Page 12 of Dead & Dating
"I made it perfect," he says, handing it to me.
I take the mug, wrapping my hands around it and inhaling the rich, spiced scent. It's exactly how I like it, sweet and warm and comforting. I take a sip, and the flavor explodes on my tongue, sending a wave of warmth through my body.
"It is perfect, thank you," I say, smiling up at him.
Milo's face lights up, his grin stretching even wider. He looks like a schoolboy who just got praised by his teacher, and it's so endearing that my chest aches.
Duske watches us from across the room, his expression unreadable. But I catch the way his gaze softens when he looks at me, the way his lips curve up just slightly at the corners. He's still tense, still worried, but there's something else there too. Something that makes my chest feel warm and full.
I focus on his expression, meeting his dark eyes, and realize I need to have a conversation with him.Alone. About all of this. About what it means for him to be the Grim Reaper, about the rules he's breaking to bring me back, about what happens next.
But before I can say anything, he speaks. "We should go. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that Liora will come back early."
I nod, taking another sip of the coffee. "Okay. But Duske, can we talk? Later, I mean. About everything."
He studies me for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Of course, baby girl. But right now, let's focus on keeping you safe."
I want to press, to ask him about the conversation he mentioned earlier, about who they really are and what it means for me. But I can tell from the set of his jaw that now isn't the time. So I just nod, finishing the last of the coffee and setting the mug down on the table.
"Okay," I say, pushing to my feet. "Let's go."
Duske moves around the table, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. His thumb brushes across my skin, and I lean into the touch, my eyes fluttering closed. "I'm not sure how long your tether to this earth will remain," he says quietly, a serious edge to his tone. "But if it does break, just know that I have you. I won't let you fall."
My throat tightens, and I open my eyes to look up at him. "You promise?"
"I promise," he says, his gaze unwavering.
For a moment, it's just the two of us, the room falling away as he caresses my cheek. "How dangerous is me leaving this house?"
Duske's expression darkens, and he glances at Vesper and Milo before looking back at me. "The danger isn't you leaving. It's someone recognizing you and asking questions we can't explain. Stay with one of us at all times. Don't wander off, don't talk to anyone you don't have to, and if anything feels wrong, you come straight back here. Understood?"
I just nod and he holds my gaze for a moment longer before leaning down to press a kiss to my forehead. The gesture is gentle, almost reverent, a soft purring sound falling from my lips, the noise slipping out before I can stop it, and Duske's lips curve into a small smile against my skin.
We stay like that for a few moments longer before Duske ushers us outside to the car, Milo fixing my beanie until it's basically over my eyes. I slap at his hands, giggling when he steals my hand to press a kiss to my knuckles. Vesper snorts as he opens the door for us to scoot inside, my driveway tucked into the end of the street providing us some anonymity.
Milo immediately grabs my hand, his fingers threading through mine, and I glance over at him.
"I'm not a balloon," I say, squeezing his hand. "I won't float away."
Milo scrunches up his nose, his expression skeptical. "It feels like you might."
"I won't. I promise."
He doesn't let go of my hand, though, and I don't push him. If holding onto me makes him feel better, then I'm happy to let him.
Milo clears his throat, his eyes darting up to the front seat where Vesper and Duske are before landing on my face. He leans in a little, the Beta's Adam's apple bobbing up and down nervously. "Did you really like Vesper's tail?"
I blink, caught off guard by the question. Milo has always been random but this wasn't a direction I thought we'd be going in. "Yeah. Why?"
Milo's cheeks flush, and he looks down at our joined hands. "It's just… it's very sensitive, you know? I could tell Vesper really liked it when you touched him."
I grin, my mind flashing back to the way Vesper melted beneath my touch, his control slipping as I dragged my tongue along his tail. Heat pools in my lower belly, reminding me of my impending heat. "Yeah, he did. I loved the look on his face when he couldn't help but melt."
I also really liked that fat cock of his but I'm not about to say that aloud. As much as I'd love to be fucked again, I really do want to get out of the house.
Milo's flush deepens, and he shifts in his seat. "I can't wait till you play with me. We didn't do nearly enough stuff when you were alive."
"Eager, are we?"
