Page 80 of Infernal Hearts

This isn’t desire I feel. This isn’t what my work has taught me about over the last century. This is affection. This is what it feels like to be fully comfortable with someone and to be wanted for reasons beyond physicality. It’s lovely. He made it seem like what happened in the exam room was a one-time thing. But maybe he’s not so sure? I could test it. It would be worth the risk because I’m aching to be as close to him as possible right now.

I know Jason should be left alone. I know this is a bad idea considering that I’m leaving after my mission, plus the fact that I know he’s not into casual sex. But for some reason, this feels more than causal, and I can’t stop myself from wanting him right now. To be near him, to feel him—in my chest and on my skin. As far as I’m concerned, I’m starting to find him irresistible, as bad of an idea as this may be.

He pulls me close, inhaling with his nose nuzzled in my hair.

I reach my arm up over my head, gently stroking the back of his neck. His chest expands deeply against my shoulders before he kisses the back of my neck again. His lips are warm as they grace my skin, leaving it tingling as he moves from one spot to the next.

We could lie like this for the rest of time, and I wouldn’t mind. It would be a fantasy, never having to return to whatever’s going on outside that door. Just to stay here with Jay, touching me like this? It sounds like eternal bliss. I’ve never had a man treat me with such caring and kindness before, and it’s life-changing.

I roll over and face him in the darkness, pressing my chest against his and holding him closer. “Jay, this may not be the best time…but this thing between us. It means something to me.”

He pauses before pulling me closer. “It does to me, too.”

Do I say it out loud? What will change if I do? What if it ruins things? My heart races at the thought that it might all come crashing down, but it’s worth it. “I have feelings for you. Feelings I don’t think I’ve ever had.”

His lips meet mine for a long kiss before breaking it off. “You’ve changed my life. I don’t know what I would have done without you, and I never want you to go.”

“Well, I’m here now.” I close my eyes and hold him close, taking a tiny breath.

“You’re amazing.” I kiss him softly.

His lips part, and he nibbles on my lower lip. “Not as much as you.”

The happiness this man brings me is something I’ve never felt. I never want it to stop.

We’re wordless for a long time, just laying against each other. Outside this room, other things don’t matter. None of it matters. All I want is to take each other’s presence in—gently drawing circles on each other’s skin while his lazy heartbeat thumps from inside his chest. His ribs move gently, up and down, when he breathes. His pheromones waft through the room, putting me into a trance. It’s a quiet moment of bliss.

I tilt my head to the closed door. “We both kind of smell terrible. Shower?”

He laughs and nods. “I don’t smell anything on you, but sure. Good idea.”

Lifting ourselves off the bed, he grabs my hand and leads me into the hallway. He flicks on the lights and starts the water. I hold him quietly, my chest to his back, as we wait for it to warm up. As soon as it’s ready, we step inside.

It’s a comfortable silence that falls between us. He lathers up a poof and washes me. His gentle nature touches my heart as he scrubs me down, shoulders to toes.

I smile at him. “My turn.” I turn him around, squeeze shampoo into his dirty-blond hair, and massage his scalp. He tilts his head up and hums as the water streams down my back.

Is this what peace is? What a relationship would be like? Is this…love?

As soon as we’re clean, we dry off and head back to the bedroom. We both tuck ourselves under the covers, naked, on my side. He clings to me with his hand on my chest and his ear over my heart.

“Thank you.” He sighs. “For everything.”

I kiss the top of his head. “My pleasure.” And I mean it. At this point? For him, I’d do anything.

It’s strange. I’m a sex demon, but this is the most intimate I’ve ever felt with someone. Comfort, support, calm, ease… All those words that never occurred to me in a hundred years of work. This really is something special. I can’t lose this.

Chapter Fourteen

Jason

It’s the best I’ve slept in…I don’t know how long. The morning light creeps into my room, but I resist the urge to open my eyes. Levi’s skin is soft and warm on mine as he serenely lays in my embrace. I trace my fingertips over his arm, but he doesn’t stir. He’s in a deep sleep.

I lightly press my hand against his chest. His heartbeat and breathing are calm—the last thing I want to do is rob him of this peace. I wish I could stay here like this forever, with him. It’s the deepest connection I’ve felt to someone in my entire life, which throws me for a loop because I haven’t even known him for two weeks. He changed my life in such a short amount of time—with his sharp tongue, quick wit, gigantic heart, and powerful magic. He’s a force to be reckoned with. I wish I had seen it sooner.

But after last night, there are things I need to do. Duty calls, and I need to go check on Rani, if only to see if she’s coherent yet. Hopefully, the cure started working and she’s healing back to her normal self already.

Carefully untangling myself from him, I slip out of bed and pull on some clothes. Looking at him here, in my bed, makes me want to do nothing but crawl back in.

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