Page 45 of The Nephilim's Touch
“It does for me.” I kiss him again.
“And I’m happy for it.” Van picks up the disk from the doorstep and pockets it. “When that asshole started mocking Wick, I saw red. He may have been two feet taller than me, but I wasn’t backing down. Poe had to tear us apart. He told the asshole to stick to his age bracket in the creche or find himself at a crossroads. Haven’t seen him since, but I probably wouldn’t recognize him, anyway.”
“And you?”
“Oh, I got diaper duty.” Van sticks his tongue out and shakes out his hands. “Poe said it’d help me be calmer to be with the babies, but it didn’t work. I can’t deal with all the screaming and crying.”
“I can’t see you working with babies.” I snort at the image in my head. “Though if you put your mind to it?—”
“It’s a no from me. I don’t enjoy them at all.”
“My plants are my babies. I don’t think I’d do well with kids either. But I might change my mind in a few centuries.” I chuckle at the thought and his face. “Come on, I have to get to work.” I take his hand, but he pulls away.
“Let me just change into something else real quick. Won’t be long.” Van releases me and rushes to my room. He’s in a pair of jeans and a fresh t-shirt before I know it. I don’t know where he put the duster, but it doesn’t matter. “I love walking with you to work. Fresh air, stretch my legs. Being with you.” His tail claims my waist again, and I lean into him as we walk. “It’s really?—”
And he’s summoned again. Panic tries to set in. What if it’s the demon that wants to fight him? I don’t know where Van’s crossroads is to chase after him. Maybe Warwick will know. Or Pike.
I race to Flutter and Fangs and burst through the door, panting.
“Are you okay?” Lark asks as he rushes to my side.
“Van. Van’s crossroads. Do any of you know where it’s at?”
Pike swallows from the bar. “We’re forbidden from knowing exactly which crossroads is assigned to who. I still don’t know, and I’ve been released from my crossroads.”
“Shit.”
I spin, looking for Wick, finding him with Frankie on the far couch.
“What’s wrong?” Wick says when I reach him.
“There’s someone after Van and I’m worried they summoned him to fight.”
Wick goes pale. “Let me… Let me go search for him.” And he disappears.
“I’m being silly, aren’t I?” I ask Pike and Lark.
Lark takes my hands. “No. You’re worried.” He looks to Pike. “It’s understandable with how you feel about him.”
“We enjoy each other’s company,” I say, knowing in my heart it’s more than that.
Lark cocks a pink brow at me. “Don’t lie to yourself. You’re in love. We’ve seen the way you look at each other. You have heart eyes more than not.”
“He’s nothing like anyone says he is. No one’s given him a chance to just be Van. He’s on edge most of the time, but it’s so subtle no one would know if they weren’t looking for it. I just… Van’s amazing.”
Pike laughs. “I know, but he’s stubborn as fuck.”
“That too.” My cheeks heat at the naughty thoughts of his cock, and his mouth on mine.
“Your mind is in the gutter, isn’t it?” Lark asks.
“Deep in the gutter,” I say. “I can’t get enough of his lips.”
“That’s tame.” Pike huffs.
“We’re in polite company,” I say, making Lark laugh.
Lark waves at Pike. “This demon is not polite company. He’ll talk about sex all day if we let him. Ever since he became an incubus.”
