But I shouldn’t think about that. She belongs to Rhune.
“What do you say?” I ask again, wanting any excuse to be close to her. “Let me show you around. I think you will like it.”
Please, please, please…
“Okay,” she says reluctantly. “Lead the way.”
7
Willow
I followthe turquoise-colored demon out of Rhune’s room, mesmerized by the way the faint blue light of the roots bounces off his long hair. It flows down past his shoulders, colored the shade of the Caribbean sea in the summertime. The contrast of his dark horns against that serene green-blue is stark, and something deep inside me longs to reach out and grab onto them, to see what the ridges would feel like beneath my fingertips, my tongue…
Heat climbs up my neck as I drop my gaze, my eyes unwittingly landing on the strange tail flicking at his back. The sight of the two-tipped tail makes my mind travel, and soon I’m wondering whetherotherparts of his body are doubled, too.
Bad Willow. I refuse to fall prey to Stockholm syndrome. It’s not going to be me.
That’s what this strange feeling is in my chest, right? It has to be. There’s no way I’m actually physically attracted to ademon.Certainly not so soon after I’ve had my heart ripped out of my chest.
At the thought of Nathan and his betrayal, pain thrums through my body, and I stumble forward. I brace myself for thecrash that never comes. Instead, a pair of powerful arms wrap around my body, holding me aloft and saving me from tumbling to the ground.
“Thank you.” Heat fills my cheeks at the feel of his clawed hands pressing into my sides. “Um… You can let go now.”
“But you feel so good. So tempting...” His hand curls around my stomach, fingertips digging into the soft flesh. A shiver runs the length of my spine, and I find myself leaning into his touch, craving more. A purr rumbles in his throat as his other hand snaps up, wrapping around my neck. His claws gently scrape against my pulse points, thrilling me and filling me with a sense of impending danger.
“W-what are you doing?”
In response, Nyx lowers his head, burying his face in my hair as he takes a deep inhale. “It’s not fair that Rhune found you first. Something so rare and beautiful… maybe I should hide you away and keep you for myself.”
His body shivers, and I feeltwodistinct objects press into my upper back.
Sweet Lord! Hedoeshave two cocks.
So shaken by this revelation, I don’t realize Nyx’s hand creeping lower—not until it dips beneath my makeshift dress.
“Hey! Keep those paws to yourself.” I slap his hand away, ignoring the stab of disappointment that hits me when he pulls away.
“What?” His smile holds an air of mischief. “I was just exploring. You’re so soft.”
Her face heats in mortification. Her mind trails to the hundreds of times Nathan commented on her weight, how he would make her feel so small and ugly when he would reach out and pinch her sides, his lip curled in a disapproving sneer.
You should come to the gym with me,he would say.You’d besopretty if you lost just fifteen pounds.
I start to spiral, and Nyx seems to sense this. He turns me around in his arms, his clawed hand curling around my chin, gently easing me up to meet his eyes.
“What’s wrong? What did I say?”
“Nothing.” I drop my eyes and try to pull away, but Nyx won’t let me. “I just don’t like comments about me beingsoft.It makes me feel… ugly.”
His expression changes—horror twisting his mouth and widening his eyes. “I… you are the most beautiful, wondrous creature I have ever seen. I wouldnever—” He shakes his head, angry with himself. “I am sorry my words caused you pain. I will make sure not to comment on your splendid softness—fuck!”
He places his head in his clawed hands, his shoulders slumping inward. “I am making a mess of this…”
I giggle, the coil wrapped around my heart loosening as I witness the remorse tattooed across the demon’s expression. “It’s okay. I understand you didn’t mean anything negative by it now.”
He snaps his head up, his eyes holding a sheen of hope. “You forgive me?”
I nod, a tiny smile tipping my lips. “I do.”
