Page 72 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

Lucien’s expression changes, and I immediately know he’s about to say something that will probably violate at least one of the promises he made to me tonight. I press a finger to his lips before he can get started.

Lucien says something against my finger, his lips moving beneath it.

“What?” I ask, pulling my hand away.

“I said light maiming.”

“No.”

“A curse that makes his socks permanently damp?”

I consider it for longer than I should, and Lucien’s eyes immediately brighten.

“No.” I settle against him again, resting my cheek over his chest. “Thank you for behaving.”

Lucien presses a kiss between my ears. “You’re welcome. It was incredibly difficult. I hope you appreciate my sacrifice.”

“I do.” I snort and trace an idle circle over his stomach before adding, “And thank you for coming tonight.”

“I would’ve fought an army to be there.”

I softly swat his stomach, and he catches my hand before I can pull it away. His fingers weave through mine, and the joking slowly fades as he lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles.

I know how he takes his coffee. I know he hates paperwork even though he insists on doing too much of it himself. I know Lars and Ryan are basically his family, even though he acts like they’re giant pains in his ass. I know his tail gives him away when he’s excited. And I definitely know the look he gets right before he’s about to do something so fucking ridiculous I should probably duck.

My gaze drops to his mouth. Lucien notices, because of course he does, and the corner of his lips curls upward. His thumb brushes slowly over the back of my hand.

I shift onto my knees beside him and kiss him before he gets the chance. Lucien immediately slides a hand around my waist, but he doesn’t pull me anywhere. He lets me decide whether I want to get closer. I do.

I climb into his lap, and his breath catches against my mouth before his arms wrap around me. I curl mine around his neck and kiss him again. There’s no hesitation this time. We’ve gotten plenty of practice over the last few weeks, enough that I know the way his mouth moves against mine and the little sound he makes when my fingers slide into his hair.

Lucien’s tail winds around my leg while mine flicks happily behind me. His hands move slowly over my back, and I sink against him until there’s hardly any space left between us. The purr starts again before I even realize I’m doing it.

“There it is,” Lucien whispers against my lips, his smile brushing mine. “I love that sound.”

I kiss him again so he can’t keep talking. That works for a while.

Eventually, I pull back enough to breathe. Lucien looks as dazed as I feel. His hair is mussed from my fingers, his lips are swollen, and there’s something about seeing the usually ridiculous, overly confident demon looking completely wrecked from kissing me that sends warmth unfurling low in my stomach.

This is my apartment.

Nobody is going to knock on the door and ask me to drive them somewhere. Nobody needs help with homework. Mama isn’t going to call from another room. Papa isn’t here to make some annoying comment about my ears or my tail. Nobody is going to hear what we get up to. I don’t have to keep my moans down or worry about a kitten knocking on the door because they need something.

I don’t have anywhere else I need to be. I only have somewhere I want to be.

Lucien brushes his thumb across my cheek, his brow furrowing slightly as he studies me. “Where’d you go?”

“Nowhere.” When he continues watching me, I smile and kiss the corner of his mouth. “That’s the point.”

Understanding slowly softens his face. I slide out of his lap, but I don’t let go of his hand when I stand. My heart starts pounding as Lucien looks down at our joined fingers before lifting his gaze back to mine.

Of course, I’m suddenly shy again. I managed to dance nearly naked in front of strangers for years, but apparently taking the demon I’m dating to my bedroom is what finally makes me forget how legs work.

“Sparkle?” Lucien asks. He doesn’t move from the couch, waiting for me to decide what comes next.

My ears flatten into my hair, but I tighten my fingers around his. “Come to bed.”

Lucien goes completely still. I tug gently on his hand, and his gaze searches mine.