The Demon King Davian

“You will be living there part-time,” Lisette reminded her.

“I know. But Davian understands I’m much happier at the cottage and in the village.”

Fear was no longer a factor. She’d been to the castle plenty of times since the engagement was officially announced, along with her immortal state. Since she’d earned the respect of Sheena, Morgan, Sebastian and Landford, her credibility had increased by leaps and bounds.

Over the past two months, she’d gotten to know others within the kingdom and she was developing a good rapport with the demons, including the vampires in residence who, like Sheena, derived personal satisfaction from proving they didn’t want to drink human blood. But the opulence of the castle still overwhelmed her.

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??Besides,” Jade continued, “Davian has already chosen a spot for the wedding, but he hasn’t told me where yet. He wants me to be surprised.”

“I have to admit,” Sheena said, “it’s nice to see this romantic side of him. He’s been a bit of an ogre for nearly nine years, pining for you.”

“That does have a surreal sound to it,” Jade said. “I remain in shock over everything that’s happened between us.”

“Well, you’d better get used to it,” the vampire said. “Because this is all happening. No backing out now.”

“As if I would,” Jade bristled. “I am very much in love.”

“And I’m thrilled for you.” Sheena gave her a quick hug. “Gotta run now.”

“I have to go as well,” Jade said. “Night patrol. I’ll walk out with you.”

Lisette patted Jade on the shoulder, still not fully amenable to her marrying the Demon King, but doing her best to support her friend.

They left Lisette at the library and traveled to the northern border together before going their separate ways. Jade made her rounds twice and returned to the castle before sunrise, passing Sebastian and Landford in the forest at the base of the ridge. They informally, though respectfully, saluted her, and she found the gesture charming.

She moved swiftly through the study and into the bedroom, stripping her clothes off along the way. Sheena had vacated the suites on the other side of the study and Jade used them now for her sitting and dressing rooms.

The vampire had moved into a different wing—out of earshot, Jade hoped. She liked that no one other than the guards at the entrance to their wing were permitted in the area, with the exception of Jocelyn and those instances when Davian’s assistant or general had business to address.

She slipped between the sheets and snuggled close to Davian, spooning him from behind. Her lips trailed over his warm skin and he stirred. She pressed her bare breasts to his back and dropped kisses along his broad shoulder as she inhaled his earthy scent. She was instantly aroused.

“Your skin’s cold,” he said in a sleepy rumble that was sexy as hell.

“It rained in the middle of the night. I had Sheena’s cape with me, although the ends of my hair are damp.” She lightly nipped his neck as her breasts rubbed against the sinewy muscles of his back. “See? A hair dryer would come in handy at this moment.”

He reached a powerful arm behind him and wrapped it around her waist. Dragging her forward, he pulled her over his hunky side. She twisted so she ended up on her back, her legs draped across his hip. She was tangled in the sheets, but didn’t care as he gave her a searing kiss.

When he pulled away, she was breathless.

He asked, “You want electricity?”

Jade glanced around the room, finding the low fire and the few candles he’d left burning for her a seductive enhancement to the large suite. Her gaze returned to him and she said, “I guess not.” She considered what improvements might come with the advancement, however, and added, “Maybe someday, though.”

He kissed her again, and the kind of electricity generated by their sexual chemistry was the only thing on her mind. One of his hands shifted from her waist and eased over the sheet that held her captive as it twined around her body. He palmed her breast through the soft material and gently squeezed. She moaned and he responded, his kiss even hotter than before. Possessive.

Jade wove her fingers through his dark hair and reveled in how luxurious the strands felt against her skin. When his mouth left hers, his warm lips trailed over her jaw and down her throat. Her nipples puckered as they brushed against the sensuous sheets, and her pussy ached for him. But a lascivious thought tickled the back of her brain and she gave him a push so he rolled onto his back. She had to work her way out of her position and the linen, and then she reached for her robe at the foot of the bed.

Davian groaned in disappointment. “Bad timing this morning?” He obviously thought she meant to derail their interlude by dressing. “We were at the cottage for five days straight recently. I thought you were back to the good beads.”

They’d made a change to their scheduled bed-hopping in order to accommodate her period, since she didn’t want to torture the vampires in the castle.

While she and Davian mostly stuck to the Standard Method of planning, sometimes he’d get carried away and didn’t give a damn whether she was ovulating or not. He’d withdraw from her before he came, but that didn’t offer any guarantees. And lately, he’d been hinting at starting a family.

But birth control was not of concern at the moment. “We’re in a happy place with the beads,” she assured him. “I’m just in the mood for something different.” Not that he wasn’t creative with his lovemaking. Every time with Davian was more exciting than the last, which led to her feeling adventurous.

She yanked the long sash from the robe and turned back to him, no doubt a sparkle in her eyes. “It’s my turn to tie you up.”