Page 80 of The Demon Court

Frowning, she drew the covers up over her shoulders and head to think.

That was where he found her. Buried upright in a mound of blankets while she tried to understand what had happened between the two of them.

She heard his deep chuckle first before she realized that the door to the closet had opened again. She peered at him through the blankets, hating how handsome and awake he looked this early in the morning. The open neck of his shirt revealed those planes of muscles that she’d touched last night but hadn’t been able to run her tongue over like she wanted. His pants clung to powerful thighs that had flexed against her while he used her hand to make himself come, groaning with that deep, deep voice.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his head peering through her blankets. “Selene?” he asked. “I really have work to do today, so you’re going to need to stop it with those thoughts.”

“What thoughts?” She blinked at him innocently.

“Whatever thoughts are making you taste like that, darling. And I believe you need to get out of bed as well. If you’re interested in coming to court with me today, that is.”

“Not really.” She needed to think over last night. Then maybe she could show her face to others without turning a dark crimson.

“I think you should at least try.” He sat on the edge of the bed and gently drew a blanket away from her head. He pulled the second down as well, until her face was at least partially visible. “You’re overthinking again, little moon. Want to tell me why?”

No.

Yes.

Maybe she should tell him at least a little of what was going on in her head, but she hardly knew what it was herself.

So she settled on letting out a long, defeated sigh. “You know why I’m here, Lust. So why did you let me...”

“Ah.” He sighed as well, but then brushed his fingers through her hair in a delicate touch. “I am not afraid of your mother or her people, Selene. This is not the first time a sorceress has tried to kill me, tame me, or force me to rule the way they wished. I’ve had a long life, and frankly, these attempts bore me at this point in my life. I’ve seen it all. This isn’t even the first time a sorceress has tried to fuck me.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “But this is the first time someone like you has walked into my life. I’m not going to waste that because your mother has other plans for you. I trust you to do what is right for you.”

“What if what is right for me is the same plan as my mother?” She knew her eyes were wide and perhaps a little shiny. “What if I ruin all this? What if I break you and bring this kingdom to its knees?”

He leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. Lust inhaled, taking a deep, long breath that was as measured as it was sad. “Then such will be the way I fall. It’s you, Selene. Only you are making this decision.”

She squeezed her eyes shut as her heart felt like it was breaking. “That feels like a lot of pressure.”

“I’ve lived a thousand years, Selene. Ten of your lifetimes, if you’re lucky, twenty lifetimes of the unlucky. I have seen humans live and die and kingdoms change and people grow. It has been a long life. A good life.” He pressed his lips to her forehead and smiled against her skin. “And now I have met you. I can safely say that these last few weeks have been the most entertaining of all my years. Do with me as you will, sorceress. And I will be at your feet, thanking you for whatever you decide.”

He drew away from her even as she wanted him to hold her against his chest. It didn’t feel fair that he’d been able to withdraw from her arms when she wanted him... here. In bed. She wanted him to scoop her back up and hold her against his heartbeat for a little while longer.

Maybe then she could sort through these feelings. These strange emotions wouldn’t let go of her heart.

As she stared at him, golden in the morning sunlight, she knew she didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want to do anything that would take that smile off his face.

Swallowing hard, she looked down into her lap. “You didn’t... Last night... I mean, I thought you would—“

Selene had no idea how to ask why he hadn’t fucked her. She’d been begging for it. She’d even grabbed his cock and asked him to put it inside her. She didn’t know any other way to make it more clear that she wanted to have sex with him. He’d been the one to deny her, and that shocked Selene to her very core.

“You weren’t entirely ready,” he replied. Then shrugged. “I didn’t want there to be any regret this morning. Any more than I knew would be there regardless, that is.”

“Why?”

She looked up at him when he didn’t immediately reply. Lust’s eyes had wandered, staring over her shoulder as though lost in his thoughts. Perhaps he didn’t even know the answer.

She’d never heard anyone claim that Lust had much control. If it was offered, he took. He even took when there was the smallest hint that someone wanted something. The next morning be damned.

Lust was fleeting, wasn’t it? The emotion itself heralded a short, enjoyable time and then the two people, or more, would move on. That’s why so many in the kingdom loved it here and loved his festivals. They were enjoyable for a time, and then they went about their normal lives.

So why had he stopped? Why had he held himself back?

Finally, he murmured, “It is a strange feeling, you know.”

“What feeling?” Her heart stuttered in her chest.

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