Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
I take a deep breath, inhaling Caleb’s building lust. He’s filled with it over the possibility of me. It’s staggering on several levels, all of which I’ll spend entirely too much time obsessing over once I’m home and alone. “Okay.”
“Okay? Okay.” He exhales in a rush, shifting restlessly. “Um, how do you want to start?”
When in doubt, stick with what you know. “I guess I’ll start by sitting on your chest.”
Chapter 4
Wait, wait, wait.”
I freeze in the middle of leaning forward. I should have known this was a mistake. I’m breaking so many rules right now, and I don’t even know this human, no matter how nice and understanding he seems. “You’re right. I’m just going to go.”
“Gemma, wait.” He grabs my wrist again, still holding me almost gingerly. Not like I’m a monster he’s afraid will bite, but as if I’m made of glass and he worries about shattering me. It’s strange. I don’t know if I like it. “Believe me when I say I absolutely am into the idea of you sitting on my chest.” Caleb clears his throat. “But I was hoping we could talk for a little bit first.”
“Talk?” I blink. “But why do you want to talk to me? You clearly are attracted to this form.”
“I am. Very.” His gaze skates over me, almost as if he can’t help himself. “But I guess I’m a little bit of a romantic. I like knowing the people I have sex with. Not to mention, it’s not every day I get the chance to talk with a demon.”
I nibble my bottom lip. It’s not as if I can get into more trouble if I talk with him. The portal will hold until sunrise, which is hours away. Truth be told, I’m curious about him too. “What do you do when you’re not here?” I wave my hand around his room.
“I’m a pediatrician.”
My eyes go wide. “You work with kids? All the time? Every day?”
The roles responsible for raising, educating, and healing demon children are hotly sought after. Even if I were excellent at my job and quickly rose up the ranks and gathered power, I’m centuries from being able to even compete to claim one of those positions. I’ll never be able to accomplish that. But to work primarily with young children? That sounds like the stuff dreams are made of, if someone were brave enough to allow themself to dream.
Now it’s his turn to blink. “I do.” He runs a hand through his short red hair, suddenly bashful. “Most of my job is wellness checks as the kids grow up—giving vaccinations, reassuring parents that they’re doing a good job, and helping them navigate situations where there’s something more serious going on. The last part is relatively rare, which is nice. I’ve only been doing it for a decade, but even in that time, seeing the kids get older is really rewarding.”
Ten years seems like a blip of time, but it’s quite the stretch for humans. Especially when doctors have to go to school for so long. It means Caleb is a little older than I realized, close to forty. It means his life is half over. The thought leaves me cold.
I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear and push the realization away. Humans don’t live as long as demons. I know that. Everyone knows that. It’s just a fact of life. There’s no reason for it to make me so deeply uncomfortable.
“What about you?” He leans forward, all bright eyes and interest. “I know this hasn’t exactly gone like you wanted, but surely your life must be so interesting.”
I roll my eyes before I can think better of it. “I guess it depends on what you consider interesting. It’s pretty boring from where I’m sitting. I spend a lot of time alone.”
There’s no reason to expect him to understand. He clearly doesn’t. “What do you mean? You’ve only been here a few times. Surely you do other things with your free time.”
“Not really.” I drag a hand over my face. Everything about Caleb seems designed to bring my inadequacies to the forefront. I know better. It’s not him that’s the problem; it’s me. It’s always been me. “I don’t fit in. I focus on the wrong things and ask too many questions, which tends to cross boundaries I didn’t even realize existed.” All the years of missteps bubble up, pressing against the inside of my skin. “When I was young, my eccentricities were tolerated, but only by the adults and elders. Kids, regardless of their species, always know the truth. And the truth was that I don’t fit in. I never have.”
Instead of turning away from me in clear disgust, he emanates empathy, soft and sweet and absolutely inedible. “Kids can be cruel, even if they don’t mean to.”