His position was so…human, which made it strangely charming.
“I hope you’re ready for self-pampering night!” Ember announced, moving to the center of the room.
“Self-pampering?” He propped himself on one elbow and twisted to look at her. His eyes raked up her body, gleaming with familiar heat until they reached her face, when they flared wide in horror. “What in the hells is on your face?”
Before she could offer even a single word in response, he leapt off the bed and strode to her, leaning forward to study her face. “It has the look of a cursed object. The sort of thing meant to tear out a mortal’s soul and use the husk of their body like a marionette.”
Ember chuckled. “It’s a hydrating face mask. There’s nothing nefarious about it.” She raised her hand, holding up the other mask between them. “And this one is for you.”
His upper lip curled, and his nose wrinkled.
“Oh, come on, Nyte. Put it on!”
“I will not.”
Ember stuck her bottom lip out and gave him the puppiest puppy dog eyes she could manage. “Pleeeeeease, Nyte. The last day of my work week is always self-pampering night, and since you’re here, we can make a slumber party of it.”
He stared at her blankly. “A slumber party. With a demon who doesn’t sleep.”
“You’re staying at my place, so yes, whether you’re sleeping or not, we’re having a slumber party. It’s usually when a bunch of friends get together, have a good time, and relax. So relax with me.” She raised the mask toward him again, holding it up by the top so it hung in the air. In a singsong voice, she said, “It feels good on your skin.”
“And what? When I peel it off, it will extract a sliver of my essence so you may use it to empower your magic?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. It just makes your skin feel soft and moisturized.”
Tentatively, Nyte extended a finger, touching the mask with the tip of a claw to make it sway. He sneered and met Ember’s gaze again, but his eyes softened as they held hers. He sighed like he was the most put-out being in all the universe and dipped his chin in a shallow nod. “Fine.”
She squealed in excitement. “Yay!”
That sneer faltered, losing ground to the ghost of a smile. He waved to his face. “Put it on me, witch.”
“Okay, hold still.” She eased closer and raised the mask.
Without her asking, he crouched so he was more on her level, lifting one hand to sweep his dark hair back from his forehead.
Once she’d lined up the eyes, nose, and mouth holes, she placed the mask on, using her fingers to gently smooth the edges over his forehead, along the base of his horns, and alonghis cheeks and jaw. The entire time, his otherworldly eyes remained on her.
“There,” she said with a smile as she ran her fingers over his chin a final time before stepping back. “How does it feel?”
He let go of his hair, allowing the black, curling locks to fall back into place. “Demeaning.”
Ember chuckled and tapped the tip of his nose. “You look adorable. Now come on.”
Taking his hand, she led him out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the living room. Once there, she released him to grab the thick blanket folded over the back of the sofa and spread it out on the floor. She tossed the pillows and back cushions on the floor next, kneeling to prop the latter against the front of the sofa.
Ember looked at Nyte over her shoulder, not missing that his eyes were unmistakably on her ass. That warmth stirred within her core once more.
It took everything inside her to not arch her back and lift her ass in the air like a cat in heat.
She cleared her throat, calling his eyes back to hers, and patted the blanket. “Come sit here.”
The intensity in his stare did not diminish; not even the facial mask could lessen its impact. His shadowy wings grew wispier before dissipating like smoke carried away by a breeze, and he stepped to the spot she’d indicated, sitting down and leaning back against the cushion.
She smiled. “Comfy?”
“I am sitting on the floor, wearing this contemptuous second skin on my face, taking part in aslumber partyat the whim of my dear little witch only because it pleases her. But yes, I am surprisingly comfortable.”
My dear little witch.
