Demon: Book 1

Chapter 18: You Can't Come

"So, about this party tonight?"

"You can't come," I stated while shading in my drawing.

Titus moaned and rolled over on the bed. We had been lounging about my room for the majority of the day. I was surprised he wasn't whining about being bored. He was doing plenty of whining about other things, though.

He watched my pencil move across the page for a moment. "Why not?"

"Because Chris hates you. He made it clear that he never wants to see you again."

Titus nuzzled my arm. "That guy's a jerk. You shouldn't have been the one to apologize."

"Stop it." I scooted over. "You're going to make me mess up."

Titus snatched the sketchbook from me. I opened my mouth to argue, only to have Titus shut me up with a kiss. He wrestled away my pencil and tossed it onto the floor with the sketchbook as his tongue battled with mine. We parted with Titus hovering over me.

"He hurt you."

"We both did things we shouldn't have that night." I stared across the room.

"Aden." He guided my face back until our eyes met. "Lesson one when it comes to having a werewolf for a boyfriend: we're overprotected. I'm not letting that asshole be alone with you."

I snorted at him. "Where the hell did this boyfriend title come from?"

"Fine." He leaned in and stopped an inch before our lips touched. "We'll test it."

I swallowed hard. "What are you doing?"

"Just waiting"—the corner of his mouth turned up—"to see how long you can last."

My mouth dropped open. "This isn't a game, Titus. Get off."

He shook his head and pinned my arms down.

"Stop it." I turned away. I could feel his breath on my skin.

"Just amuse me, Aden." He placed soft kisses down my neck.

My heart was beating faster.

He chuckled and nibbled a trail across my collarbone. "I think we both know you're at least bi. Since a straight guy wouldn't want me to kiss them so much." His hand grazed my sides, lifting up my shirt. "So let's say if you feel nothing, then I guess we haven't reached boyfriend status yet, but if you do"—his leg slipped between mine—"then I think we're at that level."

Titus shifted his weight. I panicked that he might notice and shoved him back. He casually rolled to the side as I clambered off the bed.

"You're such an ass."

"Aden," he sang with a big grin.

I stopped halfway out the door. "What?"

"So, I guess we're going out." Titus leaned against the wall, put his arms behind his head, and gave me his usual smirk while clenching his abs.

"The only thing we've established is that I might be slightly attractive to men, or I'm eighteen and hormonal. Don't be so proud of yourself." I slammed the door and marched to the bathroom. That boy was going to be the end of me. I just knew it.

***

I walked with my parents across the Harpers' backyard. It was decorated for the Fourth of July with red, white, and blue present in every aspect. The Harpers were known for going to the extreme, so it wasn't different than any other party they hosted.

My mother wandered off to talk with her book club members while my dad and I set out the lawn chairs. I had brought a blanket for myself and laid it across the lawn.