Page 33 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
That was until one of his friends and occasional fuck buddies, Arda, traipsed over and gripped the table, swaying. “Nex,” she slurred. “I adore your pet human. She’s sosweet.”
Nex frowned. “What?”
Arda giggled. “She showed me how to get bloodstains out of clothes. Not like I need that information, but it was sweet of her to teach me. She’s scrumptious. Tell me you’ve had a taste because I find her delightful, and I’d likeallthe details on what it’s like to have her.”
“She did what?” Nex guided the demon off his lap. Kat never interacted at parties, just locked herself in her room. “Where is she?”
“Near the kitchen with Armand, listening to his woes.” Arda giggled, covering her mouth. “She’s got a whole pile of demons waiting their turn for her sage wisdom.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Nex rose and stalked past Arda. It wasn’t hard to spot Kat. Her scent was never far from his mind, and it stuck out amongst the group of demons.
Stopping abruptly, Nex came upon Armand lying with his head in Kat’s lap, Laris sitting close by as well as two other demons. All hung on her every word.
“Listen, Armand.” Kat brushed hair from his eyes. “You don’t deserve to be treated like that. Stop saying you’re a demon and that makes it okay to be treated badly by this girl because it doesn’t. Stand up for yourself.” As she spoke, her hand waved around sloppily, her eyes glazed over.
“She’s right, Armand,” Laris said. “Vicky’s no good for you, and she doesn’t want the same things.”
“For the love of all that’s unholy,” Nex muttered and strode forward, stopping in front of them. “Scram.”
They scattered at his angry tone, and Kat glowered at him. “What was that for?”
“What are you doing? Are you insane? These aredemons.” He gestured around the room. “They don’t understand your innocence. You’re lucky Armand didn’t make a move on you with his face in your fucking lap.” Nex grabbed her hands, yanked her to her feet, wrapped an arm around her waist, and led her to her room. “You’re going to bed.”
“I don’t want to go to bed.” Kat stumbled away from him. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. If you’re throwing a party atmyhouse, then I get to join if I feel like it.”
She stomped to the kitchen, leaving Nex focused on breathing as his fists clenched and unclenched. When she grabbed another drink, he approached and took the bottle from her hands. “That’s enough. I think you’ve drunk all you can handle.”
Kat reached for the bottle, but he held it too high. “Can’t you go away? Don’t you have people to,” her eyes drifted to the girls that had fawned over him, “entertain?”
Nex narrowed his eyes and snatched the next bottle Kat reached for. “Jealous, kitten?”
“Of course not.” A blush crept up her cheeks, and she stuck out her lower lip. “Stop taking all the alcohol.”
Nex groaned because her pout had more power over him than it should. He glanced back at the girls he was with earlier and considered forcing Kat to admit she was jealous. Until a new plan formed. “I’ll give you alcohol if you sit with me. Be my good luck charm for our games.” He inclined his head to the table. “What do you say?”
“Don’t you have other good luck charms?”
“None as lovely as you.” Kat tried again to get the bottle, and he caught her hand, tugging her toward him. “You’re my ticket home, and I can’t have you running around here drunk. It’s dangerous. I may not be able to use my abilities on you, but others can. Come sit with me, and I’ll give you your favorite wine.”
“I didn’t see my wine.”
“That’s because I was keeping it for you.” Nex opened a cabinet and removed her wine from the top shelf. “Come on. You know you want to.”
“Fine.” Kat stole a wine glass from the cabinet and walked past him.
Using his abilities, Nex appeared in front of her, startling her. She scowled, and he ignored it, shooing demons into seats, so there was only one empty. He plopped down and grabbed Kat’s hands, pulling her onto his lap.
Kat squeaked and stiffened when Nex’s arm wrapped around her waist, his hand resting on her hip. “What are you doing?” Kat asked, remembering the last time she was in his lap. Last time was different because she was straddling him. The memories warmed her body.
“Do you see any empty chairs?” Nex asked.
“I can—” One of the demons intended to offer their seat, but Nex’s vicious stare silenced her.
Kat almost spoke at the exchange, but a door slammed. She jumped and turned to her parents’ door shut and three demons backing away from it.
“I said to stayoutof that room.” Nex growled, making the windows and walls shake. “Take it somewhere else.” Nex maintained his glare at the offenders until they were nowhere near the door.
His gaze returned to Kat’s, and she opened her mouth to speak, but she didn’t know what to say. For all his annoying quirks, he never touched on subjects she couldn’t handle. There was something about him respecting the part of her that was still so tender she couldn’t stand to talk about it that made her heart flutter in a way she’d never felt before. With anyone.
