Page 107 of A Deal with the Devil

She fell forward, catching her breath, her thighs trembling. He pulled her down to his chest, running his fingers through her hair until she purred. “All right?”

“Better than all right,” she murmured. “You?”

“Better than all right.” He kissed her forehead. “You should go to sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep.” She shook her head, accidentally nuzzling his neck. Then she did it again because it made him tighten his arms around her.

The threads linking them together seemed stronger. Brighter.

She felt stronger. Brighter.

She felt beautiful.

Kitty did not fall asleep, but she drifted, the most comfortable she had ever been, until Devil shifted to clean them up. She protested, because he was so warm and solid beneath her. And then he promised her tea and cake and she begrudgingly slid off his chest. Very begrudgingly. He tucked her into his coat even though the night was not cold. Music drifted from some other house, blazing with light and people dancing. She preferred the dark secret corner tucked into the roses with the tea tray and the devil.

She inhaled the sweet aroma of bergamot and lavender and was well into her second cup before breaking the soft, companionable silence. “Devil?”

“Who?”

She smiled. “Rhys?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for the tea today.”

“What tea?”

“This tea. The exact same you had delivered to the shop.”

“I’m sure that wasn’t me.”

“Must have been my other fiancé.”

He scowled. “Stop that.”

“I am thinking of starting a collection.”

“Sounds like a lot of work.”

“True. And I am rather busy.”

“Best leave it, then.”

“I suppose.” She heaved a false sigh and then grinned at him. “Is that strawberry cake?” He had brought a tray to her so they could eat among the rose petals.

“Of course.”

“It’s my favorite.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

He smiled. “You threatened to stab me just this afternoon if I took the last slice.”

“Oh. Right.” She licked strawberry jam off her thumb. “I’m not sorry.”

He watched her, throat working as he swallowed. “Neither am I,” he said hoarsely.