to–”

Lifting his head, he studied me. “I’m not. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

Smiling softly, I tugged at his shirt. I didn't have any clothes that would fit him, but I didn’t want him sleeping uncomfortably either. “You can’t. You’re always welcome. So get comfortable and get into bed. I’ve got an early appointment tomorrow and I’m a grouch and a half if I don’t get enough sleep.”

I gave him privacy while he stripped down to his boxers, checking the locks like I did every night and making sure my phone alarm was set. I almost whimpered, seeing the massive demon waiting for me when I got back to my room. I had to purposely turn on to my side to hide the fact that seeing him mostly undressed in my bed left me all hot and bothered. This was what I got for being so eager to help everyone. A sexy as sin demon in my bed who I absolutely couldn’t touch. I must be a glutton for punishment.

“Good night,” Mal murmured in the dark of the room.

“Good night. Sleep well.”

I snuggled into my pillow, trying my best to ignore the heat coming off the man behind me. I had to abandon my body pillow, since my bed wasn’t wide enough to fit Mal with it still on the bed, which left absolutely no barrier between me and him. I tried to focus, meditate, anything to get my mind to relax, but it felt like I was in tune to everything he did, every breath he took. It didn’t take me long to realize he wasn’t going to sleep either.

“You okay?”

He hummed, his voice a little stiff. “I’m fine.”

Turning over, I tried to make out his expression with the limited light coming from the kitchen. I always left the light above the stove on in case I needed a glass of water or something in the middle of the night. It wasn’t enough for me to read Mal’s face, though. It was his body language that gave him away. He was tense again, his body stiff as a board, and his breathing was too forced.

“Mal? If this is too weird–”

He shifted, looking towards me. “It’s not that. I just… I’m finding it really hard to lie next to you and not touch you.”

My heart stuttered in my chest, and I swallowed hard. “What… What do you mean?”

He turned onto his side and faced me, running his claws through my hair, making me shiver. I kept waiting for him to say something to spell it out, but Mal wasn’t much of a talker. Instead, he leaned closer, his lips brushing so lightly against mine, I thought I imagined it. I sucked in a shaky breath, a whimper clawing up my throat when he pulled away. I couldn’t stop myself from lurching forward, pressing my lips more firmly against his. I’d had dreams almost nightly about Mal and I almost worried this was another one. But as I felt the pinch of his teeth when he nipped my lower lip, all my resolve disintegrated.

Shoving his shoulder, I forced him onto his back, throwing my leg over his hips to straddle him when he settled. One of his hands rested on the back of my head, drawing me closer so he could tease my lips with his tongue. When I opened up and slid my tongue along his, he groaned low. I explored his mouth, my hands moving over his chest like they did in my dream. I felt my stomach tighten at the reminder, and when I shifted enough to grind my hips against his, I saw stars.

Ripping my mouth away from his, I panted as I stared down at him. He looked good enough to eat, his lips swollen and his heated stare locked on my mouth. I leaned closer, pausing just out of range. Some people automatically assumed with my size that I was never in the lead. They found out pretty quickly that I was a bit of a bossy bottom and, with the way Mal was looking at me right now, I got the feeling he wouldn’t mind.

“You said you needed a distraction. I have the perfect distraction in mind.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

MALAKAI

There was another layer of Zach that I didn’t expect. He was bubbly and happy, calm and serious, and now bossy and surprisingly dominant. He took control of the kiss, dominating my mouth, and ground his hips against mine until I was breathless. I watched in wonder as he stripped his shirt over his head, revealing a lithe figure and pale skin. He wasn’t all muscle, like I was used to. His waist was trim, his arms strong but undefined. He truly looked like a little pixie, and when he shimmied out of his pajama pants and boxers, I dragged him back on top of me with a growl.

Zach shivered, his body plastered against mine. “Do that again.”

I did, letting out a low growl to show just how wild he made me feel. At least I didn’t have to worry about him fearing me. He seemed to enjoy the noises I made. His breath quickened, his pupils blown out in response. Pulling him closer, I brushed my lips along his ear, letting out a rougher growl to surprise him.

“Oh crap… That’s the hottest thing on the planet. No wonder they write about it so much in romance novels,” he murmured, his fingers digging into my shoulders. When I did it again, he moaned, yanking himself away from me without warning.

“Okay, damn. You need to stop or I won’t be able to control myself.”

A smirk pulled at my lips. I enjoyed just how much he liked that sound and when I did it again, he slapped his hands over my mouth in an attempt to silence it.

“You’re mean. Coming from your sexy as hell sounds wasn’t what I had in mind. Be good or I won’t ride you like I planned.”

I shot him a heated look, lifting my hips to encourage him, but I didn’t make the sound again. He waited a few seconds to make sure I listened and when he was confident I would behave, he moved his hands, fusing his mouth to mine again.

Like during our massage sessions, I found myself melting under his touch. His hands ran over my chest and down my arms, familiar and yet exciting and new at the same time. When his thumbs brushed over my nipples, I groaned into his mouth, my cock aching for attention. I tried to move him lower, to get some friction on my cock, but he wasn’t having it. He slapped my hands away, nipping at my lip in punishment.

When he started kissing down my chest, I considered pinning him so I could have my way with him. I was never particularly dominant or submissive. I could go either way depending on my partner. But Zach made me feel crazy, and I wanted to flip us and see what noises I could draw from him. It was only his promise to ride me that kept me in place. I fought my urges, sucking in a sharp breath when he dragged my boxers down my length.

---