Page 40 of Dreaming of Darkness

And we had only one more coin. That meant that tonight was more important than ever.

I scooted back, dragging my legs up onto the bed. “Hold me, tell me all about your kinky parties and what it means if we partake.”

Traum’s brow raised, but he too leaned back onto the bed.“Kinky parties?”

“You know what I mean,” I said, crawling over until I could put my head on his shoulder. His claws swept over my hip, catching on the lace of my underwear as he stroked the skin there. My entire body hummed at the simple touch, but I dragged my mind back to the present. To the ever-looming consequences waiting for Traum and me.

“I do know what you mean. Naming days are similar to what you call birthdays, but as this is the first in a long time, I imagine it will be even more grand than usual. Rifa’s family will join the village for the evening. The unbonded Other will mingle, eat, talk, sometimes even make deals. And then, once the younglings have gone to their homes, it will start with a donation.”

“A donation?”

Traum’s hand paused briefly, then continued, “Our power is brought to the Underworld through our time in other’s dreams. We feed off their sexual energy. Our magic gathers it, hoards it, like sustenance and sunlight all mixed together. And once we are capped out, we are unable to store much more. What we do have, we donate to the center to take care of those who no longer dream walk.”

“For my niece’s naming day, we have been working hard in dreams, gathering more power than usual. And when we set things off, it will be with an exhibition of power.”

I turned my face, trying to see more of his face, “What will the exhibition be?”

“For some it was a dance, others a fighting match. I once saw one where a couple just showed off their extreme flexibility,” Traum’s voice was rich with humor, “And you can imagine that sparked plenty of .... conversation.”

“And by conversation you mean…”

“Ridiculously large amounts of sex.”

“Ah, right. Or course,” I said, my fingertips ghosting acrossTraum’s chest. I wanted to be surprised, or maybe even a little judgey about the fact that my demon boyfriend-almostpermanent-partner’s family would have what was basically an orgy at the end of a town event.

But at the same time. I couldn’t find it in myself to be upset about it.

If I was honest with myself, I was intrigued. I had never been that adventurous in past relationships and somehow with Traum I’d had gotten off at my workplace and was now considering joining into the fray of this party tonight.

“I thought you said that sex would bond us completely.”

Traum’s chest purred, “We’ve been having sex for some time now, little dream. But I know what you mean, you are referring to my earlier comment about locking us together, about my cum.”

I squeaked, turning my face into his side, “You’re so….”

“What?”

“I don’t even know; I just don’t know if I could even say those words to you without tripping over myself.”

“Well,” Traum’s fingers curled around my hip, “I guess that means you aren’t ready for either, because I’m going to need to hear them from your pretty lips before I give you either.”

I hummed, slowly untucking myself from his side. “Demons love consent?”

“Your mate does.”

I nodded, “Good point.”

“And to be clear, you would have to take both at the same time to complete the bond. Some demons exchange a mark on their person. A name or tattooed mark. Others bite or use their claws. But we are sex demons, Bailey. And while we could make nearly anyone wild with lust and want…sex is the least important thing to us regarding our mates. Does that make sense?”

“Because you want them to love you outside of the sex?”

Traum tweaked my nose, “Exactly.”

We sat in silence for a long beat, and I was battling the ties off needing so badly to sleep and being too wired to do so. I had so many questions.

“Traum, I don’t think I want our bond to be completed like that. Not in front of everyone. That should be just for us,” I rose up onto an elbow, looking down into this face. “But I want to go, I want to see your entire world. Every part, even if I’m a little nervous.”

“You have nothing to be nervous about,” Traum said softly. His free hand reached up to smooth my hair away from my face. “But I’m glad you want to see everything. We will stay for as long as you’d like, do as much as you’d like. You own me, little dream. Heart, soul and cock.”

---