Page 53 of How to Seduce a Slender

“My apologies, watching you work has become a guilty pleasure of mine. The less you realize I’m there, the better.” He couldn’t help the wicked snicker in his voice as she nudged him hard with her elbow. However, when he glanced up from her hands, finding her face inches from his, he stilled.

“I’ve been very well behaved,” she preened, glee sparkling in her green eyes. “I’ve eaten both meals, taken a bath, drunk an ocean of water, and even did art, so, there.”

And she stuck her tongue out at him. He lurched forward. Her tongue poked back between her lips seconds before he crashed his mouth against hers. Relief flooded his system as she backed him into the wall covered in pipes. His hands flew to her cheeks, cupping them desperately. Melody grabbed ahold of his vest and held on for dear life. Smith dragged her into him, twisting them till he caged her against the copper. Melody’s lips curled against his and all of today melted away.

“Smith—Oh.”

Smith ripped away, a hand to his lips as if he cleared his throat. “Ah, Agatha, I assume that’s for me.”

“I can give you two some privacy.” Agatha wiggled her eyebrows at him suggestively as she floated through the doorway. Smith spared Melody a look, only to find her flushed and sheepishly looking at the skirts of her nightgown. When Smith faced Agatha again, she’d set the plate down on his desk and swatted him with a tea towel. “Uh-huh.”

“Thank you, Agatha,” Smith swatted back at her towel but let her disappear into the shadows of the home.

“Oh-ho-ho, lookie here who hasn’t eaten all of their meals today? Huh?” Melody chortled, sauntering around him toward his desk.

Smith itched to grab her by the swinging hips of hers and drag her right back where she had been. He wasn’t done tasting her lips against his. But the flicker of mischief in her eyes as she stood behind his desk lured him around her canvas.

“I was a might busy, Ms. Deathless, there were quite a few discoveries today.” He slid up behind his desk. She sat on the side of his desk, her legs kicking next to his chair as he slid down into his seat. “I am also not the one in recovery.”

“I’m fine!” she squawked, throwing her hands up around her.

He cocked his head an inch to the side, studying her face as she struggled to hold up the lie in her features.

“Swear on my life, I’m fine. I’ve rounded the bend, pinkie promise!” She struck a pinkie out to him.

“Mmm, and if I find you’re not, in fact, fully recovered…the punishment will be steep, Ms. Deathless.” He didn’t wait for her to retract it. He wrapped his pinkie around hers, bringing her hand to his face. She shivered as his lips brushed the back of her knuckles.

“How steep?” She eyed him.

Smith laughed evilly as he turned to the plate of food in front of him. Melody glared at him but said nothing as he dug into roasted chicken with crispy skin. A pile of mashed potatoes with roasted green beans tasted of toasted almonds, salt, garlic, and thyme. He enjoyed the butter that was woven through everything. It wasn’t Melody’s dreams, that was for sure, but Dahlia’s cooking could put meat back on a skeleton.

Melody sat patiently while he cleared his plate and downed the goblet of water Agatha provided but talked the whole time. It was like being at the diner again. Melody right next to him, explaining lunch and sitting in Dahlia’s office as she ranted about some business venture that went bad for her friends the Hauntings. And then, as he took up his plates, Melody stiffened again.

“Melody?” He studied her from head to toe.

“Are…are we going to bed now?” She fidgeted.

“Yes, it is imperative you rest. You’ve had a big day,” he chuckled softly before realizing she was hesitant. Smith sat the plate down and slid up in front of her. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s the nightmares. I think I had one in the bathtub, and it felt really real. Dahlia went to investigate it and she’s not back yet, I don’t think, so I’m worried it was a big thing and…” She let out a huff. Smith stroked her cheek with the back of his gloved knuckles. She smiled, leaning into his touch.

Smith cooed, “You never need fear sleep while I am around.”

That smile on her face broadened as she melted more into his touch. “You spoil me, Mr. Smith.”

“And you best get used to it,” he breathed, cupping her cheek with one hand while the other cupped her hip. He led her off the desk and onto her feet. Melody took his arm as shadowy hands snatched up his plates and carted them to the kitchen. He wasn’t sure how much Melody was lying about being fine. There was a part of him that hoped she wasn’t lying, that she was fully back to her strength. However, the more reasonable part of him knew better. She’d been bitten hard and had the life sucked out of her with little mercy. It would take time and would have to be tender with her…no matter how hard she wanted to push.

A small chase through the graveyard was one thing…but her body wasn’t ready for the depravity he craved to unleash upon her.

“So, about those discoveries?” She hugged his arm tight as a crutch as the two climbed the steps.

“Ah, well, I did cement the theory that you are the key to this necromancer’s plans. Or at the very least, the domino that would send them tumbling down. And I know of their lair, but it’s guarded by a beast and their eldritch beasts. It would take me several days and enchantments to prepare for that. I’ll need to keep digging in the meantime.” He soaked in her warmth as they took the steps. Smith already slowed his pace to give her a smidgen of grace. However, as they climbed the steps, he felt the tug of her body. Then he saw her skirt shake a bit as she struggled to climb. A wicked smirk curled on his lips. “Ms. Deathless, you’re not…drained, are you? From a simple flight of steps?”

“No!” She huffed, flashing her fangs as she held onto him tighter. “I’m merely soaking in the moment.”

“Of course.” He nodded.Not believing a word of it.“Well, it’s time for rest, so let’s pick up the pace.”

“Or?” She tugged to stop him from taking another step, “We could take the scenic route.”

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