Davarox lingered in the doorway as he watched Rosalind and Lazerath explore the private chamber at Temptation. The bed designed for multiple demons took up most of the space, the singular chair sat in the corner, and the cabinet with supplies on the opposite wall.
A list. He’d made a fucking list—more than one, actually—of things he thought they might get to tonight. Assuming everyone was still consenting and he hadn’t frightened them away after the first trial.
But he’d also made a decision. As he’d watched Rosalind sleep so peacefully in his bed, realized how much she trusted him to close her eyes after everything he showed her, he knew that he needed to be done hiding. If this woman could come into his home so easily and risk her vulnerabilitieswithhim, of all demons, he needed to grow the fuck up and be honest with himself.
That was the source of his nerves.
“This sure sets a mood,” Lazerath said from the side of the bed.
Rosalind peeked over his shoulder, where the red demon had opened the drawer containing the bottles of oil and lubrication.
She hummed. “We’ll probably use at least a third of it.”
His head whipped to her. “A third?”
“If you think you can last that long.” Her dark eyes slid across the room to where Dav stood. “I’m sure Davarox and I can keep ourselves entertained until we’re done.”
Laz leaned down to her eye level and smirked. “I guess we’ll see who taps out first.” He straightened and turned to Dav. “So, uh, how does this go?”
Davarox pushed off the locked door, realizing he needed to stop being in the background and actually take charge. It felt similar to slipping on a mask, or, perhaps more accurately, taking off one. And as nervous as he was, falling deeper into himself than he had the first time they’d been together seemed easier.
Maybe if things went poorly, he could pretend this part of him wasn’t… him.
“Every new activity requires consent,” he said to distract himself, taking his time as he walked farther into the room. “I will check in between those moments as well, but ifat any time someone says stop, we stop. No judgement. This is the time to overcommunicate.”
He said the last bit to Lazerath, who nodded. “Yeah, yes, I’m pretty good at that.”
Dav glanced at Rosalind, whose hands were flexing at her sides. “Nervous, baby?”
“Yes and no,” she said, wiping her palms on her pants. “The good kind. Anticipation.”
Dav smirked at that, thankful she at least had some experience with these desires before.
“Good.” He finished his path to stand before them, tail flicking, and let the rest of his guard fall. “Lazerath, the rope from the supplies.”
The red demon cleared his throat before striding to the cabinet and cautiously opening the doors. Dav watched him stiffen as he took in the contents, half of which even Dav wasn’t personally interested in but was curious if it might catch Rose’s or Laz’s attention.
Dutifully, Lazerath bypassed them all and selected the rope before bringing it over to Dav.
Rose’s eyes had gone dark, like she knew where things were headed, so when Davarox uncoiled the rope, she was nodding before he asked.
“That’s good, baby, but I’m still going to ask if you’re okay with your hands being tied behind your back.”
“Yes,” she said quickly. “I’ll use my words.”
Davarox huffed a laugh before motioningher to turn, then glanced at Laz who was watching with a focus Dav had never seen.
“Pay attention,” Dav instructed. “See how much she’s looking forward to this.”
The end of the rope in hand, he teased it over her shoulder, over the lacy purple crop top and pink bustier underneath. Her skin pebbled as he moved, dragging the frayed ends down to her elbows and where her wrist had already crossed over the other.
He bypassed them, teasing the small of her back before dragging the rope down her other arm in the same slow motions. The moment she shifted in place, he draped the end between her crossed hands and leaned closer, breath fanning the back of her neck.
“I’m going to show you first.” He waited for her audible approval before twisting the rope around loosely. “This knot will hold if you tug this way”—he demonstrated by separating her hands until they hit resistance—“but if you need free, you can pull this way.”
He guided her hands, showing how to tug on one end to loosen enough if she needed or wanted to get out on her own.
“You say stop, but if it gets to be too much, you are also in control.”
