Page 50 of Sassy for the Demon Daddy

“And you know what, he was right,” she continues. “If my hands are burning, I shouldn’t be trying to play throw the flameball.” She extends her hand and a few sparks ignite from her upturned palm, forming into a little ball of orange fire. “Now, I only throw if it’s not burning.” She tosses it, and it dissipates in the air like the tiny ember it is.

“Throw might be a strong word,” we both say.

“That’s what Greiko said!” She beams. “That and that you’re emotionally dumb. It’s more of a handicap than a flaw.”

The swampster is the only adult to do a lot of things, including taking a chance on a demonic entity fresh from the underworld. But the fact doesn’t stop me from feeling offended. Most emotions are dumb. But I keep this to myself.

“Maybe I’m not as smart as either of us thought I was,” I offer.

She nods vigorously, her eyes wide. “Definitely.”

“How can I make up for this? With you?” I ask. Maybe if this conversation goes well, I can pick up the ferret from Steve. “And don’t say meerkat.“

“Meerkat,” she replies, daring me to do something. Her brow lowers as a smirk spreads across her face. Fearless. Defiant. Just like her favorite parent.

“I’m glad you’re back, little one,” I say, looking around the room before continuing. “Stay in here. I have some more apologizing to do.”

She salutes me, and I do the same. I’m not upset by the fact that a child has pointed something out to me and better than I could have done myself. Everyone has blindspots, and lucky for me, wisdom comes in all kinds of packages.

Can I try making things up with Felicity? I don’t expect my lust for her will be fading any time soon. And when my eyes meet hers at the base of the stairs, I wonder if she feels the same.

“I can’t sleep,” she confesses, and I scoop her into my arms.

27

FELICITY

“What are you doing?” I ask breathlessly, surprised when he takes me into his arms. The last time we talked, we left things in a tense truce. Still, my heart pounds every time he touches me, whether I want it to or not. Even after everything he’s done, I feel my pulse racing in my throat already.

It’s a little bit irritating, how weak I am around him.

“I realized there was more I had to say to you before I left,” he begins. He pulls back, releasing me from his grip. I’m both relieved and disappointed at the same time.

He pulls me into the living room, gesturing for me to sit. Then he begins to pace in front of me, his gaze focused on the floor.

“I’m only saying this because I think you deserve to know. I don’t want to leave anything unsaid. I know you’ll think I’m just trying to change your mind, but I assure you, that’s not the case. You should have all the information. No more secrets, right?”

“Right,” I agree warily, my heart sinking into my stomach.What else has this demon been hiding from me?

“You said that you had been falling for me. And the truth is, Felicity, that I did more than fall for you. I love you. Even though that’s a hard thing for a demon to wrap his head around, I do. Maybe I have from the beginning, I don’t know.”

I swallow, tears pricking my eyes. The words sound nice, but is it too little, too late?

“I’m not trying to make excuses for my behavior. But manipulating situations to gain an advantage is a demon’s nature. It’s what we do. I don’t think it crossed my mind, even for a second, to think howyouwould feel about it. I never wanted to hurt you, and that’s why I created a situation that I thought would benefit us both. But I still took advantage of you, and I see that now.”

He stops pacing to finally look me in the eye. I know my face must be red, I can feel it. I’m trying so hard not to cry, but all I can do is meet his gaze.

“It bothers me, realizing what I did caused you pain. You’re the last person I would want to do that to, Felicity. I love you. I want the best things for you, and it’s the greatest shame of my life to realize that maybe that can’t be me.”

Any response dies in my throat. I swallow again, and a pregnant silence passes between us. Finally, he turns around, moving to leave.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. I’d like to schedule a time to visit Lucy before I leave. For now, I’ll get my things so I can go to the apartment in Leviathsport. Give you some space.”

I stand up as he moves toward the doorway, reflexively grabbing his wrist just before he makes it to the stairs. He turns to look at me, eyes questioning.

There’s another long silence before the words come unbidden. When I begin to speak, I don’t even know what I’m going to say. The words just fill the air, as if someone else is saying them.

“Maybe you can stay here. To be close to Lucy.”

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