Yeaahhh, that was totally a joke andnotsomething I was a hundred percent serious about.8
"Right, babygirl, time for food, a shower, and sleep.Notsex," he added firmly, giving X a scowl and transferring it to Arkan and Joseph. "She needs to recover from the mission, so you all leave her be for a night."
X made a sulky sound, a pout pushing out his pink bottom lip, but he let me go when Dev gave him another stern look.
"Fine," he huffed, crossing lithe arms over his tight shirt. "I'll be there first thing in the morning, little morsel."
I was almost pleased at the thought of waking to him—and hopefully Joseph—climbing into bed with me again.
"Sleep well," he said and kissed me sweetly, chastely. Just to prove he could, I realised when he shot a sassy look at the devil.
Even with that tiny brush of lips I still shuddered at the scorching lust pouring off him. I knew he needed to feed again soon, but I wouldn't turn down a meal, hot shower, and a comfy bed. Dev had the right idea.
"No sexy dreams," the devil growled abruptly.
X sighed, pouting deeper, and the lust receded from my body. "Fine," he whined, making me smirk.
He was such a sulky baby. I kissed him again, not sure why I did. I was going way too soft on these bastards.
I faced Joseph, and again wasn't sure why he was hanging back so much. It was weird. Was he guilty about destroying Westminster?
I went to him, pulled his big body close—and frowned at how tightly he hugged me back. Like he never wanted to let go. But why the distance?
"What's up?" I murmured, trying not to wince at the bruise-cracking pressure his arms had around me.
"Nothing," he replied quickly. "Just missed you, sweetness."
Yeah, that was convincing. But I wasn't exactlypour your heart out,agony aunt material. I wouldn't confess my worries to me, either. So I didn't call him on his shit; I just hugged him until the tension bled from his big body.
"You gonna crawl into my bed in the morning, too?" I asked, using amusement to cover my awful, awful hope.
"I should leave you alone," he replied, shaking his head and letting go of me.
I stubbornly held onto him. "A cuddle monster like you? Seems out of character."
Joseph shrugged and tugged out of my hold. I didn't know how to get him to talk, or if I even wanted to hear what he'd say.I'm never leaving your side even for a seconddidn't last very long, did it? I tried not to be bitter.
"Get over here, princess," Arkan ordered, holding out his hand expectantly.
I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest, not immediately obeying. I gave Dev a dirty look when he sat back in his throne with a laugh at my behaviour.
"You think you can click your fingers and I'll come running?" I asked Arkan, baring my teeth in a vicious smile.
I jumped when he surprised me by rushing across the room in a blur of shadows and bones. Wind whipped my hair back, and then there was a skeletal hand catching my cheek in a tender touch.
"Must you always be so difficult?" Arkan asked, his face appearing above a mass of writhing shadows just in time to kiss me.
My heart faltered. It wasn't a rough, possessive kiss but a gentle, reassuring one, and I couldn't handle it. I reached up to push him away, but my hands betrayed me by curling around his bony wrists, holding him close.
"I know," he breathed against my mouth, and stepped back. "I know, princess."
He knew what?
He tugged his wrists free and walked away after a stern nod to the devil.
Know what?I wanted to shout after him, but I was too scared to know the answer.
"Bed," Dev ordered.
