Chapter 28
Tobias
The second the water turns on in the bathroom, I reach for the hotel phone and order room service. I can’t pretend to know what Joseline likes to eat, so I order a mix of things and hope it’s good enough. If she hates it all, we can order takeout, but she needs to get her energy up.
I still don’t know why I’m doing this.
No. That’s a lie.
I know exactly why I’m doing it, I just don’t want to admit it.
On the surface, it’s all for me. I miss the Joseline I danced with at the club, and I want to help her get back to that.
But underneath, when I dive deep into my blackened soul, I know it’s because she needs help.
She’s expended all her energy and effort to be there for Niki, and Niki can’t be there for her in return.
But I can.
Like it or not, Joseline and I have something in common—someone dear to us is hurting right now. Sure, the other band members are upset, but they don’t feel it like we do.
Joseline and I are uniquely able to understand one another. That’s how I know it has to be me to see her through this.
I could sit here while she showers and wait patiently to take her back to the bus, but there’s no point in half-assing things now. I brought her here to try and help, and that’s what I’m going to do.
Fucking empathy. It’ll be the goddamn death of me.
I roll my eyes and flop down into one of the chairs, pulling out my phone and opening the browser.
My last search from this morning is still displayed: how to reduce stress in humans.
I spent an embarrassing amount of time perusing internet results, trying to figure out how I could help her, before I gave up researching and decided to bring her to her hotel room.
Should I have? Probably not. This isn’t my job.
But the way she sobbed into my chest…
Demons have standards. We also have empathy, apparently. If forcing Joseline back to her room for a bit is what I have to do to make her feel better, then that’s what I’ll do.
Even if it makes her angry.
Even if she hates me.
Especially because things are only going to get more difficult from now on. We all know it, even if we don’t say it out loud.
Niki will either have a half-demon baby or die. There’s also the chance that she dies and the baby lives.
Joseline needs her energy, and not just some that I harvest for her. She needs to find the fire that thrums through her veins. Her passion, her strength. I can’t do that for her, but I can help. Hopefully.
The room service arrives before she’s out of the shower, so I pull my mask back on and bring in the massive tray of food.
I move her laptop off the small table in the corner and set up the tray, snagging a piece of bacon off the plate and shoving it into my mouth.
I would have ordered for myself, but I don’t need much human food to survive.
The energy I harvest keeps me alive, but it’s a nice treat every now and then.
I toss my mask aside again and pace the room, overwhelmed by unsettled energy. Why? I’m not sure. I’m not even the one that’s stressed. But I can’t just sit still and wait for Joseline.
After what feels like forever, the water shuts off. I hurry to the sitting area and plop down in one of the seats, trying to get comfortable. I shift, then shift again, not sure what the hell has gotten into me.
It’s just Joseline.
And it’s just breakfast.
Nothing overly-complicated, nothing romantic.
Then why do I somehow still want her approval?
I scrunch my nose. I don’t need anyone’s approval, least of all a human female’s. I’m not here to impress her, I’m here to comfort her.
The door pops open and steam spills into the room.
“Who was at the door?” she asks as she turns the corner. Her wet hair hangs in waves around her, the dampness soaking into the shoulders of her pale blue T-shirt. Her bottoms are short and cling to her round ass like they’re painted on.
I jerk my eyes away and glance at the table.
“Room service.”
She takes a seat across from me and stares at the spread before her.
“I don’t know what you like, so I got some of everything.” I shrug and lean back in the chair, trying to look casual. I wish I’d left my mask on, because I suddenly feel way too vulnerable. “Or if you aren’t a breakfast person, we can order food from somewhere else.”
She just stares, working her jaw before reaching for the fork.
“You know, I don't cry in front of people, and you've already managed it once,” she says, violently stabbing a bit of egg. “It won't happen again.”
“You cried?” I cock my head to the side. “I didn't even notice.”
She glares and reaches for a sausage link.
“Like I said, you can hate me if you want,” I say. “I'm only trying to help.”
“Which I still don't get. Why bother? You've hardly looked in my direction since…” Her words trail off, and she reaches for the bottle of water that came with her breakfast.
“Since our night together?” I offer, which only makes the tension between us thicker.
She doesn't respond, instead cutting into a pancake and popping a bite into her mouth.
She doesn't have to say anything, because we both know the answer.
We said no consequence, no nothing. Things were supposed to go back to normal—which is us hating each other—but I haven't gone a single day without reliving the way she shattered beneath me.
The way her pussy clamped around my cock, milking me dry.
I cross my arms over my chest and let her eat, my mind wandering. Thinking back to the way I had her bent over the last time I was in this room.
Sure, I could fuck her the exact same way right now to take her mind off things, but that isn't what she needs. She needs comfort and reassurance. Or whatever that doctor online said.
When she's finished eating, she shoves her tray away. I check my phone—no messages from Sebastian. That’s a good sign.
“Do you want to lay down? We can watch a movie,” I offer, knowing there's not much else to do in her hotel room. She's definitely not dressed to go out, and it’s still early as fuck.
With a sly smirk, she stands and makes her way across the room. “If you wanted to get me into bed, you could have just said that. No need for theatrics.”
I chuckle. It’s not much, but there’s a hint of the sass I know so well. An ember of the fire I crave.
At the thought of her in bed, my cock twitches, and I silently scold myself.
Comfort and reassurance.
Comfort and reassurance.
Comfort and…
“Are you sure we can stay a little longer?” she asks, changing the subject. She’s obviously itching to get back to the tour bus.
“Positive.” I kick off my shoes and join her by the bed, grabbing the remote off the bedside table. “We can watch TV or you can go back to sleep. We can even count the dots on the ceiling, but if I'm honest, I’d rather you run me through with a serrated knife.”
She eyes me warily before grabbing the remote out of my hand and crawling into bed.
“You know, I think I prefer you being an asshole,” she says, settling under the comforter and turning on the TV.
“Oh?” I climb in next to her, and I don't miss the hitch in her breath. “So the nice guy thing doesn't do it for you?”
“I didn't say that.” Her reply is short. “Just not when you do it.”
I laugh and fold my hands behind my head. “Yet you're complaining that I ignored you all week. Explain to me how that works.”
The channels stop flipping, and I glance over to find Joseline's eyes boring a hole into my head. Her jaw works like she's trying to figure out what to say, and I know I'm walking a thin line. As fun as it is to mess with her, I'm supposed to be helping.
In a swift motion, I roll over and land with my face hovering just above hers, my body pressed up against her side. Her stuttered breath rolls over my skin, and I smirk.
“You can admit you enjoy my attention, sweetheart.” I trail my thumb along her jaw, brushing it over her full bottom lip.
“I don't want to enjoy it,” she grits out softly.
“But you do?”
Her silence is answer enough.
“We don't have to talk about it,” I assure her. “Not yet. Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.”
“But you said—”
“I know what I said, and I meant it. At least, I tried to.” I sigh. “But staying away from you this week has been the hardest thing I've done in a long time.”
She laughs dryly. “You sure make it look easy.”
“It wasn't.” My jaw hardens as I think back to every time I had to be near her and the restraint it took to stay away. Even though it pained me, I did it. For her. “I did my damndest to keep my distance. I knew that if I gave myself an inch, I wouldn't be able to stop myself.”
A tiny furrow forms between her dark brows. “From what?”
“Destroying you.” I lean down and press my lips against hers. My kiss is slow and sure, and I hope it conveys all the thoughts and feelings I haven’t been able to say. The things I might not ever be able to say.
Elated energy swells around us, so delicious it nearly takes my breath away. It vibrates over my skin, making my head swim, and she matches my movements as our tongues tangle together.
My cock throbs, but I ignore it. I'm not going to fuck her. Not now.
But I can give her this. My comfort, my reassurance.
When this is all over and she's in a better place, I won't hesitate to bury my cock inside her until she's a bruised, whimpering mess. I'll fill all her holes, consume every bit of her. Whatever she wants.
Warmth spreads through my chest like tendrils as I get lost in her, careful not to let my hands roam, despite how badly I want to trace every inch of her.
I lose track of time, and she eventually settles into the crook of my arm with her head on my chest. I draw invisible shapes along her arm as we lay there, shocked by how content I am next to her.
I shouldn't want this.
This is the last thing I thought I needed.
But nothing has ever felt so right.
“Thank you. For everything,” she whispers, so softly I can barely hear it. Maybe she’s falling asleep, or maybe she just doesn’t want me to know how appreciative she is.
Either way, I have to fight a smile.
“Don’t mention it.” I’ll never live it down if she does.
“Oh, I’m telling everybody,” she yawns. “Everyone’s going to know what a sweetie pie you can be.”
“Ew.” I grimace. “Don’t ever say that again, sweetheart.”
She laughs softly. “God forbid anyone knows you’re capable of compassion.”
I chuckle, mainly because a burst of content energy accompanies her snarky remark, and it’s such a relief to feel her aura on the mend.
She isn’t completely drained and defeated like she was before.
It’ll take a while for her to get back to normal, and it might get worse before it gets better, but I’ll help her again and again if I have to.
Even if she threatens to ruin my reputation of being a callous asshole.