Page 61 of Conflicted

Once again, Nox threw me a lifeline. “How about favourite food? Mine’s a croissant from this little patisserie in Paris. Stohrer, I believe it’s called. I wonder if it’s still open.”

We continued in that vein until the sun dropped below the horizon. Hunger eventually drove us from the beach and up into the winding lanes. After Nox mentioning the Roman Empire, I was in the mood for Italian food. The demon at my side didn’t protest, just smirked a bit like I was being predictable somehow.

Fuck, I shouldn’t have liked that smirk on him. It should have annoyed me. Irritated me.

It shouldn’t have had fuckingbutterfliesfluttering in my stomach.

They continued all through the dinner, picking up every time Nox smiled at me. Every time he teased. Every time he taunted.

What he was offering was dangerous. Forbidden. We both knew it.

Yet neither of us seemed inclined to stop it.

Over the next couple of weeks, we fell into a routine of sorts. Every few days, I’d reach out. He’d pick me up and we’d spend time together. Benji had become my co-conspirator, covering for me during the hours I’d disappear. Of all the Seraphim, he was the one who saw through my lies where Nox was concerned. I suspected he even knew we were fated mates. But he’d agreed to keep it quiet from the others.

For now.

Like everything else with this situation, that was something I was choosing to ignore. I didn’t know why Nox was spending all this time with me, or when it was going to end, but I was too addicted to the sense of peace he gave me to give it up just yet.

Eventually he’d get bored with me, especially as we weren’t having sex. Don’t get me wrong, there’d been plenty of flirting and casual touches, but that was as far as it went. Nox hadn’t so much as tried to kiss me. The one time I’d made a move on him, he’d shut me down before dragging me into an arcade to play on the 2p machines.

It made no sense. He obviously wasn’t spending time with me in an effort to seduce me, so what was he after?

The question finally burst from me aswe wandered around the Natural History Museum. I’d let slip that I’d never been here a few days ago, despite living so close. Nox hadn’t either, so he’d chosen it as today’s destination.

“Why are you spending all this time with me?”

Nox shrugged. “Nothing better to do.”

“I don’t believe that. Not after centuries in Hell. There’s a whole world out there to explore, Nox. Surely that’d be more fun than being with me.”

He nudged my shoulder. “I’m having fun with you, little angel.”

I stared at him in confusion, drawing to a stop beside a Greek statue. “No one has fun with me. I’m many things, butfunisn’t one of them.”

Nox stopped too, standing far too close to be called polite. “I beg to differ. I’m having fun with you right now.”

“But we’re arguing.”

Nox’s rich laugh had my spine tingling. “Arguing with you is always fun, little angel.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. He was right, we did have fun together. Arguing with Nox, bantering with him, it made me feel more alive than my immortality ever had.

But that didn’t mean we could be anything more than this.

“You know we can’t be together,” I whispered, like I was hoping to hide the truth in the words. “They wouldn’t allow it.”

Nox’s response was calm. Measured. “I know.”

“Then what are we doing? Aside from having fun.”

“We’re getting to know each other despite the bond.”

“But why? What’s the point?”

Nox’s tongue flicked over his lip ring as he considered his answer. “Because…because you intrigue me, Micah. You have all these layers, and each one I peel back reveals something new. It’s quite addictive, and I’m not ready to give it up yet.”

Weirdly, that response reassured me. Soon, Nox would get to the centre and realise there was nothing there. Nothing worth his time and attention, anyway. Then he’d get bored and move on.

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