Chapter 18 Esme
Esme
I'm dressed again, curled up in Duske's lap at the table, his arms are wrapped around me, one hand resting on my hip, the other playing with the ends of my hair. It's comforting and grounding, pulling me back to the earthly plane as I let myself sink into the feeling of being held.
Vesper and Milo disappeared for a few hours earlier, muttering something about needing to run errands, and now they're back with armfuls of bags. The kitchen table is covered with groceries, supplies, and what looks like an entire Halloween store's worth of decorations.
I watch as Milo zooms over to Vesper, practically vibrating with excitement, and plants a kiss on his lips. It starts off soft and sweet, but quickly turns hot and heavy. Vesper's hands slide down to grip Milo's ass, pulling him closer, Milo making a soft sound against his mouth.
Vesper lifts Milo effortlessly, setting him on the edge of the kitchen table, and I watch as groping hands and wandering lips take over. Vesper's mouth trails down Milo's neck, and Milo's head falls back, his fingers tangling in Vesper's curly hair.
"She tastes delicious on you," Vesper murmurs against Milo's skin.
My cheeks flush hot, and I bury my face in Duske's chest, realizing that Milo’s brief shower he took probably did nothing to mask my scent coating his skin.
Duske just laughs, the sound rumbling through his body, quickly turning into his purr.
The deep sound soothes through me, my body relaxing even further.
I love that I haven't missed out entirely on all this.
I love watching them together, seeing the way they touch and kiss and exist in each other's space.
It makes my chest warm, makes me feel like I'm part of something bigger than myself. Still, there’s the lingering issue of my sister now that the funeral is less than 24 hours away.
"What happens now with Liora?" I ask, pulling back to look at Duske.
Vesper pulls away from Milo, his hazel eyes shifting to meet mine. "Duske made her believe it was some kind of fluke, but that trick probably won't work again."
I grimace, my hands clenching into fists on Duske's chest. "I hate it even more that she killed me for some petty ass reason."
Duske hums, agreeing with my sentiment, but the sudden drop in temperature of the room tells me there’s something else. "It's worse than that. I think she sold her soul or something equivalent to get us to love her, but that's not how deals work. The demon who gave her the deal fucked up."
I frown, trying to process his words. "What do you mean?"
Duske's dark eyes meet mine. "Demons can't make people fall in love.
It's not possible. We can manipulate emotions, sure, but love?
That's something that has to be real. So whatever deal Liora made, it was doomed from the start.
" Duske's lips curve into a small smile.
"I'm going to see if we can break the deal or manipulate it.
Maybe use it against her." He leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
"For now? We enjoy Halloween," he says against my mouth.
I frown, leaning back to look around the room, searching for a clock. "Wait, is that today?"
Laughter fills the kitchen, and Vesper grins at me. "Milo even went out and got decorations."
Milo jumps off the table, his green eyes sparkling with excitement, and rushes over to a certain section of the bags. He starts pulling things out, and I watch as bats and streamers and lights emerge. Everything else is pumpkin-themed, just like always.
"We always decorated, especially with your parents, and I don't know why we have to skip today," Milo says, his voice earnest.
I smile, warmth spreading through my chest. "Even if we're packing up the house?"
"We don't have to stop celebrating, Esme."
I watch as he starts pulling more things out, and the nostalgia hits me hard.
My parents loved Halloween. Every year, we'd decorate the house together, carving pumpkins and stringing up lights.
And when Milo, Vesper, and Duske started coming around, they joined in, making it even more special.
Even after my parents died, it became something of a ritual, a ritual I all but forgot about because my sister fucking killed me.
Vesper moves to stand beside Milo, his hand resting on the small of Milo's back. "I apologize, but he was very adamant about making sure that we grabbed all the right supplies. He only bought pumpkin-flavored things, but I made sure to get eggs and sausage."
I laugh, shaking my head. "I love how happy he gets about the pumpkin stuff." Before Milo showed up, I had the occasional pumpkin pie but now? I think I’d miss it if there wasn’t pumpkin creamer available in my fridge every day.
Milo grins, his expression playful. "She asked me if I was a cannibal because of my head and then I fucked her and she told me she loved me."
Vesper's eyes widen, and he looks at me. "What?"
I shrug, my cheeks heating. "It's a valid question, but he explained, so I know he's not.
I'm not sure that would stop me from getting fucked, though, and that says more about me than it does Milo.
And yes, I love him. You and Duske, too but that cheapens the moment so you have to wait for me to say it right.
" Vesper clears his throat, obviously about to make his own declaration but I hold up a hand to stop him.
“No, not now. Later, okay? I know you do but I want to make it special.”
Laughter fills the room again as Vesper playfully shakes his head, a grin tugging at his lips. "Alright, well, I'll start making lunch, and you can help Milo decorate the living room, hmm?"
I glance at Duske, raising an eyebrow. "What about Duske? He just gets to sit here?"
Milo's eyes light up, and he points at Duske. "No, that's not fair. You can do the cutouts."
I snort, unable to hold back my laughter. "I never thought I'd see the day that Death does arts and crafts."
Duske's expression is long-suffering, but there's a hint of amusement in his dark eyes. "I'm only doing this for Esme. No one else."
I grin, sliding off his lap. "Well, we've got a lot of holidays ahead, Alpha. I hope you're good with scissors."
He playfully growls at me, and I squeal, darting away toward Milo.
Milo catches me, pulling me into his arms, his laughter vibrating through his chest. "Just for today, forget everything else but us," Milo says softly, his eyes meeting mine.
"We'll watch those spooky ass movies and have some hot chocolate and games, okay? "
I nod, my throat tight with emotion. "Yeah, I think I can do that."
Milo leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
It's sweet and gentle, and I melt into him, my hands resting on his chest. However, fifteen minutes later, it’s pure chaos.
Unlike the last few times we spent evenings like this, Liora off at some club or halfway across the country, my mates aren’t holding back their demonic sides.
The darkness in here is almost thick enough to taste but it’s comfortable rather than terrifying.
I really like the dancing shadows and Milo seems so fucking happy to be half-shifted, with those slitted eyes and his tail swishing behind him like a fucking golden retriever.
Every time I pass him another pumpkin decoration to unfold, his grin widens until it’s almost comically sat on his face, the poor Beta’s head shifting completely.
I snort at the pumpkin staring back at me, Milo giggling along with me as Duske comes over, grumbling under his breath, holding up one of the streamers. "This is ridiculous. How am I supposed to cut this into bats?"
I move toward him and press a kiss to his cheek. "You'll figure it out. You're Death. I'm sure you can handle a pair of scissors."
He softens under my touch, his expression shifting from grumpy to something warmer. "You're lucky I love you."
My heart skips a beat, and I stare at him. "You love me?"
His gaze meets mine, that look I’ve been chasing after for years swirling around his expression. When I told them they had to wait to say it, I didn’t think it would come so soon, so naturally. "Of course I do, sweetheart. And I’m sorry I didn’t make it more obvious."
Tears prick my eyes, and I throw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest. "I love you too." He holds me close, one hand cupping the back of my head, and I feel safe and loved and whole.
Milo squeals as he runs into the kitchen, grabs something off the counter, and comes back with a can of pumpkin spice whipped cream.
“This calls for a celebration! I found this at the store.” He grins at me, shaking the can, and then sprays a bit onto his finger.
He holds it out to me, his eyes dancing with mischief, which is really just the cutouts in his pumpkin head changing shape. "Open up, Esme."
I obey, opening my mouth, as he feeds me the whipped cream, his finger lingering on my tongue a little longer than necessary. The cream is sweet and spiced, melting on my tongue, and I hum in satisfaction. "We're putting that on the pancakes, right?" I ask, licking my lips.
Milo’s head tilts to the side and then he nods. "Of course we are."
Duske stalks back to the kitchen to grab a set of streamers, Vesper saving him as he mentions that lunch is ready.
With all breakfast foods because it’s one of Milo’s favorite meals.
I’m still a little bummed we didn’t get to have pasta but I had a heat spike and the cuddling was way better than food.
I drop into a seat at the table, licking my lips at the options of fluffy, golden pumpkin pancakes, bacon and sausage piled on a plate, and then a pan of scrambled eggs with globs of Gouda cheese.
Milo plops into a seat beside me before serving up a plate for myself and then doing his own before grabbing the whipped cream, shaking it enthusiastically, and spraying a generous amount onto the top pancake.
"You're going to give yourself a sugar high, Milo," I say, shaking my head.
Milo shrugs, his expression unapologetic. "Worth it." And then he sprays a generous helping into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out as he swallows.
Duske grumbles at that and then grumbles a second time, staring at the sugar loaded up on the table in general.
I’m not surprised he only takes a healthy serving of eggs and sausage, leaving the pancakes untouched.
He catches my eye, and it takes everything in me to keep a straight face, but I break anyway. “Grumpy old bastard,” I muse.
“300 is young where we come from, dove,” Duske rumbles. “And you seemed quite happy with my bastard demon cock earlier.”
I playfully narrow my gaze at him before stabbing my fork into one of the sausages and stuffing it into my mouth. Duske swallows carefully before nodding. “Noted, dove. Noted.”