Page 66 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

I stay there longer than necessary.

Eventually, Lucien notices the paint supplies scattered across the floor. “Are we painting?”

“I was going to.”

“But I have magic.” He holds up his hand in snapping position.

“No magic.”

Lucien’s face falls. “Why do you hate me?”

I laugh and grab his hand. “Come on, higher demon of the second ring. Let’s eat then see if you can handle a paint roller.”

He cannot. There’s paint in Lucien’s hair. I don’t know how. I gave him one wall. One.

Somehow, there’s lilac paint on his sweater, his forearm, one horn, and the very end of his tail. I’m laughing so hard I have to lean against the wall, which turns out to be a terrible idea because the wall is wet.

“Oh, fuck.”

Lucien points at me and howls.

“Don’t laugh!” I twist around, trying to see the back of my shirt.

“You have a purple ass.”

“It’s lilac.”

“My apologies. You have a lilac ass.”

I grab the nearest paintbrush and threaten him with it. Lucien catches my wrist before I can smear paint across his face. His eyes widen.

“Sparkle.”

I swipe lilac across his cheek. Lucien gasps like I’ve stabbed him. I squeal and bolt.

I make it three steps before his tail wraps around my waist and yanks me backward. I crash into his chest laughing as he catches me, and for a moment, neither of us moves.

Then the laughter changes.

Lucien’s hand settles against my stomach. My back is pressed to his chest, and his breath warms the side of my neck. His tail is still wrapped around my waist. My heart starts beating faster. I turn in his arms.

I’m pretty sure we’ve gotten more paint on ourselves than the walls. He’s beautiful. I reach up and brush my thumb beneath the paint on his cheek. Lucien’s gaze drops to my mouth.

I kiss him, needing his mouth on mine. His arms tighten around me immediately, but he lets me lead. I slide my hands up his chest and around his neck as his mouth moves slowly against mine.

Then I pull away and glance toward the ceiling.

Lucien groans. “There will be no artillery.”

“Just checking.”

His laugh brushes against my mouth before I kiss him again. This time, I push him backward.

Lucien goes willingly until the backs of his knees hit my bed and he drops onto it. His eyebrows shoot up when I follow him down and settle across his lap.

“Oh,” he says.

My confidence wobbles.