Page 12 of Controller's Obsession

He came to a skidding stop, his worn sneakers sliding on the tiles as he saw the same demon, in human form this time, leaning on the cupboard door—the one where he was supposed to make his escape through.

“Hey there.” The demon’s eyes seemed to scorch through his clothes as they raked up and down his body. “I apologize for the mess in the bathroom.”

“No problem.” Peni forced himself to keep breathing, his heart pounding so hard that half of the town could probably hear it. “I’ll… er… I’ll just put these things away and get out of your way.”

“I don’t think so.” Was the demon purring at him? It sure sounded like it. “The name’s Merihem, and I understand we might have a bit of a connection. Did you want to go out for a meal tonight and talk about it?”

“Tonight?” Peni’s eyes darted all around the room, but he doubted he could move anywhere fast enough to make his escape.He’s Dakata’s guest. Maybe Merihem doesn’t realize I’m not supposed to be here. I could…

“Did you have something else to do tonight? Meeting someone else, for instance.” The purr now had a very distinct rumble.

Peni gulped. “No. Nothing else. Just… you know. A sandwich and reading a book.” He tried for a casual laugh, but it came off as more of a squeak. “I don’t usually go out much. I… my budget, you know. Have to watch every cent.”

A hint of a frown passed over Merihem’s face, but it cleared just as quickly. “My treat,” he insisted, and just as Peni was about to refuse a second time, the huge demon in his smart shirt and pants held out a single rose that had just appeared in his hand. “Let’s start with lunch,” he suggested, “and we can make our dinner plans from there.”

It’s just like a scene out of that book you read. Say yes. Say yes!His goat was almost leaping out of his skin as Peni shoved the towel on the counter to reach over and take the flower with trembling fingers. It was a beautiful deep red rose with soft, velvety petals.

“Thank you. Yes, all right,” he whispered. “Let’s start with lunch.” What did he have to lose, right? Peni figured he could always find a new job and maybe even a place to stay on Monday morning. And a meal with Merihem had to be better than a sandwich?

Ask him how the bathroom walls got so dirty.His goat was beside himself with excitement.Go on. Ask him.

Smiling tightly, ignoring his animal spirit and Merihem’s heated gaze, Peni put away his cleaning things, threw the dirty towel in the washing hamper, placed his flower in a glass with water, and then washed his hands in the laundry sink. All the while trying to figure out how he’d ended up in this situation.

“Are you ready to go?” Merihem held out his hand as Peni put the towel he’d used to dry his hands back on its railing.

“I guess I am.” Peni took the hand, ignoring the shiver up his arm at the feel of Merihem’s skin touching his, letting Merihem lead him back through the kitchen and out of the house.

The bedroom’s the other way,his goat bleated as Merihem closed the front door after them.

Chapter Seven

Merihem

The flower… his demon was having way too much fun. He’d materialized the rose without allowing Merihem to have a say. He hadn’t missed how Peni had stroked the petals or sniffed the bud.

Okay, you win, it worked, so stop gloating.

You’re welcome.

When he’d watched those little fingers stroke a petal, Merihem had gotten all sorts of ideas about what Peni might like to stroke instead. His usual go-to was sexy talk. His demon had gagged him, literally, when he was about to make a suggestive comment.

He doesn’t want that type of talk. He reads. None of your other bed partners read!

Merihem wanted to argue, but it was pointless when all his other instincts said Peni was special, whether that was because he was a blissful one or not, didn’t seem to matter. One touch of the roughened palm against his and Merihem was ready to beg for Peni to be his. Strange, but true.

So here he was taking the pocket-sized rocket out for lunch after seeing that suggesting dinner had been a mistake when it could have given Peni time to rethink the situation. Lunch seemed like the best idea. They could most definitely extend that to dinner.

My idea.

Shut up.Merihem grumbled.

“Erm… have you changed your mind? If you have, that’s fine, a sandwich will work for me.” The hand holding his, the fingers released.

Fix it. Fix it now.

“Not at all, my demon half is being a little tricky,” he explained, happy to cast the blame in that direction.

Peni gave a mournful sigh. “I know what you mean. My goat is also being difficult. He also isn’t shutting up, and the suggestions he’s making…”

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