Page 16 of The Demon Crown

“I’ll heal,” he growled. Greed bent low to capture her lips again, but she turned her face away from him and all he kissed was her jaw.

“You won’t, though.” She shook her head and then shoved his chest with her palm. Surprisingly strong, she almost forced him onto his back with just that little movement. “You’re not healing like normal, Greed. Remember? We have to stop.”

“And if I don’t want to?”

“Then dream about it.” Still, she was a little more gentle as she arranged herself. She laid her head on his chest, her arms wrapped around his torso and her leg thrown over his. “I refuse to hurt you any more than you’ve already been hurt, you stubborn demon.”

He had the sudden fear she might hurt him, anyway. His thief was a person, not some treasure that he’d found lost deep in the sands of time. She was a living, breathing person who could deny him if she wished. She could leave his castle and never join his collection of beautiful things. Time would tarnish her. Other people would touch her, bruise her, leave blemishes he wouldn’t be able to heal.

Wrapping an arm over her shoulders, he tugged her a little closer and pressed a kiss to the top of her hair. “What is your name, little thief?”

He felt her smile against his chest, her lips pressed to his bloody skin. “You can call me whatever you want, Greed.”

“What if I call you treasure?”

“It’s better than thief.”

ChapterSix

She was a horny idiot and needed to get rid of him immediately.

Kissing him? What had she been thinking? There was no excuse for kissing the king of their kingdom, the one who she should fear. It didn’t matter that he was a spectacular example of his sex. She should have had better self control.

And she had better self control. That was the most frustrating part about all of this.

Varya had spent a very long part of her life making sure that everything was in its neat little place. She was alone; she had no attachments, she only cared about her friends and they were wonderful people who might even miss her when she was gone. But her adventuring nature disturbed no one. They all had their own lives that she was barely part of. Sure, things would be a little more difficult for them if she wasn’t bringing in treasure to sell. But would they mourn her?

Maybe.

Maybe they would for a few days or a few weeks. But what would be different for them? If she was gone, it changed nothing about their day-to-day life. This was how she kept people at bay and how she kept her heart safe.

And then this big idiot had lumbered into her life, expecting someone would save him, and she felt like she had to, because he was a king, and now she was rambling in her own head while staring at him sleep.

Varya had woken when the very first rays of the sun had broken through the sand above their head. Spears of light came with the wind spraying sand down upon them as though they were in an hourglass.

His arm had been wrapped around her waist when she woke. His face buried in her hair, and he’d worn a soft expression that made her question her sanity. He clearly wanted to be wrapped around her. He enjoyed lying by her side, if the way he’d tangled his legs through hers revealed anything.

She’d taken a very long time making sure he didn’t wake up while she maneuvered herself out of that situation. She would not, could not, get involved with anyone at all.

And she had to get out of this cave.

The only reason she’d succumbed to the madness last night was because he’d surrounded her. He’d been everywhere with that spicy, warm scent that whispered of safety and quiet. She’d almost been able to imagine the warm mugs of ale, flickering firelight, and soft furs that likely cushioned his privileged head every single night.

She’d wanted that life. For an absolutely insane moment, she’d wanted him to take her back with him. Maybe she’d fit right in with his castle life. Maybe she would see what it was like to have all that luxury at her beck and call?

But that was insanity. She had a life, and it was one that she liked. She’d worked very hard to make sure that everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be. No demon king would ruin that for her.

The moment he’d asked for her name was the moment she knew she had to run. He was getting too close. Sinking in too deep. She’d seen the look in his eyes and she’d known that he was too interested in keeping her.

He wouldn’t be the first. He wouldn’t be the last. None of these men seemed to understand that she would not lose herself for any of them. Even one this magnificent.

Greed groaned as he rolled over in his sleep, his hands automatically searching for her.

Varya didn’t even try to hide her flinch. He wanted to touch her, sought her out as the first thought in his head after waking, and she was saying no?

She had bigger problems than she’d even realized if that was the case, but she would not bend. Not for him. Not for anyone.

Greed sat up, his red hair wild around his head as his eyes narrowed. He peered through the shadows, right toward her, as though he knew where she was. He shouldn’t be able to see her at all, and yet, this man constantly surprised her.

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