Page 13 of Cuddly Demon

"Can I tell you what I was getting up to?"

Saint waggles his eyebrows. "Of course."

I point to the man at the booth, sharing the way I comforted him. Saint listens intently, his eyes flicking from me to the man and back again.

"That's really kind of you," Saint says, squeezing my hand. "You have a good heart."

I shrug, feeling a little embarrassed. "It's nothing, really. Just trying to help out where I can."

Saint smiles at me, and I feel my heart skip a beat. "Well, I appreciate it. That's kind of you."

The diner quiets down as the breakfast rush subsides, leaving only a few stragglers enjoying their meals.

Saint leans in to kiss me, his lips soft and warm against mine. It's a gentle, sweet kiss, full of all the love we have for each other. It's like nothing else matters but this moment, this connection between us. I'm on cloud nine feeling his lips on mine, unable to pull away.

Saint leans back, stretching his arms over his head. "I'm going to go clean up the kitchen. Our dishwasher is sick, so I’ll be getting my hands dirty. Do you want to come back and help me?"

I nod, my stomach full of pancakes and my heart full of love. "Of course, beautiful boy. I'll help you with anything."

I follow Saint into the kitchen, enjoying the way his slender form moves as he walks. God, he's a catch. None of the guys in Etruria were half this pretty. I had to be summoned by an American to know true beauty.

The scent of grease and sizzling bacon fills my nostrils when we enter the kitchen. Saint expertly moves things around, picking up trash and organizing as he goes. He starts washing dishes while I dry them, our hands brushing against each other every now and then. The heat between us is palpable. His slim muscles flex and ripple under his shirt, and I can't help but feel a pang of desire shoot through me.

I sneak up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "You know, when you're done with work, I have something else in mind for us to do."

Saint chuckles, turning around in my arms. "Oh really? And what might that be?"

I lean in to whisper in his ear. "You're gonna have to give into your devilish side to find out."

Saint pokes my nose. "One thing at a time, hot stuff."

I let out a laugh, shaking my head as we continue tidying up.

Helping him sweep and clean is a breeze, and soon we’re finished and ready to head home. As we walk out of the diner, I can't help but feel grateful for the simple pleasures in life—like pancakes and being with the master you love.

Saint turns to me, his eyes wide with gratitude. "Thanks for accompanying me to work. I know it's not the most exciting thing, but you helped me feel safe."

"It's my pleasure." I lean in, and bury him in a hug. I inhale deeply, his scent mixing with the happiness inside of me. "I enjoyed learning what humans in the twenty-first century do for fun."

"No." Saint shakes his head. "That was for money. Not fun."

"I had fun, so I assumed you did too. I'm still learning."

Saint stares at me for a beat too long. A spark drifts out of his eyes and travels into mine.

His cheeks are pinker than I've ever seen a human's. "I had fun too. Because of you."

"Let's head into your bed and snuggle some more. What do you think about that?"

"Yes." Saint nods quickly, tugging me toward his bed. "I'd like that a lot."

FIVE

SAINT

"Hey, girl."

My best friend Becca waves me over to her table. "Hey."