“Zelrus isn't just the boss. He's the king,” he continued. “It's not as simple as just disobeying him. I don't know whether he would understand.”
“You said he's a kind demon, right? Would he reallypunish us for falling in like with one another?” Lori looked at him hopefully.
“Falling in like?” The demon laughed. “You're a real fruitcake, you know that?”
“I have been told once or twice.” Lori grinned.
“Look, I want to have all the answers for you but I don't know what will happen when we get back.”
“I guess.” The faerie paused thoughtfully. “We'll figure it out. I'm just glad to hear this isn’t a casual fling to you either.”
Lephas shook his head. “That’s just not who I am.” He was immensely relieved to see the unsettling vacant look lift from the princess' face. “Was that really all you were worried about?”
“Well, yeah.” Lori shrugged. She got to her feet and brushed herself off. “I decided after last night'sstunningperformance that you're stuck with me, whether you like it or not. Obviously, I would prefer you like it but–”
“I like it very much,” the demon interrupted.
“The feeling is mutual.” She took a few steps towards him, reaching out to rest her palms on his hips. The faerie brought their bodies together and Lephas automatically stooped to capture her mouth in a soft, passionate kiss.
It felt strange to be making a full conscious decisionto kiss the faerie in the daylight. It felt real.
Lephas' heart sped up and he kissed her harder. If he allowed himself to forget all the complications between them, it felt so raw and natural to be like this with Lori.
She kissed him back and he swore he could almost sense the shift in emotion within her embrace. It was new and exciting, yet comfortable and familiar – all at the same time.
He was in deep trouble.
With little warning, Lori leapt up into his arms. Lephas reacted quickly. He ignored the stabbing pain in his side, seamlessly capturing her weight under her bottom. The faerie wrapped her legs around his waist and draped her arms around his neck.
“Are we in a rush to get out into that snow?” Lori asked between kisses.
“Definitely not.”
The faerie didn't reply, just smiled and kissed him again.
∞∞∞
“Come on, slow-poke!” Lephas shouted playfully over his shoulder through the onslaught of snow. The storm pelted against him, any exposed skin stinging from the impact. He tucked his chin down and hid behind thewoollen scarf covering his face.
“Give me a break, this is all your fault!” Lori shouted back, stumbling in the deep snow. “My legs are still like jelly from earlier.”
Lephas's chest puffed with pride. Though they were later leaving the cave than he would have liked, he couldn't bring himself to regret spending the morning with his mouth between the princess's thighs. She had been even more delightfully responsive without the effect of the alcohol.
His mind turned to the half-full bottle back in the cave; the one he had deliberately forgotten to pack.
Lephas wondered, should they be fortunate enough to find a suitable camping spot later this evening, if Lori would be keen to officially take their relationship to the next level.
After all that was what it was now, he realised with a start, a relationship. They had admitted they had feelings for one another and whilst there were still a lot of wrinkles to iron out, the demon couldn't deny the happiness that had taken root in his chest.
It may have been the most complicated relationship he had ever entered into, but he had no doubt it was also the most exciting too. Lephas was becoming increasingly keen to get her pretty little body beneath him.
Lori had proven herself to be a sensitive, reactive lover so far. Curiosity ate at him to find out if that held true when he was inside her too. He shuddered.
“Hey, Dummy!”
The demon felt a snowball hit the back of his head. He spun and shot a playfully accusing glare at the female trudging behind him. Lephas was greatly relieved the majority of his face was hidden behind his scarf. He felt for sure his face would betray his lewd train of thought.
“A little help here?” Lori held out her hand for assistance as she struggled to free herself from a particularly deep snow drift.
