Page 85 of The Demon Court

“Obviously, my feelings are complicated.”

He flashed her a bright grin. “I’ll take complicated.”

And just like that, he vaulted over the railing. She pressed her hands to her mouth, quite certain she’d soon hear the terrible cracking of his legs as he struck the ground hard. But instead, he merely stood up as though he hadn’t just fallen from two stories high.

“What—” she whispered, incapable of saying more.

The proud grin on his face made him look even cockier than normal. “Didn’t know I could do that, did you?”

“No.”

“So you believe I’m a demon, but you aren’t willing to believe that I can jump off a tiny overhang like that?” He arched a brow as he prowled toward her. “You really don’t think much of me, Selene.”

“I don’t think of you much at all—” Her words scattered as he wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her against his chest.

She let out a little oof, her palms coming to his chest to plant against hard muscles and... oh. She remembered how these flexed against her last night. How sturdy he’d felt when she tried to hold on to him so she didn’t feel like she was flying off into the sunset without him.

He’d been a rock then and was now. Even though he’d yanked her around like some kind of behemoth.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, staring up at him through her lashes.

“I was reminded that it’s important to share how important you are to me, and that I’m not just interested in you for sex.” That handsome face nodded at Affection. “You might want to disappear now.”

“I think I’ll stay.”

He bared his teeth in a snarl at the little spirit, who let out a tiny eep and then disappeared.

“Why did you scare Affection away?” But she had a feeling she already knew.

“Because I want this moment to be private.” His hand slid down her back and squeezed a handful of her ass. Or tried to, at least. Her dress got in the way and he mostly grabbed fabric. “And because once you are certain that I’m interested in you for you, I plan to spread you out on these flowers and tunnel my way under this ugly dress.”

“It’s not an ugly dress.”

“We can disagree on some things.” He tilted his head to the side and looked at her with no small amount of disdain. “Not on this, though.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes up to the clouds in the sky. If this was his way of reassuring her, then she had no idea what the opposite would look like. “Lust, I don’t want you listening in on conversations between myself and Affection. Everything is fine. And whatever advice a spirit gave you regarding us, I’m uncertain you should waste your time listening to them. Affection is not mortal. You are not mortal, and I’m aware that means you both will look at the world through a different lens.”

Lust tunneled his hand through her hair and forced her to look back at him. “Why did you hesitate after Affection mentioned traveling with me?”

She didn’t want to tell him. Admitting that she was jealous of his past felt... wrong. She had no right to be jealous, even if he had another woman with him now. He was Lust. He could do whatever and whoever he wanted and she would have to endure.

The only control she had in this situation was whether or not she gave him the ability to affect her happiness with his philandering. And Selene decided right then and there that she would never give him that.

Except he was so gentle as he tilted her head up to look at him. Softly brushing his fingertips over her lips, up her nose, and smoothing the furrow between her brow. “I don’t need to read minds to know I don’t like what you’re thinking, little moon.”

“There’s no good reason for my reaction to what Affection said. I apologize for upsetting your spirit.” She looked away from him again. “It’s not a mistake I will make again.”

“Ah, the ice queen is back, I see.” Lust pinched her chin between his fingers and forced her to stay still as he pressed his lips to her forehead. “Do you want to know what I think?”

“No.”

He kissed her temples, one after the other. “I think you’re afraid of what this is between us.” His lips moved over her eyes, forcing her to shut them as he ghosted feather light touches over each one. “And I think you’re jealous about the idea of traveling with me. Although I cannot guess why. I’m a very good travel partner, quiet, humble, easy to get along with. So I suppose what I would rather know is why you think traveling with me would be such a chore.”

Selene snorted, but then gasped in a breath as his lips ghosted over the tip of her nose, then pressed to each corner of her mouth. “I... I know what traveling with you entails. I’m not interested, Lust.”

“What? Long boring evenings in the carriage while we travel from place to place? Having to eat the terrible food in taverns? I believe you’ve already done that.” He pressed the softest, sweetest kiss to her mouth. Not indulging himself in anything other than a single press of their lips. “Or is it something more than that?”

If she wasn’t careful, she’d get drunk on him. She wanted more of these kisses. More quiet moments in the sun with him as his hands came up to frame her face.

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