“That was more than chicken broth,” she said. “That was a flavor explosion.”
He grinned. “I have a very competent staff.”
“Clearly.”
“Now,” he said as he refreshed her water glass and gave it over. She still favored her good hand. “You want to know what type of demon I am.”
“If you don’t mind helping me get my facts straight.”
“Not at all. I want you to know the truth.” He splashed a bit of brandy into his own tumbler. “Actually, I’m not any particular species of demon. I’m immortal by birthright. It’s hereditary in my family. A rare gift bestowed upon a distant ancestor for saving a high-ranking demon from an unjust death sentence.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. “You don’t take animal form, suck blood or grow horns?”
With a shake of his head, he said, “Nothing like that at all. What you see now is what I always am. It took two hundred years for me to look like a thirty-year-old man, but since that time, the aging process has all but come to a grinding halt.”
She studied him closely, then teased, “Just two gray hairs?”
“Where?” he quipped.
Her laugh warmed his insides. “Just kidding. You’ve managed to keep them at bay.”
“Surprising.” He stood and paced alongside the bed.
In a quiet voice, Jade said, “I imagine it’s not easy ruling an entire continent.”
“No.” He turned to face her. “Especially when it was something I never wanted. Those are my trials and tribulations.”
Her brow furrowed. “When we were at the library, I made it sound as though you haven’t a care in the world because you’re a demon. Obviously, that’s not the case. I’m sorry I was so cavalier about your…kind.”
He gave this some thought, then returned to his spot on the edge of the mattress. “Don’t apologize. We’re just as guilty. The demon viewpoint of humans is that you’re weak of mind and body. But that’s not true. The slayers and witches have proven it, the reason I have to be so diligent in keeping them in line. But you’ve also demonstrated how strong the human spirit can be.”
“I’m a little different than most humans.”
“Yes, you are.” He considered her abilities. “Do you understand how you ended up with your particular gifts?”
She shook her head. “I only know that, similar to you, they were passed from my father.”
He gazed at her, finding the sentiment intriguing. “We share a number of connections.”
Shifting again on the bed so she sat up, she placed the glass on the table and then trailed her fingers over his temple, whisking away locks of hair. “Yes, we do. You were in my head again last night.”
“I couldn’t help it.” The torment of her previous pain made his voice tight. “I needed to do something to try to alleviate as much of the physical ache as I could, so you’d be able to rest.”
She smiled. “It worked. I felt at peace. Comforted.”
“I really should keep my distance. But you are so irresistible…” He leaned toward her and his lips touched hers.
This time, he bypassed the restrained kiss he’d given her in the library. His fingers tangled in her hair and his mouth sealed to hers but for a few seconds. Then their lips parted and his tongue delved inside as he kissed her deeply. Passionately. The way he’d dreamed of.
Her fingers curled around the material of his shirt, just above his pectoral muscles. She returned the kiss with equal fervor. Her lips were soft and her mouth warm and inviting. A moan lodged in her throat and it made him hard for her.
He eased her back until she lay against the pile of pillows. He deepened the kiss as his other hand shoved the cloak away and slid under the hem of her sweater. His fingertips grazed her smooth flesh and she jolted.
Tearing her mouth from his, she gasped. “Darien.”
His cock throbbed at the way she said his name on such a lusty sigh. Yet he pulled back. “You still need recovery time. I’m overwhelming you.”
“Yes,” she said. Then shook her head. “No.” Her brows knitted together as she seemed to fight for a breath. She held up her injured hand and inspected it. “Some tenderness still and bruising. The bones are healed though.” She wiggled her fingers to prove her point. “But I’m a mess.”