Page 42 of My Demon Desire
"Don't."
He grunts. "Stay here. Thorne and I have to take care of the queen's spies."
His words send a spear of anxiety through me.
"Does she know I'm here? Are we in danger?" I haven't figured out how to unlock my magic and I'm not ready to face off with a powerful fae queen. "What about my father?"
"We need to have the element of surprise and if these spies get back to the queen it's ruined. Now stay inside where it's safe."
"Trust me, my feet are too f-frozen to go anywhere else."
They both head out of the house and I hear laughter like schoolboy bullies echoing. My stomach twists with worry about them and I head to the living room where a fire is a welcome sight. I kick off my shoes, but pace as I wait and worry about Reis and Thorne.
The feeling is starting to come back into my hands and feet like needles prickling me. When a shadow falls over me I tense, my breath lodging in my throat.
"It's just me." Kaden's voice booms through the darkness, and I swivel around.
He's leaning against the wall, eyes gleaming in the half–light. His horns are the same shade of black as his hair, and his broken horn makes him seem fierce and striking.
His presence fills the room and everything slows to a standstill. His gaze travels over my skin and I'm suddenly very aware of my body, of my heart thumping in my chest as if he's looking directly into my soul.
"What are you doing here?" My breath is shallow and I'm shaking inside.
Kaden gives me an amused smile. "I came to check on you."
I push my damp hair back. "Do you think Reis and Thorne are okay? We should go help them."
"They can take care of themselves against a few of the queen's spies." He shrugs. "Why were you alone out in the bathhouse to begin with?"
I bristle, then wince as a cramp hits my foot and my toes bend the wrong way.
"Here, let me." He sits across from me and motions me to follow his lead.
Reluctantly, I plop down too, and he pulls my foot into his lap, massaging it. After the cramp calms, his dark eyes meet mine. "You didn't answer my question."
His fingers massage up my calf, making it hard to concentrate on anything but his touch.
"Um... what?" I bite my lip as his hands slide to my thigh before gliding back down, rubbing out sore muscles.
"Why were you alone?" His voice is gruff but gentle. "You know it's dangerous with not only deadly fae creatures but the queen as well."
"I..." My body flames as his fingers continue their slow circles, teasing me. "I couldn't find anyone."
"I was here." He tilts his head and rubs my other foot, arching up and pressing his thumbs into my soles.
His hands feel so good it makes me wonder how they'd feel in other parts of my body and my breath catches.
His scent is musky and spicy like cinnamon and not at all what I expected to smell.
He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending shivers down my spine.
"You're not going to be able to sleep tonight if you keep thinking about me," he says, his voice soft and gentle.
I open my mouth to protest, to tell him that he's wrong, but he leans in and presses his lips to mine. This time, there's no mistaking the intensity of the kiss, the way his mouth seems to claim mine. I'm caught up in the moment, in the feeling of his body pressed against mine, wanting him.
He pulls away, his gaze searching mine. "Do you want me to leave?" he asks.
I shake my head, and he grins in a way that has my heart speeding up.
