Page 64 of The Tenth Muse

“I promise it’s me, not magic.”

When Donella turns her head and her nose brushes slowly against mine, I think it might turn into a kiss but she stays there.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why didn’t you say anything before?”

“Oh.” I bring my feet back fully to the ground and my eyes to hers. “I was scared. Not like that,” I say quickly to the scrunched up features of her face, “I was scared you wouldn’t want a human, that it would be disrespectful for a human to pursue you. I didn’t want to make things weird between us if you said no and then didn’t want me in your home anymore. I didn’t want you tothink I wanted a quick hookup just to say I slept with a demon, or make you feel over-sexualized because of your horns or your tail.”

“What about my tail?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say ‘nothing’, but she’s giving me that look again. The one that says ‘say your full thought, be honest with me’.

“It … you move it really fast.”

Donella chuckles and the lines in her brow finally ease. She let’s go of my elbows and I let go of hers.

“I would never want to take advantage of you in a compromised state. Aht aht!” She wags her finger at me, “but, if you can sit quietly on the ride home, and not touch me or make any advances at all,” that same finger grabs my chin, Donella bringing my face closer to hers, “I’ll show you what this tail can do.”

I almost trip getting onto the board and don’t even make an attempt to hide the goofy grin on my face.

I happen to be anexcellentrule follower.

six

. . .

“You’ve done well, muffin.”

I’d sat quietly on the board the whole ride home. Donella only moved to place her arm around me and occasionally twirl a stray curl around her fingers. It was maddening in the best way.

“What’s my prize?” I ask, now that we’re both walking to her door. Donella grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles.

“What would you like?” Looking in her eyes, I want a million things, so I pick the loudest one in my head.

“Kiss me.” Donella grins, raising my hand to whip me around so that my back is touching her chest.

“My pleasure, Lellies.” Donella is slow, grazing her lips back and forth over mine before truly kissing me. She’s just as soft as I thought she’d be. My head dips back to rest on her shoulder, and I savor the soft moment before I make my next move. I bite Donella’s bottom lip just slightly and her body shivers in response.

Donella backs off, putting her forehead against mine.

“Lellies.” Her silky voice turns gruff.

“Yes?” I draw out with a smile.

“Get inside.”

I chuckle, placing my hand against the door so it can scan me in. Donella is hot on my trail, only moving away to set the cup down while I close the door.

“So itistrue what they say about humans.” Her violet eyes glimmer in the dim light. I kick off my shoes and bring my hands up and around her shoulders in a loose hug and start walking us toward her bed.

“That depends, what do they say?” Donella grabs my waist with one hand, brushing her thumb over my lips with the other, her fingers curled around my jaw.

“You give an inch,” she answers, sliding her hand to the back of my head, “they’ll take a mile.” I feel the bed hit the back of my legs but I can neither move nor respond on account of her placing several quick, soft kisses on my jaw and down my neck. I place a hand on her chest, both to be sassy and also to give me space to think.

“You only told me to behave on the board. We’re not on the board anymore.” Donella smiles, her tail making a quickflickbehind her.

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