Claiming a Demon (Dallying with Demons Book 3)

Chapter 11

The heartbroken lookon Mal’s face nearly killed me. I didn’t even think about it before I was on my feet in front of him, pulling his head against my chest and hugging him close. It was no wonder he was so upset earlier. I would be distraught if one of my dads was sick. Mal hesitated for only a second before his big arms wrapped around me. He hugged me tightly, like he could barely hold himself together and needed me to anchor him. I was happy to do it. I needed a minute anyway. His story was heartbreaking. We stayed that way, just holding each other, until I felt like I could look him in the eye without bawling like a baby.

Leaning back a little so I could see his face, I tipped my head at him. “Have you told your friends?”

Mal said he was close to them, but he shook his head in denial and sighed. “I didn”t want to admit it out loud. They know the survival rate for things like this, and I couldn’t handle it if I saw the knowing looks on their faces. He has to come out of this. I can’t–”

His voice cracked, and I could see the emotions choking him. I pulled him back against me, careful of his horns as I basically smothered him with affection. I didn’t have a clue about paranormal diseases or their survival rates. All I knew was Mal was struggling, and he needed this. He shifted backwards, pulling me with him until I was sitting in his lap, his head tucked against me. Butterflies exploded in my belly at the intimate position, but I pushed it aside. He needed comfort right now, not a twink with a crush fawning over him.

I wasn’t sure how long we stayed that way. I refused to move until he was ready, and he never made any indication that he wanted me to let go. My fingers absentmindedly ran through his hair, my gaze unfocused as I thought about ways to make him feel better. The first being figuring out how to get his family to listen to him. I didn’t know their dynamic, but if Mal was this scared, then he had to have a reason. They needed to listen to him and at least hear him out.

Inviting myself into someone else’s family drama wasn’t really my style. But protecting the people I cared about was. If this was so bad that Mal was panicking, then I wanted them to at least consider what he had to say. I wasn’t sure how, but I was going to get them to listen to him.

His grip on me eventually loosened, but he still looked so sad when he let me go. I put my planning on hold, focusing on helping him here and now.

“Tell me what I can do to make you feel better.”

He shook his head. “Nothing. Just being around you helps.”

That made me melt, and I had to seriously rein in the urge to kiss him. My crush was reaching epic proportions, and I didn’t want to chase him off while he was going through something. I trailed my fingers over his face, my heart squeezing tightly in my chest when he leaned into my palm.

“Want to have a sleepover? If being around me helps, I’m all for you sticking around. We can watch tv and make dinner together, and I can keep you distracted for at least one night. Sounds like a plan?”

“Are you sure? It’s your day off. You shouldn’t have to take care of me.” He looked tentatively hopeful, which was cute.

I smiled softly. “I’m sure. I like being around you, too.”

* * *

I did my best to keep Mal distracted for the rest of the afternoon. It was easier than I thought since he’d never seen any of my favorite reality tv shows. Those, plus my amazing commentary, kept him relaxed and distracted. I even saw a few smiles peek out when I went off on a rant about how the people on the screen were making stupid choices. Reality tv is so fun. It’s easy to judge when you aren’t there in the moment, and I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt over it.

Aside from when we cooked dinner, Mal stuck close to me. We cuddled on the couch with me tucked against his side and I absolutely loved it. If things weren’t so rough right now, I might’ve given in to asking him out. I’d kept that question from popping out of my mouth for every massage session we’d had so far, but this parody of domestic bliss was making me feel antsy. I wanted more, and I wasn’t sure how long I could keep that to myself.

“Are you sure you want me to stay here? I feel okay now. I can go home.”

“‘Okay’ isn’t ‘good’. I want you to feel good before I set you free in the world again. So until you feel good, you’re stuck with me,” I called from the bathroom. I was doing my nighttime skin routine to distract myself from the fact that there was a very handsome demon getting into my bed. I had ‘we’re just friends’ on repeat in my head, delaying going into the room until I couldn’t anymore without him realizing something was up.

He sat uneasily on the edge of the bed, his expression pensive. Stepping up to him, I put my hand on his head to give him a little comfort.

“This doesn’t mean anything, Mal. I know we’re just friends. You said I’m good at distracting you, so I want to help. If you’re really uncomfortable, you don’t have to–”

Lifting his head, he studied me. “I’m not. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

Smiling softly, I tugged at his shirt. I didn”t have any clothes that would fit him, but I didn’t want him sleeping uncomfortably either. “You can’t. You’re always welcome. So get comfortable and get into bed. I’ve got an early appointment tomorrow and I’m a grouch and a half if I don’t get enough sleep.”

I gave him privacy while he stripped down to his boxers, checking the locks like I did every night and making sure my phone alarm was set. I almost whimpered, seeing the massive demon waiting for me when I got back to my room. I had to purposely turn on to my side to hide the fact that seeing him mostly undressed in my bed left me all hot and bothered. This was what I got for being so eager to help everyone. A sexy as sin demon in my bed who I absolutely couldn’t touch. I must be a glutton for punishment.

“Good night,” Mal murmured in the dark of the room.

“Good night. Sleep well.”

I snuggled into my pillow, trying my best to ignore the heat coming off the man behind me. I had to abandon my body pillow, since my bed wasn’t wide enough to fit Mal with it still on the bed, which left absolutely no barrier between me and him. I tried to focus, meditate, anything to get my mind to relax, but it felt like I was in tune to everything he did, every breath he took. It didn’t take me long to realize he wasn’t going to sleep either.

“You okay?”

He hummed, his voice a little stiff. “I’m fine.”

Turning over, I tried to make out his expression with the limited light coming from the kitchen. I always left the light above the stove on in case I needed a glass of water or something in the middle of the night. It wasn’t enough for me to read Mal’s face, though. It was his body language that gave him away. He was tense again, his body stiff as a board, and his breathing was too forced.

“Mal? If this is too weird–”

He shifted, looking towards me. “It’s not that. I just… I’m finding it really hard to lie next to you and not touch you.”

My heart stuttered in my chest, and I swallowed hard. “What… What do you mean?”

He turned onto his side and faced me, running his claws through my hair, making me shiver. I kept waiting for him to say something to spell it out, but Mal wasn’t much of a talker. Instead, he leaned closer, his lips brushing so lightly against mine, I thought I imagined it. I sucked in a shaky breath, a whimper clawing up my throat when he pulled away. I couldn’t stop myself from lurching forward, pressing my lips more firmly against his. I’d had dreams almost nightly about Mal and I almost worried this was another one. But as I felt the pinch of his teeth when he nipped my lower lip, all my resolve disintegrated.

Shoving his shoulder, I forced him onto his back, throwing my leg over his hips to straddle him when he settled. One of his hands rested on the back of my head, drawing me closer so he could tease my lips with his tongue. When I opened up and slid my tongue along his, he groaned low. I explored his mouth, my hands moving over his chest like they did in my dream. I felt my stomach tighten at the reminder, and when I shifted enough to grind my hips against his, I saw stars.

Ripping my mouth away from his, I panted as I stared down at him. He looked good enough to eat, his lips swollen and his heated stare locked on my mouth. I leaned closer, pausing just out of range. Some people automatically assumed with my size that I was never in the lead. They found out pretty quickly that I was a bit of a bossy bottom and, with the way Mal was looking at me right now, I got the feeling he wouldn’t mind.

“You said you needed a distraction. I have the perfect distraction in mind.”