Page 21 of Demon Daddy's Nanny

EVA

Istare at the dough in front of me, but my hands won't move. The morning sun streams through the kitchen windows, casting golden light across the wooden countertop where just hours ago...

My fingers brush over the spot where his hands pressed into the dough. Heat crawls up my neck at the memory of his broad chest nearly touching my back, his wings creating a curtain around us as he leaned in. The air had crackled between us, charged with something I'm afraid to name.

I close my eyes but that only makes it worse. Now all I can picture is the way his jaw clenched when I adjusted his grip on the dough, how his golden eyes darkened when I turned to face him. He'd been so close. Close enough that I caught the scent of leather and spice that clings to his skin, close enough that I saw the slight roughness of stubble along that scar on his cheek.

"Dammit." I slam my palms on the counter. I'm acting like some lovesick fool, mooning over a man who would never look twice at a human. Even if last night felt...different. Even if his fingers had lingered on mine longer than necessary. Even if he'd started to lean down, his lips parting...

The dough sits forgotten as I pace the kitchen. I need to get myself under control. Xaphan don't kiss their servants, and they certainly don't kiss humans. Whatever I thought I saw in his eyes last night was probably just shadows from the lamplight. Or worse - pity.

But my traitorous mind keeps wandering back to his hands, so much larger than mine, and how gentle they became when I showed him how to work the dough. How the hard lines of his face softened when he concentrated on the task. The way his wings twitched when our fingers brushed...

I press my hands to my burning cheeks. This is ridiculous. I have work to do, Annalise will be awake soon, and I can't spend all morning fantasizing about kissing her father.

Even if I desperately want to know if his lips would be as warm as his eyes were last night.

A knock at my door startles me from my thoughts.

"Eva! Are you coming?" Annalise's voice carries through the wood, impatient as always.

I hurry to open it, finding her already dressed in a flowing silver gown that matches her eyes. She bounces on her toes, that restless energy of hers impossible to contain.

"Sorry, I was just..." The lie dies on my tongue. "Never mind. Let's get breakfast."

We make our way through the gilded halls of the manor, Annalise chattering about her latest magical theory studies. I try to focus on her words, but my attention snaps to the tall figure approaching from the opposite direction.

Ridwan strides toward us, wings tucked close, his attention fixed on the papers in his hands. My heart stutters, but his expression remains impassive as he looks up.

"Annalise." He nods curtly. "Eva."

His voice is cool, professional. None of that warmth from last night remains. The distance in his golden eyes makes my chest ache.

"Father." Annalise's shoulders tense. "We're going to breakfast."

"Good. Don't forget your arithmetic lessons afterward." He passes us without another glance, his wings a rigid wall between us. Not going to the dining room for breakfast like he usually does.

I watch him disappear around the corner, my fingers curling into fists. Of course. What did I expect? That one moment of connection would change anything?

"He's impossible." Annalise kicks at the floor. "Did something happen? He seems even more closed off than usual."

"No." The word comes out sharper than intended. "Nothing happened."

She raises an eyebrow, those otherworldly eyes too perceptive. "Right. That's why you're both acting weird."

"I'm not acting weird." I start walking again, faster this time. "Come on, you need to eat before your lessons."

"Whatever you say." She falls into step beside me, but I can feel her studying my face. "But you know you can talk to me, right?"

I force a smile. "I know. There's just nothing to talk about."

Nothing except the phantom touch of his hands and the memory of almost-kisses that apparently meant nothing at all.

"You were totally staring at him."Annalise drops into one of the plush chairs in her study room, her silver dress pooling around her like liquid moonlight. "The whole time he was at breakfast. I counted at least six lingering looks."

"I was not." I busy myself arranging her arithmetic books, keeping my back turned to hide the heat creeping up my neck. Ridwan ended up coming to the dining room when we were halfway through, and Annalise perked up. I, on the other hand, couldn’t look at him. "I was making sure he ate enough. He works too hard."

"Right." She stretches her long legs out, tipping her chair back. "And I suppose you also needed to watch him drink his tea to make sure he didn't choke?"

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