Page 92 of The Demon's Pet

Damn, how did he always know?

He folded his arms and crossed one leg over the other, still leaning back. “As an incubus, knowing what you want is one of my abilities. I can sense your desires. But even if I had no powers, it’s so obvious on your little face, you virgin.”

I gasped. “Why do you keep saying that like it’s a bad thing?”

“I keep saying it so that both of us remember what a bad idea it would be for us to get sexually involved, no matter how many come-hither looks you send me.”

I thought back to the day Sam fought the minotaurs and talked to me in the trees after. “But you said that I just couldn’t fall in love with you, not that we couldn’t… couldn’t…” I flushed bright red, unable to say it as he had.

“When I said we could fuck?” He cocked his head slightly, and an errant curl fell over his forehead.

I nodded.

“I was trying to scare you. I know you celestials are raised from birth thinking about a soul mate, and you aren’t allowed casual sex, so I thought if I told you there was no chance of commitment, you’d back off. But you still look at me like you want to tear my pants off.”

“I have a thing about sweatpants,” I mumbled.

He looked down at himself and then grinned. “I do look good in them.” His expression sobered. “But we need to do something about this. Because if you keep looking at me like that, my incubus is going to come out again.”

“Do the others know? Does Os know?” I asked. “The celestials, they—”

“Whether they know is one thing. Whether anyone can do anything about me, even if they do know, is another. Even if someone knows my history, they won’t dare bring it up.” He looked to the side. “That doesn’t mean I want the fae to know any of my weaknesses.” He sighed. “Besides, they hate demons. That’s what I keep telling you.”

I thought back to Zarris, how he was rude about Sam’s history, alluding to something bad.

I decided not to mention it for the moment. It would probably only make him madder.

“So you’re part demon?” I asked. “Why would it be a weakness?”

“It’s only a weakness if they know exactly what I am,” Sam said. “And most won’t meet an incubus in their lifetime.”

“But… you’re a celestial,” I said. “From the ninth realm.”

“Half of my blood is from the ninth celestial realm,” he muttered. “But I have no love for anyone there.”

“Then why do you—”

“I don’t have to give you my reasons,” Sam snapped.

“So… why is it me that’s making you turn into an incubus?”

“Celestials age much slower than other creatures,” Sam said, pacing now in front of the sink, his hands clasped behind his back. “I didn’t manifest my celestial side till I was fully grown as a demon. Then I took this form. My incubus… it hasn’t been a problem. I feed using bloodlust instead of sex and—”

“You feed on bloodlust?” I asked.

His eyes narrowed, glittering like black diamonds and gold. “I said I didn’t owe you any answers.”

“But you’re telling me halfway,” I said. “That’s almost worse than no answers at all.”

“I guess I better leave, then,” he said, turning as if to go.

“No,” I said. “Please. Look, if it’s my fault your incubus is coming out, just tell me how to stop it.”

He leaned back, ruffling his hair again. “I’m not even sure. I’ve never struggled with this before. But when you look at me like you want me… when you feel pleasure from what I do… it’s almost impossible not to take my demon form… and give you what you’re begging for.”

I flushed, but something heated and excited filled my chest. “Why don’t you, then?” I asked.

He sneered. “Like I’m a defiler of virgins.”

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