The pajama bottoms hang low on his hips, loose on my roommate but tighter on him. They cling to his muscular thighs, leaving little to the imagination. I almost step forward to get a better look before a floorboard creaks under my feet. I stop being an idiot and snap out of my trance, spinning around to fumble with my own clothes. The pajamas smell like my roommate's fruity body wash and the herbal teas she drinks before bed. A poor substitute for Marlow's alluring scent, but it will have to do.
Once we're both decent and facing each other, Marlow strikes a pose in the outrageous pajamas. "See, this ensemble I'm wearing says 'hello, I never want to get laid ever,' but your eyes just can't resist me." He wears a self-assured grin on his face. "Still hot."
"No!" I deny adamantly.
"Come on, I don’t blame you."
"You're so full of it." To distract myself, I move toward the window. Only the dark night greets me. No unusual sights or sounds in the forest. Good.
"Look all you want," he drawls from behind me. "I took a peek or two at your ass myself."
I whip back around, catching him with his eyes lingering on my backside before they lazily travel up to meet my gaze. He's lounging on the couch, arms behind his head as if he doesn't have a care in the world.
"Not even ashamed," he confesses with a shrug. "It’s a nice ass. Thought you wolves were all about virile strength, but I like a little cushion for the pushing."
Suppressing a growl becomes a Herculean task. "Don't give me a complex, asshole. I'm in shape."
"I know," he agrees a little too easily for my liking. "But you didn't seem comfortable with the compliment. You're much more comfortable being angry at me. Why is that?"
I pause, caught off guard by his observation. "Hmm, let me think about that. Oh wait, I know. Because you killed someone?"
The amusement drains from his face. "I did not."
"Oh, sorry. Youallegedlykilled someone."
Marlow's glare could cut glass. "You know what,mate?You're sleeping on the couch tonight."
That effectively ruins the moment.
It's for the best. I need to be careful. Here I am, on the run with someone I can't stand. Someone who might be a criminal and definitely isn’t interested in being my one true love. We need to keep our distance.
I cast a wary glance at the door to the solitary bedroom, then at the worn-out couch with its sagging cushions and faded upholstery. "What are the chances I can convince you to take the couch?"
"I'll do you one better," Marlow says."Youcan take the couch."
"How is that better?"
"To answer your first question, there areso many waysyou could get me to sleep on the couch, but I'm guessing they all offend your delicate sensibilities since they involve sex or violence—"
"What? Oh my god." That's where his mind goes immediately? Sex or violence?
"—so you might as well save yourself the trouble of being scandalized and just crash on the couch yourself."
Just like that, he’s already back to being shameless and smug.
No point arguing. I've learned from our every interaction that neither of us backs down. And there's no way I'm resorting to the outrageous methods he insinuated… even if the thought of violence holds a certain appeal at the moment.
With a resigned sigh, I concede. "Guess we're sharing the bed?"
"Guess so," Marlow confirms.
Like we're playing a weird game of chicken, we both head to the bedroom at the same time. I take the side closest to the window. Always been a light sleeper. I should hear wolves running around in the forest if they get close.
Marlow clicks the flashlight off and sets it on the bedside table. Good, he can't see the stupid blush on my face as I sink down onto the bed.
"Wanna cuddle?" the demon asks.
I spring off the bed. "You're such an asshole."
