Page 126 of The Demon's Fire
After a few moments, Skyler sat up. She trailed her fingers softly along the firm planes of Kole’s chest, seeing her scratches on his abs. Marks of ownership. Pleased, she rose from bed, sauntering toward the hallway door.
Kole rested on his crooked arm. “Nice ass, female.”
Skyler wiggled it, glancing over her shoulder at her demon. “I thought we needed a beer. I need to replenish my weak human stamina.”
“Sexy and thoughtful. Great combination. Don’t bring me one of those craft brews or anything lite.” He flung his head back onto the mattress. “Holy Gahya. You drained me, Frisca.”
When she returned, Skyler handed Kole a Bud before she scooted into bed. She set her bottle on the table after taking a sip. As she leaned against the headboard, her possessive fingers traced the hills and valleys of his abs. “Nice.” She bit back a delusional thought.Mine.
She could swear he muttered the same word, the same mistaken thought. She swallowed a gulp of Bud. Surely not.
****
Aftertwo more bouts of lovemaking followed by cold Buds, Kole lay on his back, his arms tucked under his head. His demon had never been so fully sated, calm, or proud.
Skyler faced him, her cheek resting in the palm of her hand, propped up on her elbow. When she brushed her fingers along his bicep, the Phoenix brand twitched, ruffling its feathers.
Skyler drew away. “We can’t keep this up, right?”
“I don’t know about you, but I can keep this up for days.” Kole’s lips quirked into a confident smile.
“Don’t twist what I say. You’ve established your prowess. I mean we aren’t a good match. Right?” She held her breath, unsure if she wanted him to agree or disagree.
Now Kole rose onto his elbow, pinning Skyler with a hot gaze. “I can’t keep my hands off you, and you love everything about me.”
“Everything?”
Kole pointed to his cock, which swelled when Skyler flicked barely a glance at it. “Everything. Some things more than others.”
Skyler laughed as seconds stretched into minutes until she spoke again. “I’m not easy.”
“I know, Frisca.”
“I have a job I love. I work grueling hours.”
“Yep. And all demons don’t like their females working.”
Skyler raised a brow. “What?”
“My breed’s an old-fashioned lot. A male dominant society.”
“I seriously doubt even your misogynistic demons expect women to be totally subservient anymore.”
“Don’t doubt it.”
“Hmm. That’s a problem. Of course, we’re different species. You will outlive me by centuries.”
The smile evaporated from his face, but before he could respond, he jumped out of bed and tapped his wrist. “I have to take this. Hold those thoughts.”
He stepped out of the bedroom to answer the call. When he returned, Skyler was sound asleep, her white-blonde hair splayed across her pillow. He slapped a hand to his stuttering heart.
Kole leaned down, caressing the soft skin of her cheek with a fingertip. She hadn’t brought up the fiancé yet. Another problem. Maybe a demon was just a one-time walk on the wild side. Not to be repeated. Of course, she was right about her job. But he had his, too. He put in equally long hours and faced danger to boot. Natch, she had targeted the biggest obstacle. Skyler would die long before he did. Another loved one to leave him, to abandon him to loneliness. Just as he was getting comfortable with it. Besides, she didn’t seem too thrilled about being together.
I need to return to Scath before I do something stupid like ask her to move in with me or mate. Neither of us is ready for that. Hell, maybe we’ll never be ready. I don’t think I can handle being left alone, being left behind again. Better a clean break.
Still … Skyler was the first female Kole had ever imagined himself being tied to. Go figure. The frosty CLO of the Alliance and an animus demon with a hot temper. They made no sense together.
He stared at her sleeping body, her pale skin, her luscious curves and perfect breasts. Getting dressed, he crept out of the bedroom. He hesitated before exiting her apartment forever. He couldn’t walk out with no explanation. She deserved better than an asshole move like that.
