Page 49 of My Demon Manny

When I stepped into the bedroom, Archer was sitting cross-legged on the bed, and his eyes met mine instantly, as if he'd been watching the door and waiting for me.

Closing the door behind me, I walked around the bed to the nightstand, and switched on the baby monitor before crawling onto the bed.

"Hey."

Smiling, Archer patted the spot in front of him, and I settled in, sitting sideways with my legs stretched out in front of me.

"Hey." Archer took my hand and tugged me closer until our lips were barely an inch apart. He gazed into my eyes, and I gazed right back into his, soaking in all the care and adoration I saw there. I'd never expected a simple job interview would lead me to this moment, and I was grateful to Fate for crossing our paths.

"I want to see you," Archer murmured, his warm breath washing over my lips, and I blinked, puzzled.

"I don't understand."

"I want to see the other side of you. The demon side."

I pulled back so I could look at him better, unsure if he really meant it. While my demon form wasn't as scary or overwhelming as some of the others', it was still very…inhuman. Archer had been afraid of it the first time I'd shifted, even if he'd tried to act like he wasn't. What if I scared him again?

It wasn't like I hadn't shifted since then, but I usually did it when it was just me and Gunner. Gunner loved playing with my tail, and it was easier to work around the house with him wrapped to my chest when I was in my larger form. And the few times Archer had come home when I was still in my demon form, I'd shifted back quickly, not that he'd ever asked me to.

"Are you sure?"

Archer ducked his head, then squeezed my hand, leaning forward to press a kiss to my cheek. "I know I didn't react very well the first time, but that was because of the shock more than anything else. I'd really like a chance to see you properly."

I gazed at him for a long moment, trying to decide if he really meant it or if he was just doing it to make me happy. I couldn't see any hesitation or fear on his face, just patience and anticipation, and that made me relax a little. It wasn't like I wanted to keep my demon side hidden. I was actually pretty proud of my demon form, and I wanted to share it with Archer. I'd just been waiting to make sure he was comfortable with the idea first, and I supposed this request meant that he was.

"Okay." I took a deep breath as I gazed into his eyes, then let my magic do its work, dissolving my human self and returning myself back to my original demon form.

Archer's lips parted, but before he could say anything, there was a loud creak, and then a crash as we fell two feet down to the floor, the pieces of the shattered bed surrounding us.

My arms and tail had wrapped instinctively around Archer as we fell, and I glanced down at him with wide eyes. He stared right back at me, and after a stunned moment of silence, he chuckled.

"Well, that was unexpected."

Flustered, I pulled back from him, then glanced around us at the wreckage, glad I'd put up the silencing ward. The sound would've surely woken Gunner up otherwise.

"Uh, sorry about that."

Snapping my fingers, I returned the bed to its former shape, changing the wood into something that would be able to handle my weight.

"You have nothing to apologize for," Archer said with a shake of his head, then reached out a hand. "Can I touch you?"

I blinked, then nodded quickly, eager to know what his skin felt like against mine in this form. Would it feel the same, or would it be different?

Slowly, Archer placed his palm on the center of my chest, his skin warm and soft against mine. His touch did feel different,as if before he'd been touching me through a layer of cloth, and this was the first time we were skin-to-skin. It felt almost overwhelming, but I soaked it in, lowering my head in the hopes that he'd touch my face too. My head was the most inhuman part of me—other than my tail—and probably also the scariest, so I wouldn't blame him if he avoided touching it.

"Your skin feels so smooth, like marble." Archer's voice was full of wonder as his palm slid up my chest, then cupped the side of my neck. I leaned into his touch, and he smiled before reaching up with his other hand and placing it on my jaw. He trailed his hand up my cheek, and I shivered when a finger traced the outline of my ear.

I gasped softly when I felt his palm against the base of my horn, and then the pressure as he trailed it over the whole length.

Archer explored me like I was a piece of art, and I felt seen in a way I'd never felt before. It was like he was examining and appreciating every inch of me, and I found myself falling deeper and deeper for him.

"You are stunning, Lux. I can't believe I was ever scared of this side of you," Archer murmured, and I huffed softly.

"I do look a little scary," I allowed him, and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Maybe at first glance, and if I didn't know you. But I do, and I adore you because of it."

I really, really wanted to kiss him, but I wasn't sure if he'd be okay with that when I was in this form. Instead, I reached out with my tail, and wrapped it around his waist, tugging him closer to me.

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