Page 75 of Demons of Eden

He says it so simply, as if it entirely explains away him being in my bed, wrapped around my body like a snake who’s planning to swallow me whole. I understand the guys are being extra cautious after everything, but this is more than a little intense. I think Rio may possibly be the most all-or-nothing person I’ve ever met.

“You know you’ve been within arm’s reach of me since you arrived, right? I’m lucky to get a pee break by myself, so at what point have you beenoffEden protection duty?” I demand, still confused about how he ended up in my bed, snuggling me.

Rio just stares at my face, not blinking, behaving likeI’mthe one overreacting here. He’s definitely wrong about that.

For the two days since my brother’s well-intentioned kidnapping, Rio has been my shadow, somehow managing to step up his constant vigilance to a whole new level. Wherever I am, he’s always within reach. The night before last, he slept in the hall right outside of my door, as if I didn’t already have ademon sleeping in my bed, perfectly capable of protecting me himself. What’s worse is that he kept cracking the damn door open, even after I spent an hour arguing with him about privacy.

Ash had been the one to sleep with me that night specifically so I could feed from his higher vitav levels, much to Dai and Torrin’s disappointment. I was not about to have sex with the door open. Not while Rio was right outside, and my parents and brother were sleeping down the hall. I’d at least like the damn illusion of privacy, thank you very much. I’d only barely managed to convince him not to lean directly against the shut door of the bathroom every single time I go in there. I’m pregnant, so I need to pee a lot, and I do not appreciate an audience watching or listening in while I’m doing so.

Does he think Paimon is going to slide up out of one of the drains or something?

I shudder at the thought, a new fear accidentally unlocked.

“I’m not letting anything happen to you,” he says, clearly clocking the movement. “And if that means holding you through a nightmare, then that's what I’ll do. I was on the floor until you started whimpering and tossing about,” he explains as he slowly sits up.Shirtless.In nothing but thin grey sweatpants.

My cheeks heat, but I can’t take my eyes off of him.

“I wasn’t having a bad dream,” I protest, waving my hand at the lamp and plunging us back into darkness to hide from the look in his eyes. Also, quite possibly because it’s the only way I’ll stop myself from staring. There’s no hiding for me, though, as he snaps his fingers and the lights flicker back on.

Rio’s frowning now, looking slightly offended as if I called him a liar. “Yes, you were. You were sweating, tossing, and turning. You kept whimpering and moaning…” He pauses, apparently saying the words aloud has led him to another possible conclusion. His eyes go wide, his lips parting slightly in his surprise. “Oh. So, definitely not a nightmare.”

I wince, nibbling my bottom lip as my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I should have just let him think I was being tortured in my sleep. Well, at least he can’t possibly know who the dream was about, and I’m not about to tell him. No fucking way. Besides, it’s hardly my fault his scent was in the room, teasing my sleeping horny brain. It’s not like I asked for him to be conjured up in the x-rated dream I was having.

“Nope.”With a slightly aggressive flick of my hand, I turn the lights off again, roll back over, and bury my face in my pillow.

“Eden, do you need me to go get Torrin or Daion? Or the Ashhole—I mean Ash?” he asks in a gentle tone, adding a teasing hint as he calls Ash an Ashhole.

Is he broken?

Stalking my every move. Watching me sleep. Listening to me fucking pee unless I scream at him for privacy! And even though I was having sinful-as-hell dreams about the demon hunter, he tried to comfort what he thought was a nightmare. Have I died, and this is actually some kind of hell? Luring me into a false sense of safety, only to rip the rug out from under me?

“No. And stop being so fucking nice,” I hiss, my emotions and hormones getting the better of me. Seems like that's the current theme of my life these days.

“I’m not being nice,” he snaps back, jerking upright. I feel him moving, yanking blankets out of the way and getting closer to me. I thought maybe he was about to leave, but instead he lies down, cuddling up to my back.

“Yes, you are!” I huff. “Vowing to protect me, following me around all day and night. Now you’re offering to go get the two men you were telling me to stay away from only a week ago, just so they can help me out after a sex dream! Hell, you even offered to go get Ash when you hate demons! What do you call all that, if not being nice?” I roll onto my back and look over at him, finding it difficult to argue with someone while they’re spooning me. Iattempt to sit up, but my lack of abdominal strength and the big ass baby in the way make it difficult. I end up settling for rolling over onto my side so I can face him.

He’s got some stupid smirk on his face, and I want to bite him to wipe it away. I glare harder at the massive pain in my ass.

“What happened to the man who tried to kill me? The one who was constantly insulting me? What happened to telling me to pick a guy or fuck off?” I hiss. My words hit their mark, and finally that fucking smirk wipes away as he practically breathes fire, his chest heaving.

“You were taken, Eden.” Rio successfully sits up, the bastard. He moves so he can hover over me, one hand on the bed beside my head, the other cupping my cheek. The fire turns to simmering embers as he stares into my eyes with more passion than I’ve ever seen. “Right in front of me. One of the most evil beings to ever set foot on this world wrapped his hands around you, and you disappeared right in front of me.” His muscles shake as his voice trembles. I’m hypnotised by his every word. “I didn’t know what he was going to do to you. How you might be suffering. The pain he would cause you. And do you know what I felt?”

“Relief?” I can’t help but say. My sass refuses to take a day off, even in a moment like this, but especially with Rio. He lifts an annoyed brow at me, clenching his jaw.

“No, Eden. Notrelief.In that moment, staring at the empty space where you had been, all I could feel was pure, soul-deep, agonising fucking fear. I’ve never been that fucking scared of anything, so terrified for someone else. For what he was doing to you or what he might do to your child.” His hand slowly drifts from my cheek down to my stomach.

The heavy weight of his warm palm against my bare belly makes me shiver. My lips part as I stare up at the man who’s been a thorn in my side since we met, taking in the way hegently touches me. How he’s looking at me right now, I swear it’s not only the thought of me being in pain that bothers him. He’s staring as if the idea of living without me is unbearable to him and like he doesn't have a clue what to do about it.

Is his overbearingness the last few days because he can’t figure out how to channel feelings for me normally? No, that's insane. Not Rio. He can’t havefeelings, not for me anyway.

There’s no way that makes any sense…

“Oh my Goddess, my lusty juju is too powerful!” I yelp, shoving at his shoulders. I obviously catch him by surprise, as he goes flying off the side of the bed, landing with a thud. I wince.Fuck, a bit too much oomph there.“Shit, sorry. I wasn’t trying to send you into orbit, but you need to leave, Rio. Go get Ash or something. Maybe have one of them guard the door. I’m clearly sending out more juju than I realised. I must be drugging you…”

“Fucking shit, Eden!” he growls from the floor. “You’re not controlling me with your succubus shit. Why is that always your first assumption when someone tries to tell you that they might give a shit about you!” Rio pops his head back into view as I finally manage to sit upright, shooting me an annoyed look.

“How do you know?” I demand. “Maybe it's so damn effective, you can’t even tell.” I throw my hands up, and the stupid tank top I wore to bed rides up my belly even further, exposing the round beach ball I’m growing to the room. At least my boobs are still contained. Now is not the time for a nip-slip.

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