His reaction was immediate.
A low-sounding growl left him, rougher this time, less controlled. It sent an unexpected shiver through me in response, my grip tightening just slightly where my hands had come to rest against him. Like I had suddenly realized just how much I liked that sound.
Which was…new.
But then, I guess now I knew it wasn’t anything threatening, it only spurred me on. A thought that quickly left me when his mouth returned to mine and when the kiss deepened again with a quiet intensity. One that made it impossible to focus on anything else. Especially when his hand shifted at my waist, pulling me closer still until there was no space left between us at all.
The world narrowed again, tighter this time, more consuming. My fingers curled more firmly into him, my breath catching against him as the kiss shifted, deepened further, and threatened to unravel what little composure I had left.
And that’s when it came…
A sharp knock at the door.
The sound was abrupt, slicing cleanly through the moment in a way that made me freeze instantly. My hands stilled where they were against him as reality came crashing back in far too quickly.
For a fraction of a second, he didn’t move.
And then I felt it.
The shift.
It was subtle, but unmistakable. The warmth was still there, the closeness unchanged, and yet something else layered beneath it now. Something darker, more sinister.
Dangerous.
A low growl left him, one I could distinctly tell the difference in, as this one was far from happy. The echo of it vibrated faintly against me before he lifted his head just enough to speak, his voice no longer soft, no longer teasing.
“This better be important!”he snarled at the door.
The words hadn’t fully settled before a voice answered from the other side of the door.
“My lord,” Torrin’s voice came, controlled, though there was a faint urgency about it that hadn’t been there before.
“Unfortunately, it cannot wait.”
The tension in the room shifted again, but not away from me. But outwardly, like something in him had redirected that quiet, consuming focus, replacing it with something colder.
A slow breath left him, not quite a sigh, more controlled than that, but like he was reigning something in before it could surface further.
“Very well,” he replied, his tone clipped now, all warmth stripped from it.
“I will be there shortly.”
“Yes, my lord,” Torin replied respectfully before we heard his footsteps retreat back down the hallway.
“I would say no rest for the wicked, but it seems a bit tame for a demon overlord.” At this, he chuckled before he lowered himself over me and kissed my forehead.
“Oh, I am wicked, starting with all the deliciously wicked things I wish to do to you now, but…”
“…but duty calls, yeah, yeah, I get it,” I interrupted with a teasing roll of my eyes, making me playfully growl into my neck before nipping at the skin.
The sound of it sent a small shiver through me. My fingers tightened instinctively against him for a moment before he pulled back just enough to look down at me. That same quiet intensity still lingered in his gaze, though now tempered with something softer.
“I’ll have coffee sent up,” he said, and I blinked up at him, my brow lifting slightly.
“What, no breakfast? What kind of hotel is this?” I asked, the hint of a smile tugging at my lips as I tilted my head against the pillow. I swear his grin was near blinding, he was so handsome. Of course, this was also matched by the incredible body and display of muscles as he shifted off the bed. And thanks to the glorious morning light, it showcased everyone for my uninterrupted viewing… mmm, thank you, Mr. Sunshine.
“Mm…” he mused, pausing long enough to snag my ankle and yank me down the bed, making me shriek out in shock. Although the air escaping my lungs was thanks to the way he lowered over me, caging me under him before he told me,
