“Yes. I still have feelings for you even after learning you’re an actual demon from Hell.” She blew out a breath. “I should probably be trying to thwart your attempts to lure me onto the path of wickedness or whatever.”
“Don’t say that.” His mouth twisted. “It makes my stomach feel weird again.”
She grit her teeth to keep from softening.He is not cute. He is not cute.“But there’s more to being in a relationship than attachment. At least, I need more.”
“You want a relationship?”
“Uh, yeah, what did you think we’ve been doing?”
“I dunno.” And once again, the look on his face said he really didn’t.
God help her. Literally, she needed help from the big guy.Dear God, please help me, because I’m about to have the relationship talk with a demon because I have genuine feelings for him. Amen, or whatever you’re supposed to say. Sorry if that was offensive.
She took a breath and launched into it. “When people care about each other, they make a commitment. Generally, it’s exclusive. It means no sex with other people, no flirting, nothing. You’re honest, and you tell each other secrets. You become friends, but you also build something deeper than friendship that hopefully turns into love.”
Ash grimaced at the word love.
Yeah, thought that might happen.“There’s no guarantee that will happen, but both people go into it hoping for that outcome.” She took a breath. “When I met you, that was what I wanted. It’s what I still want.”
“Love... ?”
He could barely get the word out. Damn it, this was hopeless. What had she expected to happen?
“Yes. Love. What we have is really new, but before the whole demon thing came up, I was hoping that was where we were heading. Now, I don’t know, but I can’t keep doing this unless you’re willing to admit you want the same thing. Dating a demon is already crazy enough, but letting a demon use me and break my heart—no freaking way.”
“I... don’t want that.”
“Neither do I.” She blew out a tired laugh. “Trust me, it sucks.”
He scowled suddenly. “You’ve experienced this before?”
“In high school. I got crushed by this guy I was into for years. He blew me off in front of all our friends, and I was devastated. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so embarrassed.”
“I’ll kill him,” Ash growled, hands curling into fists. “Tell me where he lives.”
“No, Ash, that’s not the point of the story. The point is that the way you’ve been acting is doing the same thing.”
“I don’t want that,” he said again.
“So, then tell me what youdowant,” she pressed, while a big part of her was shaking her head and preparing for disappointment. “Tell me it’s not just about sex to you. Tell me I mean more to you than that.”
His lip curled. “Emotions are for humans.”
She crossed her arms, trying to act tough. “Yeah, well, I’m a human, so you’re going to have to deal with it. And if you don’t have emotions, then you obviously don’t care whether we’re in a relationship or not.”
“Maybe I don’t want a relationship.”
Okay, that one hurt.Don’t let it show.“Then it’s over.”
He scowled. “No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes!” she snapped. “I can’t do this unless you’re willing to talk about your feelings. It’s all or nothing, baby.”
He crossed his arms and glared at her. “That’s not fair.”
