Orion slipped under my blanket in an instant.

I had no idea when he'd so naturally taken off his shirt. His eight-pack and narrow waist practically blinded me.

He lowered his face beside the ends of my hair scattered over the pillow, then lifted his eyes and looked straight at me, from my brows to my mouth. His gaze was heavy and yearning.

…

Even someone as dense as me could tell—what was lying beside me wasn't a quiet, obedient creature. It was a wolf, barely holding itself back, waiting for permission to bare its teeth.

I cleared my throat, embarrassed, and stammered out an apology.

"Orion, I'm sorry. I've never raised an incubus before, so I didn't know about your, um, urges. I honestly thought you were just meant to help humans with housework."

"It's okay," he said, his voice rough. "I like doing housework for you."

But the rumbling in his throat grew louder.

Uneasy, I swallowed hard and remembered the first line from the care manual I'd just read: When an incubus is hungry, you can let him hold you. Your warmth and scent will help calm his agitation and desire.

So I said, "Orion, if you're really uncomfortable, you can… hold me."

His eyes lit up. "Okay."

He wrapped his arms around me. At first, the gesture was careful and restrained. But when he realized I was only blushing and not pulling away, he grew bolder. One hand pressed against my back, the other slid around my waist. His tail coiled tightly along my leg.

Then he buried his face in my neck, breathing in softly. His breath brushed my skin, warm and disorienting.

God.

Those abs were the real deal. Totally worth the money.

After a while, he murmured hoarsely, "Angela, I still feel… uncomfortable."

I was still half-dazed, staring at the lines of his abdomen. "Then what else do you want to do?"

He lifted his head. "Can I kiss you?"

I hesitated. "Maybe not."

It felt too intimate. I was embarrassed.

He lowered his eyes, disappointment flickering in his expression.

"That's okay. I'm not that uncomfortable. Holding you is enough for now. You should sleep, Master. Don't worry about me. I'll still make you breakfast tomorrow."

But instead of relaxing, I felt a wave of guilt.

"You've got it wrong," I said quickly. "It's not that I don't want to. It's just… too fast. And don't be so hard on yourself. I bought you, so of course I'll take responsibility for you."

"Really?"

"Really. You can kiss me. But just a little."

I bit my lip, shy.

"Thank you, Master."

Orion lifted his head from my neck. I thought he'd dive straight in, desperate to satisfy his hunger—but instead, he pressed a kiss to my chin first. Then his tongue, soft and tentative, brushed against my skin, like a small animal testing its comfort.

He was trying to please me.

My mind drifted hazily. Of course—incubi were clingy creatures by nature.

Still, the damp warmth on my chin made me instinctively lift my fingers to wipe it away.

Naturally, my hand brushed against his lips.

Without missing a beat, he began kissing my fingers instead—slow, deliberate—his dark eyes fixed on me.

God. Now he really did seem more like a dog.

I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed his tail with my other hand and muttered, flustered, "Orion, just kiss me already. Stop fooling around. You can kiss me for a while if you want, okay?"