Page 38 of Demon's Desire
“I think you did. I think you’ve been daydreaming about me since you left,” Nico taunted.
Onyx blushed. Why wasn’t there a spell to prevent the stupid bodily reaction? “I have not. I don’t even like you. If anything, I was thinking about how annoying you are.”
Nico bit his lip. “So you came over to tell me you don’t like me and that I’m annoying?”
“Yes.” That sounded like something Onyx would do.
Nico nodded, the motion clearly mocking. “I see. And all the times you told me to leave you alone and go away, you meant that too?”
“Yes.” He was making fun of him, and Onyx shouldn’t care, but the scene on the bridge filled his mind—demanding Lucgo away—and Onyx’s eyes burned. He snarled, “I want everyone to stop bothering me.”
Nico took a step closer, his brow furrowing in something like concern. “I don’t think that’s true. Come on, you didn’t show up at my window to remind me how annoying I am.”
Words stuck in Onyx’s throat.
Nico went on. “I think you want me to bother you, and that’s okay. You can tell me why you’re really here. I’ll listen.”
He’d listen?No, he fucking wouldn’t.
All the tension inside Onyx pulled to a point, and he snapped like a thousand-year-old string, longing and hot fire exploding inside him so powerfully he couldn’t take it. “Yeah, well, you listen to everyone’s problems. Pretending to care is so pathetic. So desperate. Your good-guy act makes me want to hurl.”
Nico stepped closer. “It’s not an act.”
But it was. Onyx hated lies like this. Fake concern was worse than dismissal.
“Yes, it is. Just stop. Leave me alone. It’s stupid how much you pretend to care. Everything about you is stupid.” Onyx heaved, breath rushing in and out.
He was losing it. No one ever got to him like this. He didn’t understand. There was no reason to be embarrassed that he’d come over. Other people’s opinions didn’t matter. He owned his desires. Did what he wanted.
Nico shook his head, huffing like he was disappointed. “Don’t call me stupid, Onyx. It’s rude.”
Onyx’s eyes burned. “Like I care.” He didn’t. Nico’s disappointment was nothing. It didn’t make the burning in his chest worse. Didn’t make it harder to breathe.
“I think you do.” Nico stepped closer until they were almost touching. “I think you care a lot. You’re just being a brat about it.”
Onyx tensed, fists balling up. “Fuck you.”
Nico shrugged a shoulder. “Fine, fuck me, but I’m not wrong. You want me to challenge you. That’s why you act like this.”
“You think you know anything about me, you arrogantasshole? Hell, I can’t stand you!” Onyx was close to screaming, but he couldn’t stop. His fury rose like a tidal wave.
Nico remained maddeningly calm. “Mmm, more vague insults. Is that all you’ve got? Nothing real to say? You want me angry so you’ll get a reaction. So you can figure out what I’ll do to you when I’m mad. You’re practically begging me to teach you a lesson.”
It was true on so many levels. Onyx spluttered, blood heating with something other than rage. He imagined Nico disciplining him like he deserved, and his core tightened even as he tried to deny the pleasure coursing through him.
But Nico wouldn’t teach him a lesson. Not the way Onyx wanted. In a way that showed he cared. Nico didn’t mean it like that. He’d write Onyx off and forget about him, proving his concern was as fake as everyone else’s.
Nico loomed over Onyx. “You can’t come into my house and insult me, Onyx. I won’t allow it.”
Onyx found his voice, but it came out breathy and strained. “Y-you can’t stop me. I’m a demon.”
“That’s true.” Nico gripped Onyx’s chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted it, forcing their eyes to meet. “But I think you want me to punish you all the same. Spank you for being such a brat.”
Onyx whimpered. It slipped out before he could get a handle on himself.Fuck, he was so lost. How had he gotten here? He’d never wanted anything more than for Nico to bend him over and punish him. To care enough to not walk away.
Nico stroked his thumb along Onyx’s jaw. “That’s what I thought. Your eyes are so wide and hungry. You don’t want to be left alone at all.”
“No,” Onyx whispered. He didn’t want to be left alone. He wanted to be here. He wanted Nico to make it all better.
