10. How not to flirt with a demon
HOW NOT TO FLIRT WITH A DEMON
Ro
This is so. Fun.
She’s hot as fuck on that motorcycle, now that I can see her in the light of day for once.
It’s making my pants a bit tight, nearing uncomfortable on my bike, but I don’t care.
I’m hooked, addicted even though I haven’t tasted her yet.
I’d follow my little flame, my shooting star, to the ends of the earth.
Wherever she wants to lead me, I’ll follow.
Though I am a bit confused about where she’s taking us today.
She seems to really like… the middle of nowhere? But like, different nowheres.
Each time I’ve followed her, it’s been to a new location, and a couple times, she’s ended up digging in the dirt and carrying a bag of it back with her. I have no idea what that’s about, and I puzzle it over in my head as I weave back and forth behind her.
Oh, oh! Maybe she’s an archaeologist? A geologist!
My heart skips at having a solid lead on what her professional life might look like. I bet she’s smart as a whip. I wouldn’t have guessed she’d be the science-y type, she simply doesn’t give off that vibe, but maybe she just really loves rocks.
My eyes roam, taking in the bland scenery around me.
I’ve never been down this way before. We’re hours south of Chicago, and yet she shows no signs of slowing.
I hope she stops for gas soon, my stomach is protesting the long drive with no snack breaks.
Regardless, I’m happy to be spending time with her.
Or… at least… near her?
I shrug. Either way, my demon hasn’t been this calm in, well, ever. Since I started following her, my demon has been chill as heck. It’s miraculous. I haven’t even stolen anything since her bracelet, and I’ve only set a few fires, none of them destructive.
That’s progress, no doubt.
It was fun playing with her for a bit there, and I kind of want to do it again. I wonder who would win in a race?
I scoff as soon as the thought crosses my mind. Because she would, obviously. I wouldn’t be able to take my eyes off her.
Lor turns off the main road ahead of me and I whoop at the change, thrilling in another off-road adventure.
I push the throttle, skidding over the packed dirt road to follow her.
When the terrain gets too rough, she pulls over and parks.
I’ve been keeping a slight distance, but it’s closing quickly now that she’s not moving.
She takes her helmet off and tips her head back, shaking her hair out as she rakes a hand through it.
Her silver locks flow down her back in shimmering waves and I nearly crash at the sight.
I jerk the handlebars and regain my center of gravity, narrowly avoiding a far-too-personal encounter with the rocky path.
Lor ignores me, not so much as glancing my direction, and I’m grateful she didn’t notice my near catastrophe. She doesn’t wait, and I don’t expect, nor want, her to.
My mouth goes dry as I approach, pulling my bike up next to hers, although my gaze doesn’t leave her form. She’s already hiking away across a barren field, bordered by leafy green trees in the distance. I stagger off my bike, my boot catching on the seat as I try to hurry after her.
Lor walks for longer than I’d choose to, but this is her thing, and following is mine, so that’s what we do.
“I know you’re back there.” Lor’s sultry voice carries on the wind, and I grin at her back. I wonder if she knows how sexy she is.
“Pretend you don’t!” I cup my hands around my mouth and raise my voice so she can hear me.
Lor turns around, walking confidently backwards, and I huff a laugh at her doing the opposite of what I said.
“Why?” she asks.
“It helps my demon urges.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d say she stumbles a step, but I’m probably imagining the momentary loss of control.
She tilts her head, takes another step back.
Her eyes devour me, inspecting me as she continues taking deliberate steps backward.
I have no idea how she knows where she’s going.
Finally, she rolls her eyes and turns on her heel, picking her pace up again.
I’ve gained on her a bit during that strange walking-standoff, so I stop to enjoy the boring view for a few moments, turning away and letting her go on ahead again.
There’s a bright yellow flower near the toe of my boot.
I bend down to look at it, about the size of a quarter with stocky leaves and a yellow center.
I pinch the stem and snap the flower off, then straighten and tuck it behind my ear.
A spot of blurry yellow lines the corner of my vision, a cheerful little reminder of our adventure and all the treasures we can find.
When I turn back and see Lor only a little ways on, it’s to her crouched down digging, filling up that cloth sack again.
I pat the flower to ensure it’s secure behind my ear, then stick my hands in my pockets and start whistling a jaunty little tune as I saunter up to her.
She only glances my way once, her hands pausing as she narrows her eyes at me before she continues bagging her dirt.
I stop only a couple feet in front of her, just out of reach of her shovel, but close enough that my shadow falls over her.
“You look good on your knees,” I purr, keeping my voice low. If the universe wants her to hear, she’ll hear.
Her eyes dart up to mine.
“What did you just say?”
I allow a slow smirk to curl my lips as I drop to a crouch.
“Maybe I prefer you on your knees,” she mutters.
My demon leaps with joy, my heart beating a frantic rhythm in my chest.
“I’m not at all opposed to that,” I reply.
Lor glances at my mouth and I flick my tongue against my lip ring. Her lips pinch together, and I’m convinced it’s an attempt at restraint. I’ve caught her eyeing my lips and piercings before; it’s a common reaction. I tip my head, waiting for her to make her next move, but she doesn’t.
Instead of getting flustered, Lor ignores the rest of my attempts at flirting, and it only serves to rile up the demon inside me.
Her movements get faster as she shovels dirt into the bag, spinning and stepping carefully to a couple other locations to repeat the process before she practically speed-walks in the direction of her bike.
Lor glances behind her to see me looking around, bemused by the disheveled landscape she’s left behind. Soon enough, though, I meet her wide eyes, and then I’m loping after her again.
She growls in frustration—an adorable attempt at intimidating me—when a twig snaps under my boot.
It spurs on my demon, igniting the urge to follow, chase, possess.
I tell myself to chill, but Lor increases her pace, and that has the opposite effect.
My heart rate cranks up and a light sheen of sweat breaks out on my forehead.
I have no idea where her head is at, or mine for that matter. My speed increases to match hers, and a thrill of anticipation zips through my chest.
I grimace, fighting my instincts and rubbing my chest in an effort to quell the overwhelming impulses. They’re getting too strong, exacerbated by my being in her presence and her actively trying to evade me.
Lor leaps onto her bike, barely securing her bag before revving the engine and taking off in a cloud of dust. I jump onto my own bike, my demon riding me hard. It’s far too close to the surface at this point, making my movements and speed much more reckless than I’d normally give in to.
My demon keeps a steady pace behind her and I have to remind myself to blink, to breathe.
My fists are clenched around the handlebars, my entire body rigid with anticipation, and my eyes fixed to her back.
Her hair streams out behind her since she didn’t take the time to secure it before trying to escape me, and it’s a beacon too tempting to resist. My lips pull up in a snarl and I clench my teeth, desperate to rein it in.
I’m losing control.
I wrestle with my demon, and it’s like I’m fighting myself. I try to turn the bike off the path, yelling inside my own head for my arms to twist, but nothing happens. I recite my mantra, telling myself over and over, “no more stealing, no more fires, no killing” but it doesn’t do any good.
It’s like one half of me is agreeing with those words, perfectly happy to follow that path, but another half of me is completely disconnected and doing whatever it wants. Unfortunately, that’s the part that’s in control.
I’m a prisoner in my own body.
My eyes dart around, frantically searching for any other outlet, but there’s nothing I can safely light on fire out here and no one to steal from, apart from her.
Right as I’m preparing to attempt to throw myself from the seat to avoid whatever hell my demon is dragging me into, Lor brakes hard. Her bike swings around, skidding through the dirt and pluming dust into the air as she pulls to the side in a 180 and faces me.
My pulse hammers in my chest, her actions having startled my demon, further throwing my mind and body into chaos.
I slam the brakes, adding to the dust in the air and my back tire swings out, fishtailing for a moment before I come to a stop just feet from her. Lor yanks her helmet off and her grey eyes flash in the sun.
I had never put mine back on. I’m hoping it’s still secured to the back of my seat or I’ll have to get a new one. We stare at each other, both of us panting, our eyes locked. My demon struggles for control and I wrestle with it, locking up every muscle in my body.
Her face is flushed and there’s a sheen of sweat on her brow. Lor’s pulse jumps in her neck, pulling my gaze. I want to suck the delicate skin between my teeth and abuse it until she’s a writhing, moaning mess beneath me.
Whoa.
I shake my head, averting my gaze and trying to get a grip. I release my bike and flex my hands in my gloves, then roll my shoulders while sucking in deep breaths to release some of the tension.