Chapter 9 Chase
Chase
When we got home, I popped into the shower for a quick rinse and a moment alone to sort through my thoughts.
I’d offered to help Sagitta unload the groceries, but he was insistent on doing it himself.
He probably thought I’d screw it up somehow.
Just like how I’d screwed up and gotten possessed by a demon.
I turned on the water. My shoulders relaxed as the warm water flowed over me.
It was weird. I felt comfortable around Sagitta, but I also felt tense. Like something was about to happen.
“What do you want to happen, my friend?” Faust asked.
His voice startled me. He’d been quiet almost the entire time we’d been at the grocery store, except for that one comment that got him—well, both of us—in trouble.
I grimaced when I recalled Sagitta’s orders to ignore Faust. He was pretty damn insistent, and I didn’t want him to be angry with me.
“What’s he going to do? Read your mind?” Faust mused, flaunting his own ability. “No mere human has that power, dear.”
I closed my eyes and focused on the soothing spray running down my skin. But removing visual stimuli only made Faust’s voice louder in my head.
“You can go ahead and ignore Sagitta’s demands. In regard to this particular topic, anyway,” Faust went on. “I dare say he may know less about demons than he likes to believe.”
I bristled. “That’s enough.”
“Oh? Feeling defensive over him, are you? It’s so nice to see you two getting along.”
“Will you be quiet already?”
“But I’ve been quiet for so long today,” he whined.
Frustrated, I lathered up, rinsed, and exited the shower in record speed. It was impossible to have a moment alone while you were possessed by a demon.
“I can’t wait ‘til Sagitta finally exorcises you,” I muttered while shoving a leg into my jeans.
Faust sounded amused. “I thought you weren’t speaking to me.”
Goddammit.
I stormed out into the kitchen, where I was instantly hit by a rich, delicious aroma.
“Whoa,” I said, floating to the opposite end of the counter. “What is that?”
“Onions, ginger, garlic,” Sagitta replied without looking up at me. He was laser-focused on chopping the ingredients into three neat piles. As I watched his rapid-fire motions, I thought that his precision with the knife was weirdly sexy.
Come to think of it, he was weirdly sexy when he wielded his bow, too. Was I just into dudes with weapons? I thought about some of my past flings brandishing swords and shit, but it didn’t do anything for me. Just Sagitta.
Maybe it was his radiant confidence. He seemed to excel at everything he did—shooting arrows, chopping garlic, cooking delicious food, slaying demons...
“Except me,” Faust pointed out smugly.
I actually managed to ignore him this time, mainly because Sagitta thrust the dick-shaped potato in my face.
“Peel this,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
I sidled up beside Sagitta and peeled the dick potato. By the time I’d finished my singular task, he’d already grabbed a pot and started toasting the spices. The air sizzled with mouthwatering scents. My apartment had never smelled so amazing, and Sagitta had barely started cooking.
“Wow, dude, you’re really good at this,” I said.
Sagitta shrugged. “Not really.”
“Oh, come on. You made my meals back at the temple, too, right? You’re an awesome chef.”
He snorted, but he looked pleased at my compliment.
“It’s no big deal,” he said, sprinkling a dash of cinnamon into the pot.
“Well, it is to me. I can only cook eggs and pasta.”
Sagitta smirked. “I know.” Then he paused, a shadow falling over his eyes. “Cooking is a life skill. I learned out of necessity.”
“What do you mean?”
He lifted his face and stared blankly ahead. His voice grew slightly hoarse, thick with emotion. “We lost my father when I was a teenager. Drunk driver.”
I winced. As if losing a parent wasn’t hard enough, knowing it was preventable was even worse. No wonder Sagitta had been so uncomfortable around the intoxicated frat boys.
“After that, my mother wasn’t the same. She stopped cooking and cleaning. The house was a mess. Since I was the oldest son, I had to step up to take care of my family.”
My chest squeezed in sympathy. Being a kid in that situation was rough, and Sagitta was forced to mature too fast. That explained why he was so serious, why he felt like he had to control everything.
“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine,” I murmured.
“I wouldn’t want you to.”
I got the sense there was more left unsaid, but Sagitta didn’t have the energy to spill any more of his soul today. As he stared into the sizzling pot, strands of dark hair fell across his forehead.
He was beautiful.
I wanted to touch him. Reassure him.
Before I started overthinking it, I brushed my hand across his shoulders. Just a simple physical reminder that he wasn’t alone.
Sagitta’s first reaction was to go rigid, but over the next few seconds, he relaxed under my touch.
His shoulders were firm with subtle muscle. His body felt pleasantly warm beneath my palm.
My mouth went dry.
We were friends. This was normal.
So why did it stir heat deep in my gut?
After a moment, Sagitta cleared his throat. “I have to sear the chicken now.”
Although I didn’t really want to, I pulled my hand away. He seized the chicken thighs with tongs and dropped them into the sizzling pan, then looked directly at me.
“Thank you,” he said.
It was the first time we’d made eye contact in hours. I’d forgotten how dark and intense his gaze could be. And how good it felt to be pinned by it.
Shit. I recognized this feeling.
I had a fucking crush on my exorcist roommate.
After an hour of doing my damnedest to act normal, dinner was finally ready.
Sagitta wiped the sweat off his brow with his forearm. “Done,” he announced. “Come and grab a bowl, Chase.”
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I took a bowl, loaded it with rice, and waited for Sagitta to scoop a hearty portion on top.
Seared chicken and chunks of potato floated in a vivid red liquid.
A single inhale filled my nose with the rich scent of a dozen spices I couldn’t name, but which made my mouth water.
“Massaman curry,” Sagitta explained. “It may be out of your comfort zone, but I hope you like it.”
“Are you kidding? This looks fucking amazing. I’d rather eat this than crappy dry pasta any day, and I haven’t even tasted it yet.”
His brows arched in surprise. Glancing around, he asked, “You don’t have a dining table, do you?”
“Nope. I usually eat on the couch in front of the TV.” I paused, remembering the peaceful meal I’d eaten at the temple. The silence had forced me to appreciate each bite on a deeper level. “But we can eat without it, too.”
Sagitta offered me a loose smile. “It’s fine. I’m a guest in your home, after all. Live your life as you normally would.”
Seriously? Nothing about this was normal. A hot, talented guy was in my apartment and I was supposed to act like he wasn’t there?
I hesitated for so long that Sagitta grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. The familiar sounds of a sports channel filled the room. Except now, I didn’t even care who or what was playing.
Sagitta perched on the couch. I measured a safe distance and sat next to him. A single couch cushion divided us.
I wished I had a smaller couch.
“Enough with the pining,” Faust groaned. “Eat already before I take control of your body and do it for you.”
I withheld a snort. Even Faust thought Sagitta’s food looked incredible.
And then I took a bite.
As the rich taste hit my tongue, my eyes snapped wide open. The creamy texture combined with the toasted spices blew my mind. Spicy yet velvety, it was everything I never knew I wanted.
“Holy fuck,” I exclaimed with a mouth full of curry.
Sagitta failed to hold back a grin. “Don’t speak with your mouth open.”
I swallowed. “Sorry. Oh my god. It’s just so fucking good.”
He rolled his eyes. “Stop exaggerating.”
“I’m serious, dude. If you opened a restaurant, I’d be there every damn day.” I wolfed down another bite. “You wouldn’t be able to get rid of me.”
Sagitta examined me with a curious expression. Had nobody ever complimented his cooking? Or maybe he’d never cooked for somebody who wasn’t a family member.
A blush rose to my cheeks. Was this kinda intimate, or was I overthinking it?
“Chase, your face is turning red,” Sagitta pointed out.
“No shit. I’m white and this is spicy,” I mumbled.
To my surprise, Sagitta laughed out loud. I could tell it was the kind of laugh that tore free of his chest, genuine and unforced. My heart tripped over itself. His laugh was beautiful, too.
Dammit.
“Sorry,” he said through a grin, wiping his eye with a tissue.
I grinned back. “Nah, it’s all good.”
I was just glad to see him comfortable in my home.
As we dug into our food, the sports commentator became a droning buzz in my ear. I grabbed the remote and flicked to a YouTube channel about an amateur river diver who took fantastic underwater footage. The background noise turned from chaotic shouting to a calm soundscape track.
“That’s better,” I said, leaning back into the couch.
Sagitta sat up straighter. Judging from his body language, he was much more interested in underwater exploration than sports. His gaze was glued to the fish, and they sparkled with interest that wasn’t there before.
God, his eyes really were stunning. Everything about him was. I still couldn’t believe he was in my apartment.
Unfortunately, I’d watched him for a few seconds too long. He caught me staring at him.
“What is it?” he asked.
My mind went blank. I couldn’t reply with the honest truth that I was gawking over him because that was weird and I was supposed to act normal.
“Ask if he wants to see your fish,” Faust suggested.
“Do you want to see my fish?” I asked quickly.
Sagitta’s eyes continued to sparkle. “Absolutely.”
Oh no. That was the worst possible answer while I was trying not to fall for him.
After cleaning our plates of every last grain of jasmine rice, I led Sagitta to my room. I became hyper-aware of how strange it was to be alone with a hot guy in my bedroom without anything sexual going on.
“Not yet,” Faust teased.
A shiver rolled up my spine. I stomped out the mental image before it took hold. This was so not the time.
My bedroom was dark except for the amber-green glow of Demetrius’s tank. A forest of underwater plants hid Demetrius until he slid out from behind a fern frond. His scales were as vivid red as the Massaman curry.
I heard Sagitta inhale a soft breath.
He crossed the room and kneeled comfortably by the glass. Demetrius rushed towards him.
“Hello, sweetie,” Sagitta said, as if greeting an old friend.
My heart swelled with an inexplicable joy unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
Sagitta drew his finger along the glass without touching it. Demetrius followed his lead like a playful puppy eager for treats.
“He’s beautiful,” Sagitta murmured. “So is his environment. I especially like the valisneria growing in the back.”
My pulse quickened. I suddenly found Sagitta ten times hotter than he already was.
Was this the fish-lovers version of dirty talk? Was he flirting with me?
“Thanks,” I managed past the dryness in my mouth.
Sagitta watched Demetrius swim around with a tranquil expression. “My father loved fish. He owned an aquarium shop in Thailand before my parents moved to Canada.”
I smiled at the fondness in his voice. “That sounds like the dream.”
Not wanting to be a stranger, I joined Sagitta on the floor. I pinched a couple bites of food into the water and watched Demetrius chase them down.
“I found him last December,” I began, nodding at Demetrius.
“When I left the gym, I saw his sad little cup sitting on the cold pavement. In the time it took me to work out, somebody bought him from the pet store nearby, decided they didn’t want him, and left him behind. Right there in the parking lot.”
Sagitta faced me. His eyes were gentle. “You saved his life. Just like the blue betta at the party.”
I shrugged. “I’ve got a soft spot for animals people think are disposable.”
“Aww. Like me?” Faust asked.
I ignored him, but he did have a point. I’d been lenient about his presence. Then again, as far as demon possessions went, this one seemed tame. Faust just nagged me and demanded tasty treats. Maybe that was his secret goal—to pack on the pounds so he could eat me later.
“Ha! Oh, Chase, you crack me up...”
Out of nowhere, Sagitta put his hand on my forearm.
I froze.
“You’ve got a good heart, Chase,” Sagitta murmured.
My thumping heart leapt into my throat. His face was lit on one side by the water’s ethereal green glow. And it was so close to mine.
Our quiet proximity in the darkness of my bedroom suddenly felt too intimate. Blood pounded in my ears, hot and charged.
I wanted to kiss him again. God, I really fucking wanted to kiss him again.
“Do it,” the demon whispered in my ear.
Should I?
“Kiss him.”
I leaned forward and brushed our lips together.
My senses exploded like fireworks. Sagitta’s lips were soft and dangerously inviting. It felt too easy to lose control, tip into him forever...
Sagitta didn’t kiss me back, but he didn’t pull away, either.
But then a dark thought crossed my mind: was kissing him my own desire, or was the demon manipulating me?
Afraid of the answer, I jerked back in a sharp motion. My ass hit the carpet.
“Excuse you,” Faust said, sounding genuinely offended. “Don’t put words in my mouth, human. I only provided moral support. You should be grateful.”
My head was swimming. I could barely listen to him.
“Sorry,” I blurted to Sagitta. “I shouldn’t have—”
“It’s all right.” He stood up, smoothed out his clothes. “We should sleep. It’s been a long day for both of us. I’ll take the couch.”
Dammit. I couldn’t read his tone. Was he mad?
Shame burned my skin. I got to my feet, avoiding eye contact. “Yeah. Um. I’ll grab you some blankets and a pillow.”
I rushed out of the bedroom without looking at him. As I snatched bedding from the linen closet, I couldn’t stop thinking about what a stupid asshole I’d been. Why did I kiss him? Why couldn’t I resist temptation for five seconds?
Because Faust tempted me. That had to be it.
“Oh, please.” He sounded cross now.
Sagitta was right. I needed this demon gone.