Page 27 of Dead & Dating
I’m still in my pumpkin-headed demon form, the carved mouth stretched wide in a grin as I look down at Esme, nestled in the pile of blankets she was trying to make into a nest. Her orange hair’s a wild halo against the dark fabric, and her blue eyes sparkle with that sassy fire I’ve always loved.
Her hands are flat against my chest, her translucent touch somehow solid against my skin, and the way she’s looking at me makes my heart thump hard. I’ve always been the quirky one, the demon with a pumpkin obsession, but with Esme, I feel like I’m enough, head or no head.
Though I’m not going to show her that version yet.
Her scent hits me like a wave, vanilla and honey so thick it’s practically dripping down my throat. I quickly strip her of her shirt and bra, eager to be inside her and draw out that pleasured look on her face when she comes. It’s been a while since Esme and Vesper invited me to play and it’s been too long since I tasted her, even if that was just yesterday.
Slick glistens on her thighs, catching the dim light in her room, a soft, needy moan falling from her lips, the sound pulling at every instinct I’ve got. I grin wider, the jagged edges of my pumpkin mouth stretching as I peel off her pants next, my fingers brushing her slick-soaked thighs. A whimper pulls from her throat, her legs parting like an invitation.
“Fuck, Esme,” I murmur, my voice echoing oddly through my carved head, “you’re so ready for me.” I lean down, my leathery tail swishing behind me, and kiss her stomach, my lips grazing her skin. She trembles beneath my touch and I can’t wait any longer. I settle between her thighs, stripping off my own pants, the only clothes I wear in this form, my cock hard and aching, precum beading at the tip.
I glance up at her for permission before sliding into her slow, so slow, wanting to feel every inch of her tight, wet pussy. She’s slick and warm, her hands moving to grip my shoulders like she never wants to let go, and I groan, the sound rumbling through my chest.
I fuck her lovingly, each thrust drawing out more of the little screams I like so much. Terror is a powerful drug but pleasure?Herpleasure? Is even better. Her nails dig deeper into my shoulders, those blue eyes of hers half-closed, her lips parted as she gasps. My pumpkin head feels right for this moment, but I need more. I need to kiss her,reallykiss her. I focus, shifting my head back to my human form, the pumpkin melting away to reveal my wavy hair and the green eyes she first saw me with. Esme blinks up at me, surprised, and I grin, leaning down to capture her lips. “I needed to kiss you,” I purr.
She hums into the embrace and kisses me back, her tongue teasing mine. “You’re ridiculous,” she murmurs, but there’s love in her voice. I thrust deeper inside of her, feeling her clench around me, the squeeze on my cock tipping me over the edge. I spill inside her, a low groan escaping as my cock pulses, fillingher with warmth. She comes right after, her pussy fluttering around me, her moan high and sweet as her body shakes.
“We’re doing that again,” I say, still catching my breath, my hands sliding up her sides.
Esme’s eyes widen, a grin tugging at her lips. “Wait, you’re hard again, already?”
I nibble at her chin, then her neck, my teeth grazing her skin just enough to make her shiver. “I will always be ready for you, Esme,” I muse, already moving again, fucking into her with slow, deep thrusts, her slick and my cum making obscene, wet sounds that fill the room. Her scent blooms everywhere, so strong it’s like I’m drowning in her, and I love it. “You’re going to be my new obsession,” I murmur, kissing her throat. “Fuck, you already were. I can’t wait until Duske makes you ours for real.”
She smiles, her hands sliding into my hair, tugging gently. “You’re already mine, Milo.”
My heart flips, and I grin, my tail swishing happily behind me. I’m about to lean in for another kiss when a thought hits me. “Fuck, I forgot to use my tail.” I shift to the side a little, letting the leathery tip curl around her thigh, teasing toward her clit. “Okay, I’m going to make you come again.”
Esme’s eyes go wide, and she laughs, pushing at my chest. “We have more time, Milo, we don’t need to do it all now!”
I kiss her hard, swallowing her protest, and start fucking into her again. Her desperate whimpers fill the air as I lose myself in her, in the way she feels, the way she sounds. “I’m going to love you, now, dove. Forever. It’s a really long time but I’m going to do it. Fuck, you feel perfect.”
It’s soft but I hear it.
“I love you, too, Milo.”
I also make her repeat it but I can do better than that. I’m going to make her come as many times as she needs to. I’m going to show her how much I love her.
Chapter 17
Vesper
I'm ticked off, anger simmering just beneath my skin like a live wire. Liora finally left after we spent an exhausting hour convincing her that we were just trying to get rid of Esme's spirit, that she wasn't really there. The lies tasted bitter on my tongue, but necessary. In reality, Duske did a lot of weird shit to make her believe it was all fake—manipulating shadows, creating illusions, bending reality in ways that are probably breaking every rule in the book. But who cares at this point?
The house settles into quiet after her departure, the tension slowly bleeding out of the air. Then Esme's sweet scent hits my nose, vanilla and honey with an undertone of contentment, telling me that Milo is taking good care of her upstairs. Which means Duske and I can focus on the real problem: getting rid of Liora permanently.
We settle at the kitchen table with cups of coffee, a rather practiced staple since Milo chose it as one of his many obsessions, the silence between us comfortable but weighted with everything we need to discuss. Duske stares at the pumpkincreamer sitting on the counter, contemplating his decision for several seconds before reaching for it. He pours a generous amount into his coffee, swirls it around, and takes a sip. His face immediately contorts in disgust, and he pushes the cup away like it personally offended him.
I can't help but laugh. "I have no idea why you would try that. The only sweet thing you like is Esme."
Duske throws me a finger without looking up, already pulling out his phone and scrolling through something. No doubt he's trying to figure out logistics because even if we wanted to, we couldn't stay here. Not with the funeral tomorrow. Not with everything spiraling out of control.
"I have a few places I'm thinking of," Duske says, his voice distant as he continues scrolling. "A few properties I've bought over the years. It wouldn't take that much to get set up."
I almost ask him to take us to the one on the lake before my phone rings, cutting through the moment. I glance at the screen and frown. The morgue. That's not a call I was expecting so soon. I answer and put it on speaker, setting the phone on the table between us.
"Mr. Cortez?" a woman's voice comes through, professional and clipped.
The phony name I gave the lady sounds even more stupid when I hear her say it aloud. "Speaking."
