Page 24 of Summoning my Grumpy Demon Boss

“Well, it sure surprised the folks around here when my family revealed ourselves.”

“No kidding. What happened?”

“One family left town. Said they couldn’t live in the same place as a family of monsters. Joke’s on them, though. I heard they moved to Batemans and I know for a fact there’s a whole mob of kangaroo shifters up there.”

I laugh. “Seriously, though, I wish you’d been able to tell me. I—” I cut myself off as a thought occurs to me. “Why did you change like that, in the bathroom? That never happened before.”

“Shift. We call it shifting. And it’s out of my control when my skin gets wet. It just happens. In fact it did happen once before when we were together.”

My eyes widen as the pieces fall into place. “Then that night when we—” I’m flushing. “When we first met and you rushed off without saying goodbye. Did you shift? Is that why?”

He nods. “I felt like such a bastard running off on you like that, only—” He sighs. “Well, I hope you can forgive me now.”

“Of course I forgive you,” I tell him with a smile. And then, while I’m feeling brave, I add. “I like it. The way you look when you shift. I think it’s beautiful.” I can’t look at him.

Luke takes my hand and waits until I do. “Not anywhere near as beautiful as you, gorgeous girl.”

There’s a long drawn out moment where I can practically feel the energy humming between us.

With a sigh, I tuck my feet up under me and take another sip of tea. “This is why you’d be the perfect rebound guy,” I say wistfully.

His mouth drops open. Did I mention he’s adorable when he gets all tongue tied? His hazel-green gaze drops to my lips and I lean forward. He pulls back and runs a hand through his tousled blonde hair. “Mia, that’s not a good idea.”

I frown. I haven’t done this for so long. Not since... Well, not since Luke. Even on my gap year, if a guy was interested I was usually the one shutting things down.

Maybe I’m realising I’ve spent years being not quite happy and right now I have a chance to grab something that might change that.

Something in me draws me to Luke as much now as it did all those years ago.

Maybe it’s the wild emotions of the last twenty-four hours. Whatever it is, I’m not feeling like myself.

So, I persist. “Why not?” I watch his face, looking for signs he doesn’t want this.

“Mia...”

“Come on, it doesn’t have to be weird. I live hours away, so it would be totally no strings.”

“That’s not the issue.” He groans and flops back against the back of the sofa, running both hands through his hair. “You have no idea how tempting you are.”

Me? Tempting? God, it’s been a long time since anyone found me tempting. The impact of his statement travels all the way through my core, down to my pussy frankly still a little tingly after that kiss. And getting caught masturbating. Yeah, I’m very much in need of being touched.

Throwing caution to the wind, I quickly set down my tea and climb into Luke’s lap before I can talk myself out of it. For one moment I savour the adorable wide-eyed look of wonder on his handsome face before I lean in and continue the kiss I started earlier.

His hands go instantly to the back of my neck, threading through my hair and holding me there. As if I’m going anywhere! Between us, I feel the bulge of his thickening cock against the seam of his ruined jeans. His chest is warm and smooth. My heart races. My hips move as I instinctively grind on him.

“We shouldn’t.” Despite his words, he uses his grip on my hair to tilt my head to one side and kiss along my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

“Shouldn’t we?”

He doesn’t take his lips from my skin and I don’t want him to. His rough hands slide beneath the jumper, slipping under my singlet and up my back. He groans when he discovers there’s no bra. I didn’t bother with it when I scrambled to dress quickly. I figured since he’s already seen me naked, not wearing a bra was no big deal.

Luke tugs at the hem of the jumper and I pull back to let him lift it over my head.

“God, look at you.” He tosses it aside and his hands find and cup my breasts over the thin material of the singlet. “I wanted to do this so badly that morning when you came out just like this with nothing underneath.” He groans again, sucking in a breath, his thumbs working my nipples into stiff peaks. “Oh, we shouldn’t, but, God, I’ve waited for another chance for a long fucking time.” His voice is rough and gravelly,and it sounds like he can hardly tear his eyes away from my chest.

“Why shouldn’t we?” I ask him again, prompting him to look up.

He grimaces. “Because you’re rebounding. You’re upset. Of course, you are. You’ll probably regret this tomorrow. And I don’t want to be some guy you regret. Not again.”

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