The Price of Possession by Dakota Brown (universal ebook reader txt) 📗

needed to find him a robe, which meant Ineeded to venture into the time capsule of my parents' bedroom. I was certaindad would have had a robe that would be close enough in size for Sabian towear, at least until Darius arrived with clothing for the demon.

I stretched deliciously sore muscles and debated stayingin bed until breakfast was ready. No, at some point I was sure Sabian would gooutside. I did not need him to be parading around my property starkers.

Groaning, I rolled out of bed and hit the bathroom tofreshen up. I pulled on my normal clothes and stumbled back to the masterbedroom. Hand on the doorknob, I hesitated. Did I want to be caffeinated first?It wasn't so much the room itself, and the belongings, that kept me out of myparents' bedroom. It was the memories, the nightmares that followed. Their scentlingered on the air all these years later. The light perfume my mother had wornon special occasions. The spicy aftershave Dad enjoyed. The scents sparked thememories, and the nightmares always chased them. I was in for a rough fewnights, but it wasn't anything I hadn't dealt with before.

Deciding just to rip the band-aid off, I opened thedoor and stepped inside.

I tried not to look around at the heavy woodfurniture, the southwestern patterned comforter on their bed, now coated in alayer of dust, the comfortable armchair I still debated about dragging out intothe living area. It smelled like my dad's aftershave though and I didn't thinkI could handle that.

I hurried over to the closet, flipped on the light,and grabbed my father's summer robe out. It was black, fuzzy, and light enough tobe comfortable in the warmer parts of the year. Sabian was bigger than my dadhad been, but not by a whole lot. It should fit well enough.

Trying not to bring the robe to my nose so I couldsmell it more deeply, I flipped off the light, shut the closet door, andhurried out of the room, running from the memories. Friday night movies with myfamily, walks in the desert, ice cream in the square.

Shuddering, I made my way back to the kitchen andthrust the robe at Sabian.

"You don't like the view?" He pouted as hetook the clothing from me.

"Naw, view's great. Just, probably don't need theneighbors ogling you should someone happen to be close enough to see."

He smirked and slid his arm into the sleeve.

Something of my mood must have come through, because Malcame over and put his arms around me. I snuggled into him, shock at hisconsideration warring with my desire not to burden him with my problems.

Mal seemed to know I didn't want to talk about it, anddidn't ask, just held me tightly for a minute before going back to cooking.

Who did that for a virtual stranger, anyway?Apparently nerdy occultist vampires did. Never would have guessed.

I hopped onto the barstool at the island, determinedto ignore the wash of sadness until it went away. That usually worked.Eventually.

"What's for breakfast?"

"Pancakes and bacon. That's about the best Icould do with the ingredients you had available." Mal handed me a plate.

"Pretty damn good since I didn't have mix."

He gave me a horrified look.

I grinned.

Sabian, now clothed, sat next to me and Mal gave him aplate, too.

"Gods, these are perfect." I moaned, eyesclosed in bliss. "You know, I have space, might as well move in, I needthis every morning."

I opened my eyes to see both guys staring at me.Sabian looked enraptured, eyes a little wide, lips parted in ecstasy. Mal'sexpression was a bit more predatory, but definitely interested.

Could Sabian feed off of my pleasure just from eatinggood food? If the expression on his face was any indication, the answer wasyes. Guess it was polite to feed my guests.

At that thought my attention returned to Mal.

He sipped some coffee, looking pleased.

Breakfast went quickly, and Sabian offered to clean up.Hoping he somehow knew how a dishwasher worked, I left him alone in the kitchenwhile Mal and I went to get that picture of the ritual so I could send it toDarius.

I turned on my phone and followed Mal into thebasement where he'd left his book last night.

"I feel like I should apologize, mate." Itwisted my hands nervously.

"For what?" Mal tucked his book under hisarm and glanced at me.

"Dragging you into all of this."

His eyes glinted in amusement. "Did you miss thepart where I enjoyed myself last night?" He brushed his fingers across mycheek.

"Uh, no." My face heated slightly. "Just,uh." I shrugged, not able to articulate what I was feeling.

"I'm glad I came over to check on you." Heleaned in and I angled my neck so I could meet his lips. He wrapped his freearm around me, pulling me against him as we kissed. I leaned into him, clutchingat his shirt maybe a little desperately.

He released me after a few minutes, a smile crinklingthe corners of his eyes.

"Let's get this spell sent to your priest."

"Yeah." I gestured toward the stairs. Lightwould be better in the living room.

Once we were upstairs, Mal opened the book to theright page and I snapped a few pics and texted them to Darius.

He replied with a thumbs up a moment later and a quickquestion.

Darius: You okay?

Me: Fine. Thanks.

Darius: See you in a few hours with some clothesfor your guest.

I replied with a thumbs up and handed my phone to Mal."Number?"

He quickly entered himself into my contacts and handedmy phone back. "I should be going. Olivia might get concerned if I don'tat least show up for a few minutes today."

"Olivia?" No, we will not be jealous ofwomen in Malak's life, I told myself. You literally have no claim onhim.

His lips twitched and I thought he might be fighting agrin. "She co-owns the shop. She does most of the work, but I stop in mostdays and I work the counter on days she wants off."

"Ahh." See, nothing to be jealous of,I told my stupid brain. "Yeah, I probably should put in an appearance atwork at some point, too."

"Sabian, it was nice to meet you."

The demon looked up from the sink. Clearly, he