Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Back at the gift wrapping station, Milo focused on his job, which wasn’t hard. The mall seemed even busier than when he’d left for his break, and there was no shortage of shoppers milling around the Village.
“What does your family do for Christmas?” an elderly woman asked as Milo wrapped the approximately fifteen thousand presents she’d bought for her grandkids.
“I’m going to spend the day baking cookies,” Milo lied because it sounded like the kind of thing she’d expect, and he couldn’t bring himself to pretend he spent the holidays with family. “What about you?”
“Oh, I host Christmas Day. Everyone comes over. All the baking is done days beforehand.”
“Always smart to plan ahead.” Milo fixed a massive bow to a present.
“Exactly.” She nodded sagely. “That’s why I’m getting my shopping done now. Have you started?”
“Yep. I’m all done with my Christmas shopping.”
Milo’s roommates were the only ones he exchanged gifts with, and he’d bought them months ago. They did gag gifts, and whoever gave the most hilarious gift won Christmas.
“Good boy,” she praised. “I’m always surprised how many people leave their Christmas shopping to the last minute. Oh, James doesn’t like green; give him red.”
Milo dutiful switched the paper he’d selected.
Zeke appeared beside him and pulled out a chair to sit down. “Need a hand with these?”
“Please.” Milo pushed half the gifts his way without meeting his eyes.
“What do you do for Christmas?” the woman asked Zeke.
“I spend it with my sister and her wife.”
“Oh, isn’t that lovely.” She beamed at them, and when the presents were finally wrapped and stuffed back in her many bags, she bustled away.
Zeke leaned closer to Milo. “I’m not really spending Christmas with Maeve and Alice.”
“Cool. I’m not really baking cookies like I told her either. I suck at baking.”
Zeke stared blankly. “Why did you lie?”
Was that judgment in his tone? Seriously? “Why did you?” Milo shot back.
“Because I’ve never celebrated Christmas. How can I have traditions? I don’t even think Mave and Alice are celebrating.”
Right. Demon. That made sense. “Is it sacrilegious or something?”
Zeke blinked. “No. Do you think…?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “My kind aren’t evil.”
“I don’t know. That stunt with the photo was pretty evil of your sister.”
Zeke shook his head vehemently. “Her intention wasn’t malicious. The spell is meant to bring good into the world.”
“Good? How was ending someone’s marriage like that good? How was getting me fired good?”
“It will all be good in time,” Zeke said without a shred of doubt. “Alice was right. I’ll figure out what to do.”
Milo didn’t follow—why would Zeke do anything about Milo’s problems—but before he could ask, another shopper approached.
The stream of people didn’t stop until the mall was closing.
As they packed up, one of the other gift wrappers asked Zeke about swapping shifts, and Milo made his escape. He’d had more than enough of the demon, and if he was fast enough, he could catch the last train before the schedule switched to hourly departures.
He booked it across the parking lot, his phone buzzing in his pocket. With a grumble, he checked it as he reached the subway station.
Milo groaned. He did not need to talk to his dad right now, but ignoring him was always worse in the end. “Hey, Dad. I’m on my way to the train. Can’t talk long.”
His father grunted. “On a Friday night? Where are you going? You should be at home finding a real career, not partying.”
Never mind that Milo didn’t party, or that he could do whatever he pleased and didn’t need to justify himself.
“It’s a work function,” he lied as he swiped his subway pass at the entrance.
“Sounds like a waste of time. Are you going to spend your life as a lowly secretary?”
“I’m an administrator,” Milo said tightly, walking as fast as he could, only to see his train pulling away as he arrived at the platform.
“I want you to get your life together, Milo. Have some ambition. Is that so much to ask?”
“My life is together.” Milo tried not to growl. “I have to go.” He hung up, no longer caring if pissing off his dad made things worse the next time he called.
Milo’s hand shook as he stuffed the phone into his coat pocket. Why couldn’t he find the courage to confront his dad and enforce some distance? He could only imagine the berating he’d have gotten if he had admitted he lost his job. The job that already wasn’t good enough.
“Are you all right?”
Milo closed his eyes. Was Zeke following him? He seemed to sneak up out of nowhere way too often.
He glared over his shoulder. “I’m peachy.”
Zeke’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know what that means.”
Milo laughed, so surprised by the bubble of joy that he choked on the sound and it sputtered into a cough. “It means I’m fine, but I’m being sarcastic about it.”
Zeke’s expression smoothed out. “I see. Would you like a ride home? Since you missed your train.”
How did he know? There was already another train pulling into the platform, and Zeke couldn’t know that it was destined for the opposite side of the city from where Milo lived.
“Why are you at the station if you drove to work?”
Zeke puffed out his chest, which was an absolutely ridiculous move in his Santa’s Little Helper T-shirt and—as always—no coat. “I didn’t drive. I flew.”
That didn’t explain his presence at the train station, but… Milo’s heart skipped. “You can fly?”
Zeke stepped closer, a smug smile stretching his lips. “I sure can, little human. Would you like a ride?”
Milo couldn’t help melting, even if being called little was condescending, no matter how accurate. Zeke scooping him up and carrying him all the way home in his big, strong arms sounded like heaven.
Milo cleared his throat. He shouldn’t be so easily tempted. “Is this a trick?”
Zeke moved closer. “How would it be a trick?”
“I don’t know. You could be trying to get rid of me or abduct me. Take me to Hell as part of your demon plan.”
Zeke’s lips thinned. “I don’t have a demon plan. I’m trying to do you a favor.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to,” Zeke growled, sounding more annoyed than anything.
“You’re so grumpy,” Milo complained, even as he shifted closer to the demon, that tug of curiosity pulling at his chest. Zeke’s attitude was growing on him. He could relate to perpetual crabbiness and frustration with everything around him.
Zeke’s frown deepened, but all he said was, “Let me get you home as an apology for what I said to Alice.”
Maybe being intense and surly was the default setting for demons, and if Zeke was willing to make up for his misstep, who was Milo to fight him?
“Fine,” Milo agreed. There was no arguing that Zeke’s offer beat waiting around.
He followed Zeke out of the station. Perhaps he shouldn’t be this trusting of a demon—or anyone who could do magic—but Milo had a feeling it would be okay. Something deep within him, an instinct he hadn’t known he’d possessed, urged him to take this chance.
As he gave in to the feeling, his sour mood faded.
Outside, a chill wind picked up, and Milo pulled his coat more tightly around him. In contrast, Zeke whipped off his shirt like he was at the beach on spring break.
All righty then.
Zeke was ridiculous, but Milo didn’t hate the view. Light hair covered Zeke’s chest, and a thick happy trail ran tantalizingly from his belly button to his waistband. Milo loved the padding around Zeke’s middle. His broad shoulders. Dusky nipples… Heat crept into Milo’s chilled cheeks.
He forced his gaze to Zeke’s face. “Aren’t you freezing?”
Zeke tied his shirt to his belt loop. “I possess eternal fire. I’m never cold.”
“Still. What’s with the strip show?”
Red bloomed on Zeke’s cheeks, which was an… interesting reaction. “Shirts get in the way.”
Milo opened his mouth to ask why—not that he was complaining—when huge black feathered wings erupted from Zeke’s back.
Milo yelped and took a staggering step backward.
Zeke stretched his wings, glossy feathers rustling. “See. Can’t wear a shirt if I’m giving you a ride.”
“I guess not.”
Zeke’s wings were so spectacular that it took Milo a second to notice the tall black horns sprouting from Zeke’s hairline.
Suddenly, Milo needed to sit down. “This is really happening, isn’t it?”
Zeke caught his elbow and steadied him. “It is. But don’t worry. You’re safe.”
Strangely, Milo believed him. He shouldn’t, but he did. “I think it’s all hitting me,” he babbled, gripping Zeke’s forearm for extra support. “Magic, spells, demons. It’s all…” He couldn’t figure out what. Too much was probably the answer.
“It’s all real,” Zeke soothed. He pulled Milo toward him, bringing Milo up close and personal with his massive chest.
The fresh scent of grass and hot summer days filled Milo’s nose, and he breathed deep.
“Let’s get you home.” Zeke wrapped his arms around Milo and hoisted him up.
A high-pitched sound slipped past Milo’s lips, and he gripped Zeke’s shoulders. He wrapped his legs around Zeke’s hips to steady himself, and Zeke’s hands traveled to his ass, cupping him firmly. He enjoyed the physical contact more than was wise.
Milo’s face burned, his fingers flexing. Zeke’s wings were so close, yet he couldn’t bring himself to touch them. Instead, he tucked his face into Zeke’s neck to prevent any chance of the demon reading his reaction.
Zeke breathed in deeply and adjusted his hold. “There we go. I’ve got you. Close your eyes if you don’t like heights.” And he shot into the sky.