Questions bubbled inside me and landed on the tip of my tongue. I had to bite down to keep from asking them. I wanted to know more about him. Did he have white hair because he was a demon? How old was he? Where was his family—if he had any? If we had been together before, had I known about him being a demon? Was the demon inside him a part of him or separate? Why did the demon inside him chase me?
Feeling my stare on him, Dimitri turned his gaze to me. I snapped my eyes to my computer screen and held my breath while waiting for him to say something. Tingles spread across my face from the weight of his stare. After a minute, the weight lifted, and I peeked at Dimitri to find him glaring at his laptop.
I’d ask him questions later when we weren’t at work. The last thing I wanted was for someone to walk in while I played twenty questions.
Dimitri hadn’t lied when he said we’d need the coffee. We stayed late at the office as he worked on the required paperwork for his business. There were so many odd jobs that he had to do to make things run smoothly. While he worked, I scrolled through the internet, searching for Christmas presents for my family and him. I huffed as I came across another item that would be perfect for Dimitri, but shipping would be after Christmas.
“That’s the fifth time you’ve growled at your laptop. What’s upsetting you so much that you’d need to make that adorable sound?” Dimitri asked.
I popped my head up and glared at him, though my eyes held little to no heat. “It’s not an adorable sound.”
Amusement lit his face, and the corner of his lip twitched as he stared at me with a softened expression. “Oh?”
“It’s not!” I couldn’t fight back my smile. Dimitri rarely teased me, and it was impossible to get mad at him when he did.
He turned his office chair to face me and folded his hands on the desk in front of him. “What’s upsetting you, sunshine?”
I sighed again and glanced at the Versace watch on the screen. It was pricey, but when I looked at my bank account earlier, I nearly choked on my saliva when I realized how much I’d saved. I’d never seen that kind of money, but I assumed it was because I worked as Dimitri’s assistant. I wanted to buy him this nice watch but couldn’t in time for the holiday.
“I’m Christmas shopping.” Dimitri made a sound in the back of his throat, earning him a small glare from me. “The things I want to get won’t ship in time, and Ireallywant to get this.”
“What is it? Perhaps I can find it in the city,” Dimitri said.
My cheeks warmed, and I shook my head. “I can’t tell you.”
“And why is that?”
I curled my fingers and stared at my lap, not wanting him to see the answer on my face. But Dimitri, the ever observant and intelligent man he was, got his answer.
“Ahh. It’s for me.” He leaned back in his seat, and I peeked at him with my cheeks still on fire. “And here I thought you were upset with me.”
I pinched my eyebrows together and frowned. “Why did you think that?”
“Come, come now, Emma. I told you what I am, and you looked like you’d seen a ghost.”For good reason. You’re scared of demons.Dimitri didn’t have to say it aloud, but I knew he was aware of my fears. His eyes still held a gentleness that I’d never seen him feel for anyone else. Nowhere on his face showed hatred for my hesitation and pulling away from him. “May I please help you with this one gift?” he asked.
I rapidly blinked. Not once had he ever asked permission for anything. He’d always been the demanding one who took what he wanted. I opened my mouth, then closed it, unable to find words. Dimitri patiently waited, never looking away from me.
“I-I”—I cleared my throat—“I wanted this to be a surprise but...yes. I’d appreciate your help.”
I sucked in a breath as he smiled. The heavens parted and angels started singing when he grinned. He got up from his seat, crossed the small space between us, and sat beside me. His scent wrapped around me and sent my heart racing.
“Let me see.” He plucked my laptop from my lap and placed it on his. His eyes flicked over the screen, then slightly widened as he saw what I wanted to get him. “Emma,” he said with a rumble deep in his chest. His penetrating stare sucked all the air from my lungs. “This is too much for you.”
I rapidly shook my head and reached to take back my laptop, but he caught my wrist in his big hand. “I have enough money for it,” I said.
He scowled, and his grip on me tightened. “Find something else.”
“If you don’t help me, I’ll still get it. I don’t care if you think it’s too much.”
He continued to glare at me, trying to think of ways to win this argument. I sagged when he released my wrist and broke the stare so he could look at the watch on the screen. “I know a shop that carries this.”
I straightened, and a smile spread across my face. “Really?”
He turned to me with a somber expression. “We’ll go tomorrow.”
My heart swelled, and I couldn’t stop as I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. He tensed, and my heart dropped as I realized I might’ve made a mistake. I pulled away and gasped when he yanked me back and crushed his lips to mine. He forced my mouth open as his tongue plunged in and curled around mine. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and heat flooded through my body. Everything we’d shared and done together rushed through my mind. I became greedy for more from him. More kisses. More gropes. More sex. More dirty confessions.
I barely registered him moving us. He set my laptop on the ground before he leaned into me. I lay on the couch with him over me and we never stopped kissing. I whimpered when he ended the kiss so could he nip and suck at the sensitive skin along my jaw to my neck.