Page 55 of Wreaking Havoc
“It’s a big decision,” Sascha murmured.
“It is. Be brave for me, zaychik.”
“I’m not very good at that.”
“Then, as I said. I will be brave enough for the both of us.” Kai let out a breath, pulling the plug on the bath decisively. “But perhaps I place too much pressure on you. I’m not used to waiting for the things I want, unless forced to by outside circumstances.” He planted a kiss on Sascha’s shoulder. “I will stop pressing.”
“I don’t—I don’t mind the pressing,” Sascha said, watching the water swirl down the drain. “I just have a hard time believing it’s real.”
Kai lifted Sascha from the tub, once more carrying him bridal-style. “We’ll let you sleep.” He nuzzled Sascha’s head. “Perhaps your credulity will improve with the morning.”
15
Sascha
Sascha slept like the dead—no more fever dreams to mess with his head, not even lingering anxiety to force him awake two or three times over the course of the night, as had happened so often in the past.
He’d been soothed by demon sex, apparently. Or, more like, soothed by the big demon body pillow he was currently drooling all over.
Kai had changed to human form in order to fit in the bed when they’d gone to sleep, but at some point in the night, he’d reverted back, his feet now hanging over the edge.
Sascha would have to get something custom-made, if the big lug really was planning on sticking around.
He rose up on one elbow, wiping some of his drool off Kai’s chest. The demon was sleeping, his gorgeous face as alluring as ever, even unconscious. Although, there was something about him awake—mischievous or demanding or arrogant in turn—that was even more attractive.
It was a bit annoying that his silky black hair wasn’t even the slightest bit disheveled—Sascha could feel the unwieldy spikes his own blond locks had configured into over the night. Meanwhile, Kai’s horns jutted elegantly out of the smooth surface of his hair, the tips brushing against the headboard.
Sascha slid up carefully under the covers, keeping an eye on Kai’s closed lids. He got up to his knees at the head of the bed, peering closely at the horns. He couldn’t quite see where the base of them began. He laid a finger on one. The texture was rough, like a goat’s horn.
Or, at least, Sascha assumed. He’d never actually felt a goat’s horn. Papa hadn’t exactly been keen on taking his brats to petting zoos over the years.
Sascha began to stroke the horn more firmly, getting a better feel for the…consistency of the grain, maybe? What were the correct terms for horn qualities?
“You know, the base of a demon’s horns are incredibly sensitive, zaychik.”
Sascha pulled his hand back with a start. Kai’s eyes were open now, and he was staring at him with amusement. “Oh! Sorry, I—”
Kai ran his tongue over a fanged incisor. “By all means, continue. But you might get more than you bargained for, hm?”
Sascha’s gaze dropped down to where there was now a quite sizable bulge tenting up the bedcovers.
He scrambled off the bed, much more quickly than he usually moved in the morning. “Nope. No funny business,” he scolded from a safe distance. “You broke me last night. And my ass is a national treasure. As such, it must be protected.”
Kai’s venom had definitely worked some sort of magic—Sascha probably wouldn’t have been able to walk if it hadn’t—but he was still a bit sore, and he didn’t feel like testing his limitswith Alexei in the house. His brother’s eagle eyes would notice if Sascha came downstairs with a limp in his step.
Kai propped himself onto on elbow, smirking at him. “There are all kinds of ways to engage in ‘funny business,’ as you say. But all right.” He tilted his head toward the pile of packages he’d left at the door the night before. “Why not open a few of those?” His grin widened. “A safe distance from the big, bad demon.”
Smug bastard.
But Sascha did love a good unboxing. He glanced at the packages, the proof of his impulsive online shopping. Now that they were in front of him—with Kai watching him so closely—his cheeks were growing hot with embarrassment. He hadn’t exactly held back when ordering. Would Kai think he was silly? Too frivolous to be worth his time? Not manly enough or something?
He could picture his father’s face—or Ivan’s for that matter—if he saw some of what Sascha had ordered. It wouldn’t be a pretty sight.
Although, Sascha hadn’t exactly been the pinnacle of masculinity in any of his and Kai’s encounters. He’d summoned the guy with blue nail polish, for fuck’s sake. And Kai wasn’t some asshole mobster with outdated ideas on gender stereotypes. He was a demon from another realm who thought Sascha’s soul was delicious and his yoga pants were cute.
So Sascha hustled over to the boxes, grabbing the first one within easy reach. He recognized the brand—some nightwear he’d ordered. He swallowed with a dry throat, then ripped the tape off and lifted out the first set.
Right. Somepinknightwear he’d ordered. Little satiny shorts with a matching short-sleeved button-down. The heat in Sascha’s cheeks spread to the tips of his ears just from looking at them. Sopretty.
