Chapter 11
Eleven
When Taron asked him to help with getting Wash to relax, Peri jumped at the chance.
He’d take any excuse he could get to spend more time with the intriguing demon.
There was just something about him that drew Peri in.
And after what happened that morning, he was more than just intrigued.
He wanted more of Wash’s touch and those drugging kisses that stole half of Peri’s brain cells.
So yes, he was totally fishing for ways to spend more time with Wash after the work day was done.
If they left together, he might be able to convince the surly demon to join him for a meal or maybe go out for a drink. Or dancing! Peri loved dancing.
He nodded decisively. “Starting today, I’m going to stop by your office at the end of the day so you can remember to go home. We can leave together.”
“Why?” Wash demanded suspiciously. It was possible he was going to catch on to Peri’s little crush, and he wasn’t ready for that yet. Peri was pretty sure Wash wasn’t a relationship person. He didn’t want to chase the man away before he had a chance to woo him.
Peri shrugged. “Sleeping on that couch can’t be comfortable. Besides, you’re my first friend at Spellbound. I take care of my friends.” He dropped a fist into his palm, ideas already filling his head. “Do you like cake? Or are you more of a cookie person?”
Wash looked confused at the change in topic, and Peri grinned at him a little mischievously. “If I can’t convince you the first time, I figured I’d lure you out with treats. So? Cake or cookies?”
Wash’s expression flatted. “I don’t need help. I’m fine.”
“Wash…” Peri pouted, drawing out the name. “Answer the question. Please?”
Rolling his eyes, Wash gave in a lot more quickly than Peri expected. The pout seemed especially effective on him. Peri would have to remember that. “I don’t have a preference. Both are good.”
Well, that was fun. That meant Peri could make whatever he wanted to lure Wash into spending time with him. “Is there anything you don’t like? A certain flavor to avoid?”
“Lemongrass, but I don’t think that comes up often in sweets,” Wash replied blandly. “But I don’t need help, Peri. And I work a lot later than everyone else. You shouldn’t have to sit around waiting for me. I’m fine.”
Dancing his fingers across the table, he tugged at Wash’s sleeve. “Well… If you do work late, you can always make it up to me by teleporting me home?”
When Wash raised an eyebrow, Peri wrinkled his nose with a grin. “I like it! It’s fun!”
For the first time, Wash cracked a smile, the corners of his mouth tugging up as he shook his head in obvious amusement for Peri’s antics. Peri felt his heart flutter, and he felt a distinct urge to leap across the table and kiss the man silly. Or figure out how else he could make him smile again.
“I still don’t think you should force yourself to stay in the office just to make sure I get home. But fine, if you happen to work late, I’ll teleport you home. You’ll have to show me where first, I can only teleport somewhere I’ve been before,” he reminded him.
“So… does that mean you’ll come over after work?” Peri wheedled. “I’ll make you a treat.”
Wash seemed uncertain for a moment, but eventually gave in with a nod. “Sure.”
Peri bounced in his seat with excitement, already coming up with a dozen ideas of what he could make the surly demon to reward him for leaving work on time and coming to his place.
Maybe cookies? He said he didn’t have a preference for certain types of sweets, and Peri had the best double chocolate chunk cookies in the realm.
He’d been told this by everyone who tried them.
Thankfully, their lunch wasn’t almost ruined by too spicy food like last time. His tuna melt was amazing, he definitely understood why people wanted to come here, and Wash seemed to enjoy his food as well. Peri shot him a few sneaky glances, wondering if his sandwich was as good as Peri’s.
Wash noticed and offered it to him like he could read Peri’s thoughts. “Want a bite?”
“Really?” He perked up, setting his down so he could take Wash’s. He took a bite and practically melted at the delicious combination of steak and cheese with grilled onions. He glanced at his sandwich, then at Wash’s, now unsure who had chosen better. It might have been Wash.
“I feel like I should have you order for me from now on,” he said, handing the sandwich back to Wash. “Mine is good, but not as good as yours.”
Wash frowned, glancing at Peri’s sandwich. “Did you want me to get you another? You don’t have to eat it if you don’t like it.”
Waving his hands, he said, “No, no. Mine is good. I really like it. Want to try?”
When Wash wrinkled his nose, Peri cocked his head curiously.
“I’m not a big fan of tuna. Or fish, for that matter.”
Well that was interesting. And a good thing to know for future lunch dates. Because they were totally doing this again.
After lunch was finished, they headed back together, with Wash keeping his wings spread just enough to protect Peri from any unwanted touches.
Peri loved hugs, holding hands, or friendly touches from the people in his life, but his wings were a different story entirely.
Other people touching them or brushing against them made him feel… icky.
He noticed after a few blocks that while Wash kept him close with a hand on his wrist, keeping him within the safety of Wash’s wingspan, he didn’t brush up against Peri’s wings or touch them.
He was careful, even when they had to stop at a crosswalk and people crowded too close for comfort.
When that happened, Wash got annoyed and teleported them to safety instead of risking accidental touches, making Peri laugh as his stomach flipped.
It was a lot like going down a big hill on a roller coaster, and Peri loved those, as long as they were made with wings in mind.
The bigger ones usually were. The smaller ones, not so much.
Still bubbling with joy from the teleport, he flitted a little at Wash’s side as they headed into the research building. His cousin always teased him that his feet didn’t touch the floor when he was happy. He couldn’t help it, though. Spending time with Wash was fun.
“I, uh… I need to get back to work,” Wash said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll see you later.”
“Okay!” Peri beamed. “I’ll stop by your office after the work day is done.” Because there wasn’t a chance Peri was going to forget his promise. He was going to make sure Wash learned how to relax, even if he had to stay late at work to do it.
It didn’t surprise him that Wash was still working when Peri showed up to retrieve him.
The demon wasn’t going to change his ways just because Peri told him to.
He waited for Wash’s distracted call to enter and snuck into the office, taking in Wash’s serious expression as he wrote notes in a notebook while also typing with his other hand on his computer.
He was a master multitasker, Peri would give him that.
“Wash!” Peri singsonged when the demon didn't look up. “Time to be done working for the day!”
Wash’s brows furrowed, but he didn't look away from what he was doing, muttering something about inconsistencies causing interference. Peri would feel bad for interrupting but whenever he asked about Wash around the office, the staff all said the same thing. He was going to work himself to death if he didn’t slow down.
Since talking wasn’t working, Peri decided on another tactic, coming around the desk and physically pulling Wash’s chair away. Wash finally looked up at him, startled and a little outraged, so to soften the blow, Peri climbed into his lap, sticking his lip out in a pout.
“You said you’d come over and hang out with me.”
The move seemed to stun Wash enough to take the wind out of his sails, his anger dying a quick death. His hands came up automatically to rest on Peri’s hips, his focus finally off his work and on Peri instead.
“Is this how you planned to convince me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Peri pursed his lips thoughtfully. He actually hadn’t thought of using sex as an incentive, but after what happened that morning…
“Would it work?” he asked hopefully.
Wash huffed and shook his head. “You’re not using sex to get me to leave work. If you want sex, all you have to do is ask. You don’t need excuses to get my attention.”
Heat flooded Peri’s veins, and he dropped his gaze to Wash’s mouth automatically.
He remembered every drugging kiss from that morning, as well as the surprise blowjob that had completely rocked his world, to the point where it felt like Wash was sucking his soul out through his cock.
Was it really okay for him to ask to do that again?
Wash’s hand came up, cupping Peri’s neck and drawing him closer.
Peri sighed happily when those soft lips pressed against his.
Wash took control of the kiss, nipping Peri’s lips if he tried to pull away.
Not that he actually wanted to, but he felt a little dizzy after such a drugging kiss.
Wash pulled him back and kissed him again, and Peri gave in, surrendering to whatever Wash wanted to give him.
When he finally pulled away, they were both breathing heavily, and Peri was hard as diamonds, just like he had been that morning. Before he could beg Wash to take care of the problem, Wash tapped his hip, urging him to stand up.
“Come on. Do you fly to your place or drive?”
It took a few seconds for Peri to pull himself together enough for Wash’s words to filter through his head.
For a moment, he was disappointed, but then he realized they’d be at his apartment.
Alone. Where a bed was readily available.
His gaze flew to Wash’s, and when Wash raised an eyebrow significantly, Peri’s hopes doubled.
“Oh… Um… I normally take the train. I thought owning a car in the city would be too expensive.”
Wash nodded in agreement, but the look on his face said he wasn’t interested in taking the train like Peri had that morning. Instead he asked, “What’s in the area?”
Ticking them off on his fingers, Peri recited, “A couple restaurants, a bank, a library–”
“Hold on, which library?” Wash interrupted.
“The city library. Why?”
He stood, taking Peri with him and setting him on his feet. Did he mention that Wash toting him around like that made Peri a little horny? Maybe not. He didn't want to scare the man off.
Wash gathered a messenger bag that was stuffed with papers, his soiled sweatshirt from that morning hanging out of it.
Peri made a mental note to clean that for him, but between one blink and the next, they teleported and popped up in front of the library.
Peri swallowed a shriek of excitement, but he couldn’t hide the big grin on his face when Wash gestured for him to lead the way.
“That is so much fun,” he exclaimed, feet leaving the ground as he pointed in the direction of his apartment building. “That way. Is there a limit to how far you can teleport?”
“Not really,” Wash answered. “But teleporting between realms is impossible for any demon without strong enough magic. It’s also exhausting.” His eyes narrowed on Peri. “Why? Where else do you want to go?”
Tugging on his hand, Peri encouraged Wash to fly with him, keeping his answer vague. “Nowhere specific. I’m just curious.”
And also planning places they could go together that would be fun. If they were within teleporting range, then they’d only have to get on a train once, which would spare Wash from any annoyance on the way back.
“Mhmm,” Wash hummed. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”