Immortals After Dark 07 - Kiss of a Demon King

attire." Though she'd worn her hair as wild as ever, she'd donned a simple headdress, and her navy blue kohl was drawn more conservatively for him, only streaking back to her temples. But her skirt was short, her boots were high, and her top was a metal mesh bandeau held in place by chains connected to her choker, two in the front and four climbing up her back.
    "I refuse to have you deem me old and stodgy again." As he ran his eyes over her, he took her hands and spread her arms out at the sides. "Will I be jealous that other males see you like this?
    Without doubt. My horns will go ramrod straight from the first double take. But it also makes me proud."
    He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him, his warmth and scent making her lids grow heavy as she gazed up at him. "People have pitied me for going so long without finding my female. Now I want to show you off, and I want to be so bloody smug because it was always going to be you for me-I just had to do my time."
    Over the last four days, when he'd said things like this with his tone gruff and his eyes so piercing she almost feared he was too wonderful-too handsome and good and considerate to possibly be hers.
    This time with Rydstrom had been blissful. But in all fairness, it hadn't always been perfect.
    For one thing, he'd insisted she learn how to swim, teaching her in his luxurious pool. Though she was already getting better, she spent more time attached to him, arms wrapped around his head.
    And he still drank demon brew, ate steaks, and sucked on little buglike creatures called crayfish. But he did make sure she had vegetables to eat and sweet wine to drink. He'd even brought a bottle in the car for her tonight, in case she couldn't find a drink she liked inside.
    With that thought in mind, she turned her attention to the ramshackle tavern. A battered neon sign glowed, but the lettering was illegible. "So what's this place called anyway?" It was situated over the water, nestled among cypress trees and looked like it would blow apart with a strong wind. A precarious-looking pier led out to it. "The Thirsty Thistle or something like that?"
    "It's just called Erol's. Now if anything goes south inside, just stay behind me. Promise me."
    He was overprotective to a fault. "I can't promise you that, or there's going to be clay all over your kitchen floor."
    "Our kitchen floor."
    "Demon, if anything goes south in there, I won't need you to take care of me. I'll need you to help me take care of us."
    That seemed to throw him. She turned and sauntered onto the pier, leaving him with a bemused expression on his face. The big demon male was having to learn some new tricks with her.
    When she began tip-toeing so her stiletto boot heels wouldn't get stuck between the planks, he asked, "Why don't you wear flats and just make them look like boots?"
    "Because wearing these makes me feel sexy."
    "Would being carried by your man make you feel sexy now?"
    "I can manage, King Charming," she said. "So, if it's really packed inside, will you see anyone you know? Perhaps one of the thousands of demonesses you've bedded, like Durinda," she said, teasing him.
    When he fell silent, she faced him. "I was just joking- I know you weren't with her. Wait, why do you look so guilty?" Why would Rydstrom appear guilty at the mention of the female-Suddenly she felt like she couldn't get enough air. "You didn't... in the camp ... you weren't with her ..."
    "Gods, no! But I told you I hadn't slept with her. And, apparently, a millennium ago or so, I did."
    Relief sailed through her, but then she said, "You told me you hadn't."
    He ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I'd . . . forgotten."
    "Did she have to remind you?" When he reluctantly nodded, she burst out laughing.
    "It's not funny," he said gruffly. "It was embarrassing as hell," he added, looking like he'd begun fighting a grin.
    Still laughing, she said, "I would have given gold to hear that conversation!"
    "I'd thought you'd be angry."
    After another chuckle, she said, "Not at funny things. Hey, I have an idea! Maybe we should start a database and enter all the names of females you tagged, so you can keep up with them-"

    "You think so, smart ass?" He swooped her up in his arms. "All I care about is the last entry."
    He charged down the pier, with her laughing the whole way.
    At the entrance, he let her slide down his body. As they walked in, Rydstrom had his hand on her hip and his shoulders back, looking arrogant