The Demon in Me

“I think I got jealous.”

“Jealous,” she repeated. Darrak was jealous? Of Ben?

“You looked all gorgeous and then you went out with another man and expected me to help you get lucky with a guy who seemingly can do no wrong in your eyes. Plus he’s got the dead girlfriend thing that makes him seem way more huggable or whatever. What can I say? I guess since we first met I’ve become a little… now I don’t want to use the word possessive, because that would make it seem like I’m trying to make a joke. But, okay, I was feeling possessive. What can I say?”

“Jealous,” she said again, still not believing her ears. “This is unbelievable.”

“All I know is that I despise Ben and I don’t think it’s just because I think he’s a bit of a trigger-happy meathead. I don’t know. I’ve quickly grown fond of you. Despite the fact that you hate my guts and sometimes you’re a bit of a bitch. I guess I find that oddly attractive.”

Her mind was blank. Out of everything Darrak could have said, this wasn’t it. And she had no idea how to react.

Wanting him to kiss her was one thing — something she knew was wrong. But now to find out he was fond of her? That he cared about her safety? That he worried about Malcolm coming after her?

She studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her dark reddish hair over her left shoulder and her face very pale now. Paler than usual.

“Look, I know you hate me,” Darrak said after a moment.

“Your friend, the one who thinks I’m your brother who’s escaped from a group home, is going to find the witch by tomorrow. I know he will. And then this will all be over.”

She grabbed a brush and absently ran it through her hair. “And what happens then? You go away?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“It is.” She said it as firmly as she could.

He was quiet for a moment. “I’ll do you a favor right now. I’m feeling drained from our run-in with Malcolm. Enough to let me fade for a bit. You can have your privacy and finish your supersecret bathroom routine. I just don’t know how long until I’m recharged and back.”

“Good,” she said quietly. “Don’t let me stop you.”

“Good night, Eden. And, just for the record, I’m not the least bit sorry for what happened earlier with golden boy. He’s not the right man for you and he definitely doesn’t deserve to kiss you.”

She was about to say something in reply to that, but before she could she actually felt Darrak’s presence fade away until there was nothing to indicate that the demon was still with her. It was like a weight had lifted. But it also left behind a chill when before she’d been warm inside.

“Good night,” she murmured even though she knew he couldn’t hear her anymore.

Stupid demon.

She wasn’t growing fond of him.

Not a chance. Considering how much he’d messed up her life that would be totally crazy. She’d be so glad when he was out of her life forever.

Holding onto that thought made everything much simpler.

— If she’d had a menu of men to dream about, she probably would have chosen Ben. But, instead, she dreamed about the demon.

She dreamed that she was kissing him. Very passionately. And clinging onto him as though if she didn’t, he’d fade away to nothing but black smoke.

“Don’t leave,” she murmured against his mouth. “Stay with me.”

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Wow. This dream felt really real.

Like, really real.

She slid her fingers through his hair as she explored his lips thoroughly. She felt his body, hard against hers.

“Eden…” he whispered and his lips moved to brush against her throat for a few moments before he kissed her again. “You feel so good.”

He was wearing his black T-shirt and she wanted desperately to remove it so she could feel his hot skin against hers. She pulled it over his head, breaking off their kiss for a split second. His hands were under her nightshirt, sliding along her sides to grip the backs of her thighs. She wrapped her legs around his waist.

“I knew you didn’t hate me,” he said. “I knew I’m the only one you want to kiss.”

Hate him? How could she hate somebody who made her feel like this? She wanted him inside of her. And she wasn’t referring to being possessed.

Her alarm clock buzzed.

That’s strange, she thought. I can hear my alarm clock, but I’m still dreaming?

Darrak slid his hand down between her legs and she let out a soft gasp, pressing herself closer against his touch. She wanted more of him. So muchWait a minute.

Her eyes snapped open.

This wasn’t a dream, was it? she thought suddenly with a sinking feeling. I’m totally and completely awake.

And there’s a demon in my bed.

Again.

“Darrak—”

“Yes?”

“Get off me.”

“But—”

“Get off me right now.”

He immediately removed both his lips and his hands from her body and rolled over onto his side. She glared at the demon who’d taken form again.

“You grabbed me,” he said. “Don’t even give me that accusatory look.”

“I grabbed you,” she repeated skeptically. Her face felt very warm.

“You made it very clear yesterday morning, okay? I took form when I had fully regained my energy a few minutes ago. I even conjured clothes to protect your fragile PG worldview. See? I’m dressed. Well, I was until you ripped my shirt off. I was about to get up and make some coffee when you reached over and started molesting me.” His lips twitched. “Not that I’m complaining, of course. I’m just trying to tell it like it is.”

Her face grew warmer. She was sure she was red as a… well, a something really red and on fire. “I thought I was dreaming.”

He looked pleased at that. “Dreaming about making out with me? I think I approve.”

She cleared her throat. “Actually, I was dreaming about Ben.”

That was enough to wipe the amusement off his face. “I see. You dream about golden boy a lot?”

“Constantly and obsessively.”

“Well, I’m very sorry to have disturbed your private fantasy time.”

She was surprised that the mere mention of golden boy… er, Ben, was enough to distract Darrak. She’d have to remember she had that weapon at her disposal.

The only problem was she hadn’t been dreaming about Ben. She’d known all too well exactly who she’d been orally exploring.

She swallowed. Maybe that wasn’t the best terminology for her to use, even if it was just in her head.

But it didn’t change anything. She’d been kissing Darrak. Willingly. And she’d wanted to do a whole lot more than that. Whether she’d thought it was a dream or not, it was very disturbing considering how much she wanted him out of her life — since if he stayed she was going to die. Talk about a bucket of cold water thrown on her libido. Willfully groping him seemed contrary to that position.

It was a Lust thing. Capital L. That’s all. Since it was one of the Deadly Sins it seemed demonically appropriate.

“You should get ready,” Darrak said. “If we’re going to follow your client’s hubby we need to leave in fifteen minutes. Cheaters like early starts to their days.”