Page 18 of January Blues
That one he could answer. “I had no choice.” He sounded so upset, it was easy to believe him.
“So they contracted you to what? Mess with me?”
His mouth worked, then he shook his head. “There is much I can’t say. I was sent to… make your life difficult.” He snapped his jaw shut. “I’m sorry, I can’t say more.”
“So this is likely the person who sent a hitman then.” When he didn’t confirm or deny my statement, I took it for the agreement that it was. “And I’m guessing that since you ended up working with me, you either have a contact at my office, or most likely, the person who contracted you also works there.” Quill breathed at me. Didn’t blink. Barely moved. “Thank you. That tells me enough.” He looked confused.
I pulled him closer. Having a tail was so cool! “I’m making some assumptions here. You don’t want to be here.”
He shook his head. “I do want to be with you.” I heard the honesty in his voice.
“You were trapped in that form, so I just thought you didn’t want to be here.”
“I changed forms, but not enough for my master—“ He bit the words off. “Fucking hell! I hate being under contract, Cody. I didn’t want this, but I do want you. I’d never harm you, not just because you are innocent, but because—”
“Because?”
“You’re my mate.”
January 18th
Toth
Minutespassedaswestared at each other. While it was difficult, I needed to give Cody the time he needed to process the idea. I could hardly grasp the concept. Mates were rare in the demon dimension. I never thought to meet mine. Yet one kiss had told me that not only was Cody part demon, he was all mine. My mate.
Eventually, the silence became too much. I needed to leave. Give him space. Cody just sat there, looking at me dumbfounded as a distant clock struck midnight. “I should go,” I said softly.
“Go? No! You can’t just say that and leave!” His tail tugged on my arm and I fell into his lap. He cupped my face. “We’re mates? Truly?”
“Look inside yourself. Check your magic, your soul, and see what it says.” I slid a hand up his neck to caress his jaw. Now that I knew why I’d been so conflicted with this deal, I could acknowledge the feeling inside of me that had been growing. Over the last couple of weeks, I’d been falling in love with this man. My mate.
“Quill?”
“My true name is Quezalintoth. My friends call me Toth. Though if you prefer to call me Quill, then that’s what I’ll answer to.”
“Toth. Toth.” He ran my name around his mouth. His eyes faraway, almost like he was speaking with his magic. “Oh. Oh! You are. Quezalintoth, you are my mate.” I gave a shiver at the sound of my full name spoken in his low, soft voice.
“I am, Cody. Yours. Always.”
“I don’t know what to do with this. It’s all a bit overwhelming. Suddenly I’m half demon and have a demon stalker turned mate.”
“Stalker?”
“What else would you call you following me everywhere?” He paused. “Hey, were you that shadow I kept seeing?”
Knowing Cody was my mate explained why he could see through my magic. “I suppose that might have been me,” I teased. With him, it was easier to let my playful side out. One I had shoved aside since Basil had caught me. The thought of Basil made me tense.
“Hey,” he tilted my head so our eyes met. “I don’t care about all that. I probably should. No, I really should be mad about the whole thing. I should be furious, but I’m not. You and me feel inevitable. You’re my mate so I can forgive you for what you did. It’s in the past. In fact, your magic probably unlocked mine.”
It was a curious theory. We would have to go to my realm to find out if it was true. There we could also put feelers out for Cody’s true father. With the pretty pink wings, the glow to his skin and natural charm, there was only one type of demon he could be, which narrowed it down some.
He was so beautiful and all mine.
I could feel his hunger rising, the earlier kiss only satiating him for a short time. Leaning forward, I pressed my lips to his. We could speak more later. Much later.
He responded quickly, the passion between us bubbling over quickly.
I wrenched his torn clothing from his body as best I could without breaking the kiss. He shoved at mine until they were in a pile on the floor. Running my fingers over his overheated skin, I ground down on him as I sucked his tongue into my mouth. I wanted every part of Cody in me.
