Page 60 of The Secret Life of a Witch

“Demons can’t blush, you know,” he continues on, ignoring me. “At least, I’ve never seen one do it. But you, my little rainbow trout, are a complete anomaly. And an adorable one at that.”

“Stop calling me adorable like that,” I gripe while casting a glance at the rest of the demons.

Great, they’re all watching this little scene unfold, looking both annoyed and fascinated.

His brows furrow. “Like what?”

“Like I’m this cute, little sprite or something. It’s unflattering.”

“Sprites aren’t cute,” he assures me. “They’re tasty.”

My eyes pop wide. “You eat sprites?”

He gives a shrug. “I haven’t personally, but a lot of us do.” He points over his shoulder at the rest of the demons. “I don’t know why you’re getting upset after you just said it was unflattering to be compared to a sprite. I mean, clearly you don’t think that highly of them.”

I cross my arms. “Just because I think it’s unflattering to be compared to a creature that thinks the best day ever is giggling for three hours straight while circling a seven-year-old’s head and poking her until she cries, doesn’t mean I think it’s okay to eat them.”

He gives me a suspicious look. “Did this seven-year-old happen to have rainbow trout eyes and a very stubborn personality?”

“I’m not stubborn,” I protest.

He snorts a laugh. “Okay.”

My lip twitches in annoyance. “Just because I don’t fall at your feet after you kidnap me or dive into your arms when you ask me to kiss you, doesn’t make me stubborn. It makes me smart.”

“Fall at my feet, huh?” He rubs his jaw thoughtfully. “No, I’m pretty sure you did do that.”

“No, I didn’t.”

He leans in toward me, his smile all shiny and annoyingly attractive. “Yes, you did.”

“Dropping me at your feet doesn’t count.” I refuse to budge, even when he slants closer.

Sure, every instinct in me is screaming to run, that he’s a demon; but with no other place to go, all I can do is stand my ground and pretend to be more badass than I am.

He rolls his eyes. “Why on earth would I ever drop you?”

“Um, because you’re a demon,” I say, likeduh. “And that’s what demons do.”

Amusement dances in his eyes. “They drop pretty witches? Huh, I guess I’ll have to add that to the demon handbook, because I’m pretty sure none of us know about that rule. If we did, we might do it more often. And I think, while I’m at it, I’ll add a rule where we have to carry around pretty witches with rainbow eyes around on our shoulders while they sleep and make hot moaning noises, because that was by far my favorite part.” He winks at me.

My heart flutters. Yes, it actually flutters. In my defense, it lasts for only a snap of a finger.

“You’re so annoying.”

He winks at me again. “Don’t pretend like you don’t like it.”

“If I were you, I’d get that thing checked out.” I circle my finger in front of his eye. “Because, from what I hear, when a demon’s eye starts to twitch, it means he’s prematurely aging.”

He stares at me, unimpressed. “Demons don’t age, but nice try.”

“Are you sure about that?” I slant forward and squint at his eye. “I’m pretty sure all these lines around your eyes are crow’s feet.”

He really doesn’t have any lines, but demons are vain, and I know my comment will bug the crap out of him. At least, I thought it would. All he does is lean in closer and put his lips beside my ear.

“I know for a fact you don’t think I have crow’s feet. Just like I know for a fact that you think I smell lovely and find me completely and utterly sexy in a way you’re unfamiliar with.” His hand finds my waist, his fingers folding inward. “But I won’t make you admit that.” He pauses. “Yet. Not when I have bigger things to worry about.”

I open my mouth to tell him there’s no chance in demon hell that I find him attractive, but the words are ripped from my lips when he chants a sleep curse.

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