[https://i.imgur.com/EPyoSPa.png]

Chapter Twelve

So much for staying for drinks. I sulked in the bath and nudged the bubbles around. Of course duty would take him away just when I'd finally started to become more comfortable around him. He'd spent most of the evening trying to ease me out if my shell and happily introducing me to his favorite foods from the Underrealm. His eyes lit up whenever I thought one was delicious. It was adorable.

"Stop it, Celia…" I groaned, covering my face with both hands. "Just stop… Ouch!"

I quickly pawed at my eyes, attempting to get the bubble bath out if them. When they didn’t work, I squinted and groped around for a washcloth, soaked it, and attempted to rinse out my eyes.

Betrayed by my own bath. My relaxation ruined, I finished my bath and got dressed for bed. I wasn't in the mood to drink alone, and it was doubtful that Tsukiyo would come back, so I crawled into bed after turning out the lights.

☆ ▪ ☆ ▪ ☆ ▪ ☆

Tsukiyo's fingers trailed over my skin, tracing the underside of the web of silken ropes that bound me beneath him. His other hand was between my legs, attentively bringing me to the edge--always stopping just short. My breath came in short, heated gasps, my body trembling in its desire for release. He tugged on a rope, causing it to grow taut against my clitoris. His fingers slid inside me for what seemed like the thousandth time.

I was too consumed by pleasure and desire to form words anymore. Begging for release was impossible.

He let go of the rope, his hand coming up to cup my face instead. I felt his thumb press against my lips, then against my tongue. The sonorous laugh that left him sent a shudder through me.

When our mouths met, and our tongues intertwined, his fingers pressed deeper inside of me and hooked upwards. I moaned into his mouth and writhed against my restraints. I needed so much more of him than that.

☆ ▪ ☆ ▪ ☆ ▪ ☆

Oh hell no. I threw off the covers and darted into the bathroom to splash frigid water on my face. Now I was having dreams like that?! Unacceptable. A shiver ran through me, bringing my attention to my perked nipples and the dampness between my legs. The enticing soft-yet-commanding way he touched me…

Nope!

I freshened up and yanked on a robe, deciding I wasn't going back to bed for a while after that. I'd just slip right back into dreams of things that would never happen if I slept now.

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Pity I couldn't stay in that dream for eternity.

Disappointment. I strode out of my room in search if something to do but soon heard faint rustling and low murmurs. Please don't tell me…

"Sorry, did I wake you up?" Tsukiyo glanced up from where he knelt on the floor, surrounded by dozens if books. I just stared at him and the mess in my living room for a moment. "Ah, I'm going to put them back where they belong when I'm done. Don't worry. Since you weren't awake when I returned...I thought I'd still read a few."

Why...does he sound disappointed? I must be imagining it. What was at first excitement to see him instantly turned to a disappointment of my own instead. "I woke me up."

"Nightmares?" Tsukiyo frowned with concern. "I know some remedies for those."

"No, not a nightmare." I shook my head but that just fueled his confusion. "Don't worry about it. I got a nap, at least. Want to have drinks after all?"

"Sure." He smiled softly.

Please don’t look at me like that. I don't think my heart can take it. I pivoted and walked to the kitchen, where I shut my eyes briefly. It was just lust on my part, I reminded myself, and his feelings were likely platonic at best.

After composing myself, I fetched two bottles and returned to the living room. "Wine, beer, mead, something stronger... What would you like?"

Tsukiyo glanced toward me again, but this time his gaze met my legs first and slowly traveled upward. It gave me the impression he hadn't noticed what I was wearing mere minutes ago.

"I..." He cleared his throat and looked away from me. "Surprise me.

"Oh. Okay." I faltered, having no idea how to read his reaction. Maybe he found the human form repulsive. I should have opted for a longer robe.

When I returned with a glass of wine for us each, I noticed he was still being rather careful about where he looked. It finally dawned on me that, sitting on the floor, he could probably see the lacy cheekies I'd worn to bed. Oops.

"Are you trying to review all this in one night?" I asked, hoping maybe talking about the books would alleviate the tension in the room and keep me from thinking about him bending me over the coffee table.

"I don't want to impose." Tsukiyo shook his head. "I'm sure you'd like to return to some semblance of normalcy, and nightly visits from an Aloryi wouldn't help with that."

Tsukiyo shot me a sideways smirk that made me worry he knew exactly what had woken me up. I gripped my wine glass tighter and settled down on the couch.

"You don't have to rush," I informed him. "Take your time. I like your company, I just...I don't get it, I guess. Shouldn't you still hate me? I don't understand why you've been so nice to me."

"Have you considered that maybe I want to be...nice to you?" He sounded like he was going to say something else at first, but he recovered so quickly that I wasn't sure. "If I don't need to rush, hmmm..."

I watched the Aloryi carefully select a book and begin reading in place. Frowning, I spoke up again, "You can sit on the couch if you want."

"I'm afraid not." He flourished his tail without looking up from the book.

Right. No closed-back seats for demons. I hesitated before pulling out my phone and flicking through a few furniture sites. I had a lot of books. There was no harm in getting a more comfortable chair for Tsukiyo, right?

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