1653

~Tove

I bite into my sandwich, looking at Wren preparing hers.

When Wren and I returned not glaring hatefully at each other, he was reasonably surprised. We didn't dare tell him what we spoke about, which has left him curious all evening.

"Have you slept with him yet?" She questions.

My eyes widen, glancing at the door. Keo is somewhere in the house, and I don't want him overhearing our conversation. We have moved on to another home, in Territory Six, which is a vast improvement upon where we were before.

"Wren!" I scold.

"What? It's not an unreasonable question." A smile tilts at her lips, effortlessly devious. We haven't spoken much, but I can already tell that she is at ease digging into uncomfortable conversation topics.

I pick at the crust of the sandwich, forcing my own smile back. "Not entirely."

"What does that mean?" She raises a curious brow.

"You know what that means," I mumble, refusing to meet her gaze. By now Keo and I should have slept together, but I've been struggling to bring up the subject with him while I'm battling doubts about our relationship.

"What are you waiting for?"

"I'm waiting for him to commit himself to me fully," I muse, looking out the kitchen window. All I can see in the backdrop of darkness is my own face staring back at me.

"Do you really think Keo is going to be with someone else?" Wren questions, frowning. "It may not be obvious but he's obsessed with you."

I laugh breathily. I don't think Keo is obsessed with anything other than getting Demon's out of this realm.

"I don't think he would be with someone else. I mean he needs to commit to the idea of having a mate," I reiterate.

"What makes you think he won't?"

"He told me he will, but I won't feel sure about that until this mission is over," I admit.

I feel bad for doubting him, especially after the conversations we have had. But I can't help feeling this doubt...Keo isn't a normal man, and although he is my mate, I have to tread carefully.

"You know what Tove, fair enough," she says, although I hear the ounce of humour in her voice.

"It's not like I don't want him...at this point it's all I think about," I admit sheepishly.

Sometimes it's hard to fall asleep at night, that's how much it has been in my mind. But if I wanted some fun, I wouldn't know how to bring it up with him in case he turns me down. I doubt he would, but I wouldn't be able to handle it if he did.

"You can have fun and not feel tied down to him. He can only hurt you if you let him," she points out, inspecting the sandwich she made, her nose scrunching up.

"I know," I grumble. "I found out he was my mate when I went to his room with the intention of sleeping with him."

Him and I had only just started to get to know each other and I already felt an overwhelming tug of sexual desire. Since then it hasn't really diminished, I just have a lot more to lose these days.

Wren grins. "Then just do it. There's too much tension between you two anyways."

I smile tightly. "Don't tempt me because I will."

"So, are you two friends now or something?"

I jump, nearly dropping the last of my meal on the ground. Keo stands in the entrance of the doorway, leaning against the frame. There is a flicker in his eyes that I'm hoping isn't from him hearing our conversation.

"Jealous, huh?" Wren exclaims smugly.

Keo only smiles. "Of you, Wren. Yes."

"Well, goodbye you two. I have a lead on Vail's murderer and I'm coming to check it out," she says, pushing aside the sandwich that is clear proof that she isn't used to cooking.

"Alright. Thanks for the talk." I feel a lot better about things knowing Wren isn't harbouring a deep, burning hatred toward me anymore.

She gives us one last smile before she vanishes, leaving Keo and I alone in the house again.

"Everything alright?" He asks, his keen eyes surveying me.

"I'm just tired, is all. I might go get an early night's sleep," I tell him quickly. After Wren and I's discussion I want to put some distance between him and I.

I make my way to the entrance but he shifts to block me.

"Uh huh." His knowing smile makes me shudder.

"What?" I breathe.

Slowly, purposefully, his eyes drag down my person, his smile widening. I remain stiff, not wanting to make any wrong move.

And then, he steps to the side, motioning for me to walk past. "Nothing. Goodnight, Tove."

I narrow my eyes suspiciously. He knows something that he isn't voicing, but I'm not in the mood to dig into it. It may end up with a conversation I'm not ready to enter into.

He doesn't stop me as I quickly make my way to my allocated room. I don't waste time getting ready for bed before I slip under the covers, pulling them over my head.

I hate this feeling.

There's an uncomfortable twist in my stomach that I can't manage to unravel. It's full of unspoken desire that is so frustrating, I think I may rip my hair out.

Maybe one night in his bed would put this feeling to rest...maybe just one night of fun and freedom.

No, that will only complicate things. Tonight, I'll deal with this problem myself.

Laying flat on my back, I draw my hands under the covers, hiking my nightdress up over my hips.

An image of Keo settles into the forefront of my mind as I dip my hands between my legs, my fingers resuming a familiar position against me.

I let out a sigh, my eyes flutter shut.

I imagine him walking into the room, pulling the covers off and crawling on top of me. His mouth would be soft, his touch insistent...

A soft moan drifts past my lips as I delve into my own fantasy. It doesn't take me long to reach my peak. Keo does something to me that is unlike what I've felt before.

A sharp knock on the door pulls me straight from my fantasy.

I tug my hand out from between my legs, my orgasm dying away immediately.

Keo opens the door tentatively, peeking inside. All the breath vanishes from my lungs at the sight of him.

"You're not asleep," he notes as I sit up, smoothing my hair back casually.

"I almost was." I sound breathless, and I'm painfully aware of the sweat gathering on my forehead. If he is being perceptive, he will notice something is right.

He looks around the room, frowning. "Your light is on."

"I was reading."

"Really? What book?"

I swallow uncomfortably, shifting. There is no book in sight, so I'm not sure why I scrambled to that excuse first. Keo seems suspicious, like I'm hiding something, but from what I can tell, he doesn't know he walked in on me touching myself.

"What are you here for?" I say curtly, trying to chase him out with my harsh tone.

"Just checking in," he says, moving to sit next to me on the edge of the bed. "I'm happy you and Wren getting along."

I release a long breath. I think I'm safe from his initial scrutiny.

"She's actually kind of nice once she gave me a shot," I admit. "I think her and I were quick to judge each other."

"Some Demon's are more understanding than others. But I knew she would like you eventually." He smiles. Wren and I getting along seems to have relieved a great amount of tension within him.

"Yeah..."

"Everything okay? You seem a little off." He brushes a stray hair back from my face, pressing his hand to my crimson tinted cheek.

His dark eyes are so deep, so searching and concerned. My heart is pounding against my ribs as I contemplate being honest with him.

"I was sitting in here, thinking about you," I breathe.

He smiles. "Naked, I hope."

"Actually...yeah."

He blinks, a little confused before his gaze darkens and he shifts. In an instance he's the Keo I remember from when he first met...that air of confidence, that lingering amusement that suits him so well.

"You were touching yourself, weren't you?" He murmurs.

I rest my palms on his chest, gripping the fabric of his tunic as I lean in. I want to kiss him and forget about everything. Who he is doesn't matter when he's in bed with me.

My lips barely brush against his before he pulls away a little. "I interrupted you, didn't I?"

"It won't matter if you just kiss me," I inside, trying to pull him to me but he won't budge.

"I didn't mean to interrupt your time to yourself, Tove. Why don't you keep going?" He encourages softly.

I pull back, my eyes widening.

"Now?"

He shifts off the bed, sitting on a chair that faces the bed. He lounges back casually, bracing his arms on the long back of it.

He motions at me. "Go on."

A breath catches in my throat. Excitement, fear and anticipation muddle together in the pit of my stomach, but I don't think I want to back down from this.

"You want me to touch myself in front of you?" I can just imagine sitting back, baring myself to him while he watches on without touching.

"Until you're done," he instructs.

I lean back against the headboard, meeting his heated gaze. "Okay...I'll do it."

🤍••🤍

~Midika 💜🐼