Page 91 of Demon Food

He didn’t seem to mind my obnoxious twitching. He stood boldly in place as he slipped the cigarette between my lips, offering me a candle next. I held his gaze, hollowing out my cheeks to suck as plumes of smoke filled the space between us.

“How’s that?” he asked after a moment. “Any better?”

I slowly licked my lips. It depended on his definition of better.

“It’s late,” he said. “We should rest.”

Oh? Fucking we?

He offered his hand, glancing back toward the bed as he said, “Come.”

My tongue slid across my teeth as I readjusted myself in the chair, unable to keep my thoughts from wandering. “You are putting a lot of faith in some cigarettes, human.”

“It’s not the cigarettes,” he said. “I’m putting my faith in you.”

Fuck, I was in over my head. He shouldn’t put his faith in me, but he was. He had. And I was letting him, just like I was letting him take my hand and pull me to my feet. I then let this sultry creature guide me to the bed as he interlaced his fingers with mine.

He peeled back the sheets and crawled inside my bed, to his side, where he’d slept last night. Where he awoke inside my arms.

The ember of my cigarette blazed as I sucked it hard, allowing myself a moment to stare down at this stunning feast of a human as he nestled against a pillow—creamy skin contrasting against black silk—gazing up at me like he was waiting. Waiting for me to join him.

It wasn’t like last night when we’d fallen asleep, exhausted from the evening, talking ourselves to sleep. This was intentional. This was a choice.

I’d be a fool not to take it.

I knelt on the bed, my body igniting when cassia bark hit my senses, but I moved with intention, easing myself between the sheets, settling onto my side to mirror him.

Loose strands of his hair spilled over his forehead and onto the pillow, and the curve of his face was perfection, backlit from the glowing hearth, and for a moment, I couldn’t quite believe this was my life.

“Are you good?” he asked.

I smiled, sucking more smoke as I reached out to test the tricky waters, brushing my fingers through his hair. “I’m so fucking good.”

His eyes rolled shut like it soothed him. So, I did it again, and again, and again.

I’d never expected to witness his shell cracking; didn’t think it was possible. But he was shedding his thick armor in real time as this thing braiding between us grew even stronger, like a wild, thorned vine.

I sucked another drag, inching myself closer to him. So much easier without a blade against my neck. “May I ask you a question, Snow Fox?”

He blinked his eyes open, centering his sleepy gaze on me.

“Have you ever been in love?”

A divot between his brow creased. “With one of you?”

I snorted. “Well, you say it like it’s impossible.”

“Not impossible, necessarily,” he said. “Just foolish.”

“And why’s that?” I asked, edging a bit closer. “What makes it foolish?”

“I’m demon food, Prince. How unwise to involve my feelings with a creature who wants to consume me.” His gaze swayed all over my face. “No matter how charming they might be.”

I scraped my teeth over my lower lip. “I think you’re so much more than just food, darling.”

“You’ve not tasted me yet.”

Yet. That word. As hopeful as it was terrifying, it served like a torch in the darkness, but one that would destroy everything if not handled with care.