One of these days, I’m even going to have mercy on him and make our mate bond permanent.
It’s been fun, this little game of waiting. It’s been so wickedly satisfying to tease him, to build both our anticipation by delaying the inevitable, but I’m just about at my limit.
I want all of my demon. Forever.
Today, though, I’m not moving very fast at all. And neither is Callum.
We’re taking our leisurely time after a tough assignment and a late night, and there’s nothing I want more than a slow morning and another cup of this delicious not-coffee.
Like he can read my mind, Callum brings the pot for a refill when he comes to sit beside me, then pours himself a mug.
The demon realm is beautiful today.
Sun shining, autumn air crisp and bracing, it’s just a few weeks before Samhain, and the change of seasons is in full swing.
I take a deep swig of my drink and look over to admire Callum doing the same.
Goddess, I’ll never get tired of looking at him.
Handsome, rugged, and mine, I could stare at him like a love-struck idiot for hours, and when he notices, he arches a brow.
“Like what you see?”
“You know I do.” I set my mug down on the low table between our two chairs and stand.
Sliding myself into his lap, I lay my head in my favorite space right between his shoulder and his jaw.
“So,” I say, glancing up at him. “About that tip we got from Pytri.”
Callum groans, like I knew he would. “Can’t we take even a single day off?”
“What?” I nudge him with an elbow. “It’s a good tip. And the bounty on it is—”
“Worth far, far less than a lazy day spent right here, with you.”
Well.
I suppose I could be convinced to take a day off every now and again.
“Besides,” Callum continues. “You’re going to let me pick the next job. It’s the least you can do after almost getting us both eaten.”
He has a point.
“Deal.”
I lay my head back down, content to spend the whole day right here, like this.
At least until a noise from back inside our room intrudes on our little bubble of cozy togetherness.
There’s a knock at the door, and we both turn to look before sharing a questioning glance.
“Expecting anyone?” I ask, and Callum shakes his head.
“Maybe it’s Finn?”
“Maybe. But you know he’s never up before noon.” With a shrug, I raise my voice and call toward the door. “Come in!”
It swings forward slowly, tentatively, and when it finally opens, I blink, then blink again, not entirely able to believe what I’m seeing.
