Page 26 of Martyr

“What are you doing?”

“Cuddling,” West said. “You’re lying in the center of the mattress, Nixie. What else do you expect me to do?”

“Oh, I can move.”

He tightened his arms, tucking one beneath Nix’s head and the other around his waist to keep him close. “Nah. This is fine.”

“West.”

“We’re sleeping now, Nixie, remember?”

Nix was quiet.

For all of five seconds.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

He grunted, breath fanning against the top of Nix’s head, sending tendrils of his soft hair tickling West’s chin. “Would you believe me if I said it was because you milked my cock so good just now?”

Nix considered it and then stated, “No.”

“Let’s call it friendly competition then, shall we? I can’t have you liking Yejun more than me.”

“Youdon’t even likeme,” he countered.

West shrugged. “Who knows what tomorrow brings. Emotions are constantly evolving. Maybe I’ll wake up and be just as obsessed with you as Lake.”

Nix shuddered. “No, thanks anyway.”

“Doesn’t work that way, babe.” He nuzzled his hair and then sighed, oddly content. Actually, now that he was thinking about it, he couldn’t recall the last time he was this relaxed. “Sleep. Whatever happens come morning is going to happen whether or not you spend the rest of the night worrying about it. Might as well get comfortable.”

He could tell Nix wanted to argue further, but after a deep breath, he must have seen reason. It was a long while before he relaxed in West’s arms, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat slowing into a gentle thump beneath West’s splayed palm.

The music had ended at some point, and now there was just them and the light rain pattering against the windows in the shadowy room.

Yeah. He could get used to this.

Very, very used to this.

Chapter 7:

Nix was alone, wrapped in West’s thick gray comforter like a burrito when he woke. The spot next to him was still slightly warm to the touch, but the bathroom was empty when he got up to check.

Unlike the last time he’d shared a bed with this particular Demon, there weren’t many noticeable marks on his body to give away what they’d done last night.

What they’d done…

And what West had promised not to tell Lake about.

It was petty—especially since, if he was being one hundred percent honest with himself, Nix really did want to sleep with him—but after what Lake had put him through yesterday, Nix agreed with West about making him wait for it. And why not? What exactly had Lake done to deserve this twisting need in Nix’s gut whenever he thought about him?

Absolutely nothing.

On the other hand, he’d done a lot of things that should make Nix hate him.

Tricked him.

Lied to him.

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