Page 54 of Craving Demons

“Oh… ah… sorry. I… brought wine?” She set it on the sideboard and scurried out.

Fen gave my finger another savoring sip, then released it.

“Shall we… eat?” he asked, his gaze blazing hot and hungry and never leaving mine.

My breath hitched and my heart skipped a beat. Something about how he’d said that made it sound like he really wanted to eatme!

But I didn’t think I was on the menu just yet.

“Yes,” I breathed, and he escorted me back to my seat.

He expertly pulled out the cork on the wine and since Lambrescu was often sparkling, the cork popped with a full and satisfying sound. He poured me half a glass, then poured himself the same amount before sitting.

“I’ve taken the liberty of preparing several dishes, all you need to tell me is whether you prefer: beef, chicken, pork, lamb, fish, or vegetarian?”

As much as I wanted to be a vegetarian and save those cute farm animals, they were just too tasty. Today, however, I decided to be adventurous. Usually, I didn’t much like fish or seafood, but I hoped Fen knew how to prepare it well.

“Fish,” I said as he took out his phone and sent off a message.

“I’ve prepared a twist on a traditional Norse meal for you,” he said, excited. “Lutefisk is a mild cod, dried and preserved in birch ash, then reintegrated with a salt crust. I’m serving it with a honey-bacon sauce next to curry-mashed peas and boiled baby potatoes. Since you chose the sweet Lambrusco, it should probably pair well. I hope you enjoy it.”

I smiled, not really understanding most of that. “Thank you. So, you cook too? You looked like a construction worker when we first met.”

He smiled and let out a breath of a laugh. “Yeah, it’s not really what most people expect. But these are my two aspects and my two loves. I love to destroy things, so I went into demolitions so I could help people do it safely. That way, new things can come out of it. I also love to eat.” He hesitated then, as if about to say something, but shook it off. “So, I became a chef. With a longer life like mine, it means I’ve been able to train with many masters and learn styles of cooking from all over the world.”

I could believe it. When I’d checked out this restaurant online, I’d discovered it had tons of awards ranging from Michelin Stars to other acclaims I’d never heard of. Everyone raved about this place for the delicate skill and extreme versatility of the chef.

Our meals were brought so quickly, I had to assume he’d actually made all the different meals he’d offered in advance. I hoped the others found a good home.

I’d heard of lutefisk before, in vague comical reference to Scandinavian culture. I didn’t know what to expect but found it delicious. The taste was mild, the texture soft and melting in my mouth. The honey-bacon sauce was divine, one of the most moan-inducing foods I’d ever eaten, and the potatoes were soft and slathered in garlic butter.

The portions of each part of the dish were small, but overall, it was sufficiently filling. When I washed the last of it down with my wine, I smiled at Fen.

“That was amazing! I’m not usually a fan of fish, but wow!”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“I can’t wait to see what’s for dessert,” I said with just a hint of sassy innuendo.

“Oh, didn’t I mention it?” His smile was almost wolfish and his voice turned low and heated. “You’refor dessert.”

Aaaand… there goes another pair of panties.

Heat surged through me, crashing into my core so hard I was trembling with the effort to keep my legs tight and restrain my arousal.

Fen shuddered, molten desire in his eyes. The heat in the small room had gone from pleasant to sauna in a heartbeat.

I guessed that was my aspect in action, even though I’d been using some of the breathing and thought-focusing exercises Harmonia had taught me to keep my power in check.

That was all out the window now and I couldn’t have cared less.

Then Fen let out an inhuman growl and a wild feralness somehow rolled off him as if he were more beast than human, scaring me and dousing my desire.

What the hell was that?

“Fen?” I whispered.

He jerked back and sucked in long deep breaths to steady himself.

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