Sparkle
My apartment replaces the front yard of my childhood home. I’m getting better at being a teleporting passenger. My stomach barely flips anymore, though I still have my arms wrapped around Lucien when my feet settle onto my living room floor. I could blame that on teleporting, but I don’t.
Lucien keeps one arm around my waist and looks around like he hasn’t been here several times over the last few weeks. His gaze travels over the couch he claims is trying to eat him, the boxes I still haven’t unpacked, and the pile of paint swatches I haven’t bothered putting away.
“You bought another pillow.” He points toward the couch.
“I needed it.”
“You have twelve pillows on that couch.”
“They’re decorative.” I kick off my shoes and leave them beside the door while Lucien approaches the offending pillow.
He squeezes the plush pillow. “Okay, it’s so soft. I get it now.”
I laugh as Lucien bends to take off his boots, setting them neatly beside my shoes.
Something about the motion makes warmth settle into my chest. He doesn’t ask if he can stay, and I don’t ask if he’s staying.
He just takes off his shoes like, of course, he’s going to be here for a while. I like that.
My apartment has changed so much in only a few weeks. There are pictures on the walls now and blankets piled everywhere. The kitchen has actual dishes instead of the pack of paper plates I bought when I moved in. My bedroom is lilac, and there’s a glittery accent wall I adore.
This place feels like mine.
Lucien wanders toward the kitchen while I drop onto the couch.
“Do you want anything? Water? Wine?” He opens one of the cabinets and peers inside before glancing over his shoulder. “I could teleport somewhere and get another dessert.”
I stare at him until he notices.
“What?” He closes the cabinet and turns toward me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re doing it, now.”
“Doing what?”
I point at him. “Taking care of everything.”
Lucien’s mouth opens, then closes. His tail gives an irritated little flick before he crosses his arms.
Laughing, I grab one of the decorative pillows and throw it at him. Lucien catches it with his tail before it reaches his face, looking far too pleased with himself as he returns it neatly to the couch.
Lucien finally gives up on finding something to do and drops onto the couch beside me, though he has to move five pillows first. He makes a point of stacking them dramatically on the armchair before stretching one arm across the back of the couch.
For a while, neither of us says anything.
Silence used to mean I should be doing something.
If the house was quiet, there was laundry.
If the kittens were occupied, Mama probably needed help.
If Mama didn’t need anything, I could pick up an extra shift or run errands.
Now I can sit on my couch beside my boyfriend.
Boyfriend. I haven’t called him that out loud yet.
My tail flicks against Lucien’s thigh, and he catches the end gently, running the fur between his fingers. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
I turn my head toward him. His purple skin looks darker in the soft light coming from the lamp beside the couch, and his horns casts shadows across the wall.
He changed his shirt seven times before dinner tonight.
He thinks I didn’t notice, but he sent me pictures of six of them while asking completely unrelated questions.
“You were really nervous tonight.”
“Higher demons don’t get nervous.” He straightens his shoulders and lifts his chin, which would be more convincing if I hadn’t watched him panic over dessert mere hours ago.
“You called me before dinner and asked if pie was an acceptable offering to my mother.”
“That was strategic planning.”
“You bought backup pastries.”
Lucien narrows his eyes. “Who told you?”
“Lars.”
“Traitor.” Lucien’s arm comes around me immediately, pulling me closer into his side. His tail winds loosely around my ankle while mine stretches across his lap.
His fingers move through my hair, scratching lightly between my ears. A purr starts before I can stop it, and I close my eyes as my body sinks farther against him.
“She invited me back,” Lucien says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “I wanted your family to like me.”
“They do.”
“Your father doesn’t.”
“Papa barely likes himself.” And that’s not my problem.
Lucien’s expression changes, and I immediately know he’s about to say something that will probably violate at least one of the promises he made to me tonight. I press a finger to his lips before he can get started.
Lucien says something against my finger, his lips moving beneath it.
“What?” I ask, pulling my hand away.
“I said light maiming.”
“No.”
“A curse that makes his socks permanently damp?”
I consider it for longer than I should, and Lucien’s eyes immediately brighten.
“No.” I settle against him again, resting my cheek over his chest. “Thank you for behaving.”
Lucien presses a kiss between my ears. “You’re welcome. It was incredibly difficult. I hope you appreciate my sacrifice.”
“I do.” I snort and trace an idle circle over his stomach before adding, “And thank you for coming tonight.”
“I would’ve fought an army to be there.”
I softly swat his stomach, and he catches my hand before I can pull it away. His fingers weave through mine, and the joking slowly fades as he lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles.
I know how he takes his coffee. I know he hates paperwork even though he insists on doing too much of it himself.
I know Lars and Ryan are basically his family, even though he acts like they’re giant pains in his ass.
I know his tail gives him away when he’s excited.
And I definitely know the look he gets right before he’s about to do something so fucking ridiculous I should probably duck.
My gaze drops to his mouth. Lucien notices, because of course he does, and the corner of his lips curls upward. His thumb brushes slowly over the back of my hand.
I shift onto my knees beside him and kiss him before he gets the chance. Lucien immediately slides a hand around my waist, but he doesn’t pull me anywhere. He lets me decide whether I want to get closer. I do.
I climb into his lap, and his breath catches against my mouth before his arms wrap around me.
I curl mine around his neck and kiss him again.
There’s no hesitation this time. We’ve gotten plenty of practice over the last few weeks, enough that I know the way his mouth moves against mine and the little sound he makes when my fingers slide into his hair.
Lucien’s tail winds around my leg while mine flicks happily behind me. His hands move slowly over my back, and I sink against him until there’s hardly any space left between us. The purr starts again before I even realize I’m doing it.
“There it is,” Lucien whispers against my lips, his smile brushing mine. “I love that sound.”
I kiss him again so he can’t keep talking. That works for a while.
Eventually, I pull back enough to breathe.
Lucien looks as dazed as I feel. His hair is mussed from my fingers, his lips are swollen, and there’s something about seeing the usually ridiculous, overly confident demon looking completely wrecked from kissing me that sends warmth unfurling low in my stomach.
This is my apartment.
Nobody is going to knock on the door and ask me to drive them somewhere.
Nobody needs help with homework. Mama isn’t going to call from another room.
Papa isn’t here to make some annoying comment about my ears or my tail.
Nobody is going to hear what we get up to.
I don’t have to keep my moans down or worry about a kitten knocking on the door because they need something.
I don’t have anywhere else I need to be. I only have somewhere I want to be.
Lucien brushes his thumb across my cheek, his brow furrowing slightly as he studies me. “Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere.” When he continues watching me, I smile and kiss the corner of his mouth. “That’s the point.”
Understanding slowly softens his face. I slide out of his lap, but I don’t let go of his hand when I stand. My heart starts pounding as Lucien looks down at our joined fingers before lifting his gaze back to mine.
Of course, I’m suddenly shy again. I managed to dance nearly naked in front of strangers for years, but apparently taking the demon I’m dating to my bedroom is what finally makes me forget how legs work.
“Sparkle?” Lucien asks. He doesn’t move from the couch, waiting for me to decide what comes next.
My ears flatten into my hair, but I tighten my fingers around his. “Come to bed.”
Lucien goes completely still. I tug gently on his hand, and his gaze searches mine.
The teasing disappears from his face. Lucien rises from the couch and steps closer. But instead of making some ridiculous joke, he cups my cheek. His thumb brushes lightly beneath my eye.
“Are you sure?”
My heart pounds hard enough that I’m pretty sure he can hear it. I turn my face and kiss his palm before meeting his eyes again. “Yeah. I’m sure.”
Lucien leans down and kisses me slowly. I smile against his mouth, take his hand, and lead him toward my bedroom.