The smile that spread across his face was worth any potential awkwardness of the arrangement.
Chapter 5
We settled into a surprisingly comfortable routine over the next few days. I worked from his dining room table during the day while Malphas either did house projects or disappeared on what he vaguely referred to as “infernal business.” Evenings were spent sharing meals (he was an excellent cook) and watching TV (he had strong opinions about home renovation shows).
On the fourth night, disaster struck.
I was taking a shower in the guest bathroom when the water suddenly went ice cold. With a yelp, I jumped back, slipped on the wet tile, and crashed into the glass shower door. It didn’t break, thankfully, but I heard an ominous crack.
“Sam?” Malphas’s voice came through the door, concerned. “Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah,” I called back, teeth chattering as I shut off the freezing water. “The water went cold suddenly.”
“Damn,” he muttered. “The water heater must have gone out. I’ve been meaning to replace it.”
I wrapped a towel around my waist, still shivering. “It’s okay, I’m fine.”
“Let me take a look at that shower door before you use it again,” he said. “I heard something crack.”
“Um, I’m not exactly dressed,” I pointed out.
There was a pause. “I can wait until you’re dressed.”
I tried to open the shower door to reach my clothes, but it was stuck. The frame had bent slightly from my impact.
“Actually,” I called, “the door’s jammed. I can’t get out.”
Another pause. “Do you want me to come in?”
No, I don’t want an insanely attractive demon to see me naked and wet. That’s the last thing I need right now.“Yes, please,” I said instead. “I’m decent. Well, towel-decent.”
The bathroom door opened, and Malphas ducked to enter the steam-filled room. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of me, wet and clutching a towel around my waist. I suddenly felt very aware of my lean frame compared to his massive physique.
“Let me see,” he said, his voice deeper than usual as he approached the shower.
He examined the door, his large hands carefully testing the frame. “It’s bent,” he confirmed. “I need to pull it back into alignment.”
Before I could respond, he gripped the metal frame and effortlessly bent it back into place with a strength that made my mouth go dry. The casual display of power sent an unexpected thrill through me.
“Try it now,” he said.
I pushed the door, and it slid open smoothly. “Thanks,” I said, stepping out onto the bathmat, still clutching my towel.
We were standing very close now, in the small bathroom. Water droplets ran down my chest, and I watched Malphas’s eyes follow their trail to where the towel sat low on my hips.
“I should, um, let you get dressed,” he said, but didn’t move.
I don’t know who moved first. Maybe him, maybe me, maybe both of us. But suddenly his mouth was on mine, hot and demanding, and my back was against the cool tile wall. His hands, those massive, capable hands, gripped my waist, nearly spanning it entirely.
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit,my brain helpfully supplied as Malphas kissed me like he was trying to devour me. He tastedlike cinnamon and something darker, something not-quite-human that made my head spin.
The towel was barely hanging on as his body pressed against mine, all heat and hard muscle. I could feel the inhuman warmth of him through his clothes, and my hands clutched at his shoulders, trying to pull him closer.
When we finally broke apart, I was gasping for air. His eyes were glowing red, all traces of hazel gone.
“I’ve wanted to do that since you laughed at my Rice Krispie treats,” he growled, his voice pure demon now, no trace of Gary’s Midwestern influence.
“Why didn’t you?” I asked, breathless.
