And that kind of says it all, doesn’t it?
“I’ll help you with that.” I keep my voice as stable as possible. “You’re off the hook. That’s another human, nonliteral phrase. It means, I absolve you of responsibility.”
“I do not understand.”
Sighing, I turn onto my other side so we’re face-to-face. Looking into his eyes won’t make this easier, but it’ll make me stronger. Or at least make it appear that I am. I hope.
“I know demons don’t have deep emotions. I knew that when I worked up the courage to ask you on a date. Idohave deepemotions, lots of them, but I don’t expect you to feel the things for me that I feel for you. If this attraction between us is purely physical on your side, I can handle it. I’m probably going to bombard you with babbling when my emotions are redlining into the anxiety zone, but it’ll pass. It’s how I am and I hope you’re willing to deal with it because I’d rather have this with you than nothing. So, whatever you’d normally do after sex, do that.”
All of that, and still, he says nothing. Just stares at me. Into me.
“If you don’t say something, or do something, I’m probably going to cry. I don’t want you to see me cry, so maybe you should go.”
“Lilah,” he says as the first traitorous tear rolls down my cheek. He wipes it away with more tenderness than a creature his size, with his purpose and history, should possess. “I do not desire to be let off your hook. Not tonight or ever.”
“Then what do you want?”
“You. Whatever parts you choose to share with me. If you share your body, I will worship it with mine. If you share your thoughts and feelings, I will hold that wisdom and experience inside me and let it nurture my growth, as it has done since the day we met. And if you share your love, I will protect it like the treasure it is, and return it with the fullest depth I am capable, which grows every moment I am near you. I cannot promise never to upset you, only that I will never do so intentionally. I do not possess a heart, but if I did, it would belong to you. I am yours until the end of time.”
There’s no stopping the tears from free-falling now.
His thick brow line lowers as the rivers flow down my face. “I have upset you again, when my intention was the opposite.”
“No, these are happy tears,” I say, sob-laughing when he tries, unsuccessfully, to keep up with my waterworks. “I love you, and I think you love me too.”
“That is what I said.”
“In different words, better words.Muchbetter words that I will remember forever,” I say, running my hands over his stoic, handsome face. Propping myself on one arm, I kiss him. Just one kiss before dropping back to the bed and snuggling against him. “But sometimes a girl just wants her always-literal demon boyfriend to be direct.”
His hot, hard chest rumbles against my ear, then he rolls me onto my back, holding himself over me effortlessly, caressing my body with his hand, and my soul with his eyes. “I love you, my Lilah.”
“I love you, my Amazra.” My heart is pounding so hard I can barely breathe. I love him. He loves me. Forever. “Is it too soon for all this?”
“It is the perfect time.”
“I think so too,” I say, reaching for his horns and pulling him down for a kiss. The first kiss of the rest ofourlife.
They say fate brings people to this town for a reason. At first, I thought mine was to save a fox shifter’s life, but it was the other way around. Helping that fox shifter saved me. And now I know what fate truly had planned for me—love. Patient love. Passionate love. The kind of love that simmers until the time is right for it to boil. This is the right time. The perfect time.
Epilogue
The following year, December 25
AMAZRA
“I will return. Wait here.”
The creature whines but obeys, lowering its dark form to the snow. Two of its heads rest atop the front paws. The third head remains upright and attentive to its surroundings.
Even though my presence should be proof that this place is safe for hell beasts, I understand its apprehension. It will require time and experience before my words become its truth. Its reality.
As I stride to the front of the cabin, my footsteps leave impressions in the fresh snow that fell overnight. I enter as quietly as I exited. The fire I started before leaving burns steadily now, the low lick of flames punctuated by an occasional pop as I cross the open, multifunctional room to the oversize bed at the opposite end.
My actions and movements have not disturbed Lilah. Quilt pulled tightly around her shoulders, she sleeps peacefully, dark hair spread like a fan around her beautiful face.
If all had gone according to plan, I would be removing my pants and rejoining her in our bed right now. Not to watch her sleep, though doing so continues to mesmerize me after sixteen months of lying beside her every night. It is time to wake my sleeping beauty.
Today I cannot do that by my preferred method—licking between her legs until she comes to consciousness while climaxing on my tongue. Such carnal pleasures will have to wait until we do not have an unexpected visitor crouching outside.
