Page 28 of Summoning Mr. Wrong
“This one claims the pyramids were built by aliens,” my father was saying, his voice rising with academic indignation. “Complete nonsense! Human ingenuity and organization can accomplish incredible things without invoking extraterrestrial assistance.”
Deus’s mouth twitched with suppressed amusement. “I couldn’t agree more, Professor Moore. Humans are remarkably capable when properly motivated.”
I caught his eye across the room, and he winked, the gesture so quick my parents wouldn’t notice. A private joke between us—the ancient being pretending to debate ancient history with a human expert.
The evening wound down around ten, with my parents saying they needed to get back to their hotel. Deus and I walked them to the door, accepting hugs from my mother and a firm handshake from my father.
“It was lovely meeting you, Deus,” my mother said, her eyes twinkling with something that made me nervous. “I hope we see more of you in the future.”
“I hope so too, Mrs. Moore,” Deus replied with perfect sincerity. “Your son is… special to me.”
The way he said it, with such genuine warmth, made something twist in my chest. Was he just playing a role, or did he mean it?
After my parents left, Deus immediately kicked off his shoes with a groan of relief. “Human footwear is torture. No wonder your species is so cranky all the time.”
“Says the literal demon,” I laughed, the tension of the evening finally releasing. “But seriously, thank you. You were amazing.”
“I told you, I’ve had millennia of practice observing humans.” His eyes shifted back to their natural amber glow, and I realized I’d missed it. “Your father is quite knowledgeable for a human historian. Only got a few things wrong about Mesopotamia.”
“He’d have a stroke if he knew he was discussing ancient history with someone who was actually there,” I said, collapsing onto the couch. “My mother, on the other hand…”
“Suspects something,” Deus finished, sitting beside me. “She’s very perceptive. Kept watching how we interacted.”
“She asked if we were more than roommates,” I admitted. “In the kitchen.”
Deus’s eyebrows rose. “And what did you tell her?”
“The truth. That we’re roommates.” I hesitated. “She didn’t believe me.”
“Smart woman.” Deus stretched, his shirt riding up to reveal a strip of tattooed abdomen that immediately drew my eye. “So, brunch tomorrow and then they leave?”
“That’s the plan.” I turned to face him fully. “One more meal of pretending to be normal. Think you can manage?”
“Please.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve infiltrated royal courts and religious orders. Brunch with your parents is hardly a challenge.”
But there was something in his expression, a shadow I couldn’t quite interpret. Before I could ask about it, he stood and offered me his hand.
“Bed? It’s been a long day of being human. Very exhausting, all that restraint.”
I took his hand, letting him pull me up. “Does that mean you need to release some energy?” I asked, half-joking, half-hopeful.
His smile turned predatory, eyes glowing brighter. “Now that you mention it…”
He tugged me toward the bedroom, already unbuttoning his shirt. I followed eagerly, the stress of the evening transforming into a different kind of tension.
Once the door closed behind us, Deus’s careful human facade dissolved completely. His horns emerged, small but distinctive against his dark hair, and his tattoos began their hypnotic movement across his skin.
“Much better,” he growled, pulling me against him. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to keep still all evening? To not touch you the way I wanted to?”
“Show me,” I challenged, already breathless from the intensity of his gaze.
He did, with a thoroughness that left me gasping and boneless. There was a new urgency to his touches, an almost desperate quality to the way he mapped my body with his hands and mouth. When he finally pushed inside me, the energy transfer was more intense than usual, the tattoos glowing brighter, reaching further across my skin.
“Mine,” he murmured against my neck as we moved together. “My human.”
In the heat of the moment, the possessiveness sent a thrill through me. I came with his name on my lips, clutching at his shoulders as pleasure crashed through me.
Afterward, as we lay tangled together in the darkness, his words echoed in my mind.My human.Had he meant it, or was it just something said in passion?
