The weight at her waist tightened, andshe distantly registered that the extra limb holding her was actually his tail.
“I’m so sorry I made you feel this way. I wasn’t trying to ignore you, I swear. I was mad at myself.”
She sniffled, shaking her head against him to say she didn’t understand.
Kizros’s palm moved up her nape, tangling in her hair. “I hate violence, but when I saw what that kid did to you… Aofe, I was so angry, I would have snapped off his horn. Maybe worse. I would have fought for you despite my morals. I wasblindedby that rage, and it wasn’t until you shouted at me, couldn’t look at me… you were afraid. I promised you that you would be safe with me, and I broke that promise.”
Cheeks wet, Aofe leaned up so she could see the demon holding her. His head turned away, but with gentle fingers, she guided his face back to her gaze. “Kiz. Afraidforyou, not of you. I’ve never…” Her lip wobbled, but she swallowed the burn in her throat. “I’ve never had someone stand up for me like that, but I don’t want or need someone to fight for me. I just want someone to be with me. I wantyouto be with me, as you are. The demon who braids flowers and turns them the color of my hair, who uses his tail to pick up my crutches, and the only one who gives me sunshine.”
He blushed, cupping her jaw. “I just wanted to show you that there was more to Heck than work, this shop, and—” He cut himself off, shaking his head. “But I should have asked whatyouwanted. What you were feeling up to. I never wantyou to feel pressured just because you think I’m going to be inconvenienced, Aofe.”
“I know that, but I also like working, and this shop. I should have said something, but in the past…”
Her aunt’s glare cut into her mind, Uncle Eddie’s vitriolic words echoing between her ears. Loud enough she forgot her own promises to herself.
Kizros, however, didn’t. His thumb swiped away the wetness under her eye. “They don’t get any more of you, not ever. You get to live on your terms, now.” The words she’d given him about his family, now turned back on her. “You said you weren’t afraid to go after what you wanted, but that goes for the rest as well. I like doing things with you, Aofe, but I’m also perfectly content to stay here, especially if you’re hurting. I just like spending time with you. But if you need a break?—”
“No,” she blurted, almost too quickly. She swallowed, leaning into his palms. “No, please stay.”
His shoulders loosened as he smiled, dipping his chin. “I’m here, sunshine. What do you need tonight?”
“I’m already going to be sore.” Aofe smiled, the necklace at her chest warming. “Want to help me at least be agoodkind of sore?”
He was already standing, cradling her gently with his arms and tail. “What in the blazes are we still doing out here?”
17
CARE
Aofe
Kizros leaned over the mattress in his room and placed Aofe gently in the middle before arranging a pillow under her hips. Behind him, his tail propped her crutches within reach then set his glasses on the end table. Seeing him in his kindness and vulnerability, blinking to adjust his sight, made the heat in her belly spread.
Then he was kneeling on the bed again, crushing his lips to hers while his body curled into her side, and she was gone. He was warm and soft, passionate and sweet. Taking his time as his tongue teased into her mouth. She closed her eyes, sinking into the bed and his touch, trying to drive out all the awful thoughts from earlier. There was only him, only thepromise of pleasure to empty her mind and replace the soreness with something of her own control.
“Aofe,” he whispered against her lips, and she blinked into the dim light of the room. His thigh settled between her legs and he rolled atop her, arms going to either side of her shoulders to balance. “Are you sure about this? I don’t want you to be hurting.”
She whimpered but couldn’t hide her wince when her hips lifted in search of some kind of friction. “Please, Kiz.”
Her arms reached for his pants, but then he grunted. His hands snatched her wrists, pushing them back until his weight pressed down on the bed again, this time pinning her arms by her head. Not rough, but firm enough Aofe sucked in a gasp and Kizros’s eyes widened.
“That,” she breathed, then shivered when his eyes darkened. “What we talked about.” He swallowed, but Aofe knew without a doubt what she needed in this moment. “I don’t want to think. I want… will you please do it for me?”
His nostrils flared, and the points of his fangs curled over his lower lip. She could have sworn she heard a low growl before he said, “You have to promise me, at any point, you’ll say stop.”
Aofe nodded.
“What’s the word?”
“Stop,” she breathed, trembling in his hold.
For a moment, Aofe wasn’t sure he was going to follow through. His eyes narrowed, but then a coldness slithered over her hands, curling over her wrists and forearms toreplace Kizros’s hands. He slid his palms down her body, fingers hooking the waist of her skirt and leggings before peeling them away.
Kizros knelt at the end of the bed, staring and unmoving.
It wasn’t until she felt the tightening at her ankles without him touching her that she understood what he was doing.
“Wait, Kiz?—”
