Page 12 of I Summoned A Demon For A Date?!
Aldaine's low chuckle in my ear made me jump. "Something wrong, little minx?"
I spun to face him, finding him wearing the wickedest grin I'd ever seen. Heat flooded my cheeks. "I'll take the couch!" The words tumbled out in a rush. "I mean I should take the couch. It looks comfortable enough, and you're so tall, and a guest!"
"Rosie." His voice cut through my rambling. "I will take the couch."
"But—"
"I don't require as much sleep as humans do," Aldaine explained, his voice a low rumble that seemed to reverberate through me. He moved past me, his shoulder brushing mine in a way that felt deliberate, sending a shiver down my spine. I watched as he inspected the sitting area, his movements fluid and graceful, like a predator stalking its prey. The thought sent a strange thrill through me.
"Besides," he continued, turning to face me with a wickedgrin, "what kind of gentleman would I be if I let my 'girlfriend' sleep on the couch?"
The way he said 'girlfriend' made my stomach do a little flip. It was strange, hearing him refer to me like that. We were far from being in a real relationship, but for some reason, the idea of it didn't seem so far-fetched when he said it.
"You don't have to pretend when we're alone," I reminded him, though my voice came out breathier than I intended. I could feel my cheeks growing warm, and I hoped he wouldn't notice.
He turned to face me fully, and for a moment, I saw something flash in his eyes, something hungry and decidedly inhuman. It was gone as quickly as it appeared and I wondered if I had imagined it. But then he blinked, his usual composed expression returned.
"Consider it practice," he walked around the room like a cat as if to inspect it further. "We wouldn't want to slip up in front of your family, would we?"
"No, I suppose not," I replied, my heartbeat quickening as I watched him move. I couldn't help but feel a little nervous, being alone in a bedroom with him. Not that I thought he would do anything to hurt me, but there was something about him that was both intimidating and intoxicating.
And I didn't know if I could trust myself with him.
I was suddenly very aware of how alone we were, and how large the bed was. It seemed to loom over us, a constant reminder of the arrangement we had made. I tried to push the thought out of my mind, focusing instead on the task at hand. We were here to fool my family, after all, and I couldn't afford to get distracted.
"You should freshen up before lunch," he suggested, mercifully breaking the tension. "I have a feeling your stepsister is going to do her best to make this an interesting week."
I groaned. "You have noidea."
His lips curved into that dangerous smile again. "Oh, I think I'm going to enjoy watching you prove her wrong about everything she thinks she knows about you."
Why did that sound like both a promise and a threat? With what I knew from him so far, it was.
Aldaine and I sat on the plush couch in the blue room, our surroundings almost suffocating. He leaned back, his posture relaxed, but I could sense the tension coiled within him after Stephany left. His dark eyes watched me intently as I fidgeted before sighing.
"So, what should I expect from this engagement party?" His voice smooth and deep.
I sighed again, rubbing my temples. "It's going to be an extravagant affair, the whole week. Stephany and Jan love to show off their wealth."
Aldaine raised an eyebrow. "And your father allows this?"
"Dad tries to keep them grounded, but Jan has a way of getting what she wants." I shook my head, remembering the countless arguments I'd witnessed between my father and stepmother. "He's just happy that Stephany is finally settling down."
"And what about you?" Aldaine's gaze softened. "Are you happy for your stepsister?"
I hesitated, then shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't seen her in years, and we were never close. But I guess it's good that she's found someone she loves." I actually didn't care anymore it was my ex-boyfriend.
Aldaine nodded, his expression thoughtful. "What kind of events are planned for this week?"
"Well, today is lunch, and it's going to be over the top since it's when everyone is together for the first time. They'll probably have a pool day, a game day where they set up games in the field behind the house, a formalnight with dancing, and shopping trips." I listed the events off, my exhaustion growing with each one.
Aldaine's hand reached out, covering mine. "You seem tired, little minx. Are you sure you're up for this?"
His touch sent a jolt of electricity through me and I looked up to meet his gaze. "I'll be fine. I just need to get through this week, and then I can go back to my normal life. Well, kind of. I'm working for a demon now."
He squeezed my hand gently. "I'm here to help you, remember? We're in this together."
I smiled weakly, grateful for his support. "I know. It's just this is all so overwhelming. I've never been good at pretending to be someone I'm not."
