Page 12 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse
“Did you think about me while you were gone?” he asked. Something like a tiny flame flickered in the back of his eyes.
I was spellbound by it, unable to break away.
Why was he asking this question? Clearly, he hadn’t thought aboutme—not if he’d gotten used to the idea of never seeing me again.
My first instinct was to tell him I hadn’t thought about him at all. Usually, my pride had prevented me from revealing any level of vulnerability, but now, honesty seemed to come easily.
Every day. Thoughts of him had haunted me like damn ghosts.
That was the real answer, but I wasn’t that drained of pride, so instead, I simply said, “I did.”
“Why?” he asked, continuing with his endless questionnaire.
I huffed. It was time to turn the tables. “Didyouthink of me?”
He narrowed his eyes and answered by leaning forward and kissing me. His lips were like the brush of fire. As they touched mine, heat spread through me in waves. Without thinking, I threaded my fingers through his silken hair and pressed my body tightly against his. His kiss was better than I remembered. My memories hadn’t done him credit. And even though I remembered the chemistry that had sizzled between us, the passion that ignited us in that instant was unlike anything I’d felt before. My entire body pulsed with desire. My mouth frantically tasted his, while my hands roamed over his naked torso, memorizing each ridge and valley. My every muscle, my every cell seemed to call out to him. I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.
I… I… I loved him.
Shocked by the realization, I pulled away and whirled to face the wall. He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me to him, his mouth at the back of my neck, trailing kisses down my shoulder, his hand snaking under my hoodie and shirt with practice. Taking a step forward, he pushed me against the wall. I felt his erection against me, and heat erupted in my middle. I gasped, fighting for air. My body seemed to have forgotten how to operate. Every cell in my body could think of nothing else but making him mine.
“Lucia,” he said my name in his deep voice, a rumble in his chest.
My body and instincts urged me to throw it all to hell, to face him head-on and let our desire take its course, but for once, my brain allowed the voice of reason to prevail.
This thing with Drevan would never work. I couldn’t be in love with Lucifer’s son. I doubted in the history of the world there had ever been a human and a demon whomade it work. Whatever this thing was between us, it was doomed, fated to fail more epically than humanity was about to fail. Very likely, the tragic lot slated for a relationship between us had probably been predicted in crystal balls, voodoo bones, séances, and eight balls the world over.
“Stop,” I squeaked as one of his hands inched closer to my breasts. But he didn’t stop. There was no command in my voice.
“STOP!” I said, this time in a firm tone.
His hand froze over my ribs. Slowly, inhaling a shuddering breath, he pulled away.
When I turned around to face him, there was a wild flame in his eyes, and I couldn’t tell whether it was desire or anger. I regarded him cautiously, the seed of fear taking root in the pit of my stomach. I had never seen him like this, and it scared me.
He must’ve seen something in my expression because he turned away and gripped the tomb. His chest rose and fell as he took several deep breaths. Those short black claws had sprouted at his fingertips and were making a screeching sound as he held on to the tomb’s marble lid.
“You’re scaring me,” I said.
At my words, he shook himself. “You have no reason to be scared of me,” he said, but the furious rumble in his voice told me otherwise.
“Whatever this is between us, Drevan, it can’t… we can’t…”
“It’s nothing,” he said, his previously angry tone turning cold. Slowly, he turned to face me, his face as rigid and distant as his voice.
Nothing?
I wanted to argue, to tell him itwasn’tnothing, but what was the point? It would’ve been counterproductive. I knew I’d hurt his feelings by rejecting him again. I knew he didn’t really think it was nothing, and he was only protecting himself. He couldn’t deny that his body responded to mine the same way mine responded to his. And all those questions, his desire to know if I’d thought of him, if I’d missed him during our time apart. They meant something. They meant I’d also been on his mind.
You’re wrong, a part of me said.This timeless creature doesn’t feel the same way you do. It’s impossible, unnatural, unheard of, un-everything.
Shaking himself, Drevan examined his wrists. “Finally!”
“What’s going to happen now?” I asked, wishing to divert our thoughts in a different direction. “LeBeau went to look for me.” My heart jumped at the thought. “What if she hurts my family?”
“She wouldn’t dare. It’s against the rules.”
“Isn’t it against the rules to hurt me? Still that… Jophiel sounded more than willing to torture me.”
