Page 44 of Fallen

“No nightmares, little bird?” he asked, thumb brushing Alex’s cheek.

He shook his head. “You didn’t make it so?”

“Nope. I confess, I was tempted to slip in, if only to pass the time.” He tapped a finger to Alex’s temple, smiling. “But I actually fell asleep, myself.”

The morning was a lazy one, lounging in bed with Talon and getting each other off once more before Alex’s alarm blared and he reallydidhave to get up and get ready to go into HQ for the morning drills. Talon watched him dress with hooded eyes from the bed, leaning against the headboard with the soft sheet pooling in his naked lap. It was a sight he could get used to, and he was loath to turn away from it.

“What?” Talon crooned, curling an arm behind his head.

“Is it cliché of me to say you look good in my bed?”

Talon preened, sliding his free hand down his chest. “I’m glad you think so, little bird.”

Alex sighed, lingering even though he should definitely be heading to HQ right now if he wanted to get there on time and avoid Nathan’s disapproval. “What’re you going to do today?”

Talon waved a hand for him to come closer, reaching out for him and reeling him in until Alex was straddling his lap. “I’ll go home. Shower. Sleep. And wait for you to call.”

A curl of warmth went through him. “Oh?”

“Mm-hm. And the moment you do, I’ll be here.”

Alex smiled. How could a demon make him feel this way? It didn’t align with anything he’d learned about demons at the guild. Was it possible the guild had it all wrong? Or was Talon just an exception?

“Then as soon as I’m free, I’ll call,” he said, letting his body mold to Talon’s, brushing his mouth in a barely-there kiss. “I’m going to lock up when I leave, since I assume you’re just going to do that disappearing thing. Feel free to stay as long as you’d like.”

“Do you have a knife I can use? Preferably one that won’t burn me?” It was a strange question, given that Talon’s head was angled back as though waiting for another kiss.

Alex paused, blinking at him in confusion. “Yeah. Why?”

A hand curled around the back of his head, drawing him into a deep kiss before Talon answered. “Your wards are lacking, little bird. A demon like me can walk right past them. I’ll put something stronger on your door and windows before I leave. It means you’ll have to invite me back across the threshold, but that’s a small price to pay for your safety.”

“Oh. And the knife is for…”

“I have to etch the markings into the frame. They’re small, though. I can hide them in the grooves of the wood.”

He definitely wouldn’t get his deposit back if the landlord noticed them, but like Talon said, it was a small price to pay for guaranteed safety. He didn’t want anyotherdemons sneaking into his apartment, after all.

“Okay, yeah. There’s a knife in the bedside table there.”

“Good, thank you.”

Alex groaned. “I really have to go now.”

Talon hummed, reeling him in for one last kiss. “Okay. Go do paladin things,I guess.”

Reluctantly, Alex peeled himself away from Talon and stood, tucking his phone in his pocket and pointedly refusing to let himself look back as he strode from the room. He would see Talon again soon, and in the meantime, he had work to do.

Outside, the sky was overcast, a sheet of white blocking out the sun as he drove to HQ. His body was moving forward, but his mind was still back in the apartment with Talon. He’d never disliked training drills or patrolling with his squad. Killing demons was what he’d wanted to do all his life, but now he had something new to look forward to, something that tore his attention from his work. He and Talon had barely begun whatever this was. Would it get easier to be away from him in time, or would he always feel tugged in opposite directions?

He pulled up in the parking lot and made his way toward the training yard. The best thing he could do was focus on the present. He could see Talon again tonight, but he had to act normal while he was here. If anyone found out he was seeing someone, they’d want to know who, and he wanted to avoid telling any more lies than absolutely necessary.

Before he reached his destination, Nathan intercepted him on the gravel path, jogging up and falling into step with him. “Paladin Hawk, Commander Sloan wants a word with you.”

Low-grade panic pulsed through him. Did they know? He didn’t dare reach up to the bite mark on his shoulder. It should be hidden by his collar, but drawing attention to it would surely be worse.

“What? Why?” It was a struggle to keep his voice calm.

Nathan shrugged one shoulder. He didn’t seem alarmed by Alex’s reaction, which at least told him he’d hidden his panic well enough. “He didn’t say. He requested I be there, as well.”

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