Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(34)

“I think you’ve had enough. You’re a cat.”

“Ah’m an imp. A powerful one. Dinnae make me go medieval on yer crease.”

“Here’s your scotch, Farquhar. We’ll talk more about this later.” She laid the bottle in front of him.

“Wha’ever.” With that, he batted the bottle down the hallway and toward the second door on the right. “Ah’ll still be watching ye.” The door slammed shut behind him.

“Blood and damnation. I’ve never met a pair of more obstinate beings, human and demon combined.”

He yearned to sit down next to her and put on a less violent movie. Something more to Serah’s liking. To pluck some popcorn from that bucket and feed it to her one kernel at a time. To pull her close to him and—bloody hell. He moved to take the spot vacated by Farquhar earlier.

“Pair? You aren’t all that amenable either.”

With a disgruntled groan, he opted to take the recliner instead. This wouldn’t be easy. “I have reasons. I’ve lived a long life. I’ve seen enough death and destruction. I will not sit idly while the world’s only possible chance at salvation lounges here and ignores her calling.”

“All I know how to do is cook. How do you expect me to save the world from demons? Feed them to death?”

This was getting futile. He couldn’t touch her, though. Too many sensations zinged through him. And from the look he glimpsed in her eyes, she felt them too. And then there was the fact that she had touched him. And she still lived.

“What happened when you touched me earlier?” he asked. Oh, something had happened, all right. But not the normal thing that happened when a human touched a demon without permission—agonizing pain, and sometimes, death.

“I already told you nothing happened.”

“Exactly.”

Serah sank into the sofa and averted his glance. “Maybe Rafe or Lucy put a protection spell on me.”

“Good try, but no. Enrapturement only works on normal humans.”

“Maybe you’re wrong and they did cast a charm on me.”

“Rafael and Lucia gave me their word. You are un-enrapturable.”

“Maybe I’m not human.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Everything started after Lucy opened the chest. Maybe I’m possessed.”

“If that were the case, you wouldn’t have demon-sense. Only those who are pure—or blessed—can smell the Infernati odor.”

Serah leaned in, question flashing in her gaze. “And if you’re not a blessed Paladin yet, how can you?”

Matthias ground his teeth. He wasn’t proud of his past. He’d done things that would send any respectable person packing. At the time it seemed right. After all, he needed to survive. “I’ve worked for some unsavory people.”

“You already mentioned it.” Serah leaned back into the sofa. “If you want my trust, then you need to be honest with me. I get the feeling you’re hiding something.”

“My past is not pretty, Seraphina.” The moment he spoke her real name, his heart plummeted. A frown creased her lips and she exhaled a deep sigh. “I have killed many, Infernati, Paladin, and humans alike.”

“And yet the Fore-Demons allowed you to join?”

“Maybe they want more amusement in their ancient demonic lives.”

“Amusement?”

“Maybe they enjoy watching me suffer.”

“So protecting me is torture? Is that what you’re saying?”

More than she knew. Torture in the most tantalizing ways. God, the things he wanted to do to her. His loins throbbed in response. He turned his head away.

“If you don’t care for me, then have them reassign you. I hate being treated like an inconvenience.”

The gauntlet had been dropped. He clenched his fists. “The feeling, my dear, is very mutual.” Maybe it was time to show her just how inconvenient she was.

He hauled himself to his feet and snaked his arm around her curvy waist. Pulling her against him, he angled her head to meet his gaze. Her sapphire pupils sparked in challenge, a challenge the certifiable part of him had no qualms about accepting. Grasping the curls at her neck, he continued to take in her beauty. What harm could one searing kiss do?

Just one kiss. To put her in her place.

Hah! He wanted to put her in to many places—mainly his bed.

Her heart thumped against his. A soft gasp broke the silence. She pushed a hand against his chest. It was as if he were struck by lightning. Energy zinged through his body through every receptor. Then again, lightning probably didn’t feel this damned good.

“What—”

He didn’t give her a chance to finish her sentence. With a quick sweep, he brought her lips to his. Sizzling energy exploded between their skin. Much to his delight, she did not pull away. She inched her arms around his shoulders, friction sparking between their bodies. Fingers laced in the hair at the nape of his neck, she pressed closer as her lips parted. Acquiescence never tasted so good. Like fresh plums and—warm buttered popcorn.

His tongue sensed her acceptance. As if on its own, it swept along her lips and pressed into her warm, inviting mouth. Who knew fruit and popcorn could taste so good. His greedy tongue danced along her equally eager tongue, sending all his blood rushing to his groin. He throbbed against the heat that pressed so intimately against him.