Mothy changed into her sleep clothing and shut things down mostly for the night. A scrubbing spell set on the settee while she sat on her favorite chair. Keith stepped out of the bathroom in the clothing she left for him.

  “Why the hell is it so cold here?” Keith complained shivering despite the fact that he wore pants and a fabric made out of very cozy material. Mothy who was wrapped in a blanket of a similar material, drinking a hot beverage and wearing the thickest of socks raised her brows.

  “I like it cold.” She informed him knowing that it would irritate the Demon who ran on heat. Kieth let off a string of something that sounded like he was referring to her as a mad women. He walked to her tea pot as if he owned it. Mothy narrowed her eyes on him then decided that it was covered in the pouch for him to have a bit of tea.

  “Even your tea’s cold.” He grumbled. Mothy rolled her eyes.

  “My tea isn’t cold, I just don’t have a resistance to fire and astronomical heat.” She shot back. If he didn’t like it he didn’t have to drink it. He snorted and he smirked over a cup. Oh, he found this amusing. Mothy snapped her book shut, she stood deciding sitting still was not in cards. She dropped her blanket on the chair, she removed the cleaning spell and started one to dry the spot. She’d prepare everything. Tell him he could there tonight and he would have to be gone in the morning. She decided had it planned.

  “Cute night dress.” Keith complimented. His warm slightly teasing tone pulling her mind away from her plans. Mothy glanced down at the frilly but warm nightdress she’d gotten because it was one of the only things she’d found decorated in moths rather than butterflies.

  “Thanks, it’s my favorite.” Mothy informed him picking up her blanket and folding it neatly, putting it into the chest of warm winding wood. She pulled out a different blanket and left it on the settee for Keith to use, she added another one seeing as he might just freeze.

  “You haven’t change much.” He chuckled. Mothy knew Keith hadn’t said that to rile her up but it sparked the more troublesome side she had that wasn’t born from but influenced by the man in front of her. Mothy stood a bit straighter and glanced over her shoulder.

  “I think that I’ve changed quite a bit." Mothy offered letting a twist of teasing and possible innuendo into her tone. It wasn’t a perfect match she found his fiery approach to things didn’t suit her. She knew he would recognize a flirty tone from a mile away. His reaction in her mind would have been surprise, unserious flirting back, a chuckle about how she had changed, in a world that didn’t exist maybe she’d fluster him. Unlikely, the thought was almost laughable. But Keith frowning looking at the cup like he didn’t like her words.

  “You’re Mothy.” He stated still to the cup.

  Mothy felt a twist of bitterness in her heart. She hated how much that stung. She’d never care if he was interested in her. She never need him to be interested in her. Bit the fact that he could speak like it would be a surprise for anyone to find interest in her. That she might have flirty banter with someone. That’s what got to her. She wished it didn’t. It made her feel small that she did. Especially, seeing as she had proof that there were people who thought she was amazing, who wanted her, who thought she was beautiful. She didn’t need anyone’s approval.

  She smirked at that thought.

  “Even Mothy’s change. Find people to have fun with.” Mothy offered with a shrug of her shoulders. Then she opened her mouth to give him the gist of he could sleep on her couch and be gone in the morning. She was going to end the conversation there, feel good about things. Go to bed.

  Mothy made the mistake of looking at him. Keith looked strange. He gripped the counter staring at the tea in his hand his lips pursed.

  “It’s only going to get colder if you don’t drink it.” She told him. Keith shifted, blinking his eyes flicking to her then back to the cup nodding. He was Quiet. Keith was never quiet. Mothy picked up her book.

  “Are you… seeing anyone?” Keith asked. Mothy’s gaze lifted at the bafflingly strange question coming from Keith. “Uh, never mind. Ignore that.” Keith insisted chuckling putting the cup down. “None of my business.” He insisted. Mothy crossed her arms looking at the odd sight of Keith Sterling squirming.

  “I’ve seen people off and on. One of my contacts has put me in contact with a match maker. I agreed to try it just to see how it works and how it might turn out. It’s a bit of a tradition in the area.” Mothy offered. Keith nodded stiffly finding other places to look other then her. Mothy rolled her eyes. “Really Keith you probably have the longest list of ex-lover and dalliances. You have no reason to be uncomfortable with the idea that I have mine.” Mothy informed him.

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  His eyes flicked to her and he shook his head.

  “I’m not uncomfortable with…” He trailed not completing his sentence. Mothy sighed walking across the way and removed the kettle from it’s spot putting it to the side.

  “You can-” She started once again to tell him to leave in the morning. When she turned to find Kieth’s lips brushed against hers. Mothy paused she had barely a breath before he jolted back knocking over the tea kettle drenching her favorite nightdress in tea.

  “I didn’t mean to do that.” He exclaimed. Mothy wasn’t sure if he meant the kiss or the night dress.

  Mothy stared at her dress. Felt the irritation build in her chest. She stepped forward grabbed his shirt he stumbled back into her work bench and she kissed him fiercely. His arm jumped out to brace her as if she’d fall to the ground. After a moment his other threaded into her hair. His shock morphed to pulling her in meeting the kiss bringing it to molten. Mothy let herself for a few boiling moments melt into him. Then Mothy broke away from him.

  She caught sight of his furrowed brows as she started toward her bedroom door.

  “I will forgive for the dress seeing as you did give so much gold. You can sleep here tonight on the settee. I want you gone out of my hut by morning.” She told him ducking in and shutting the door. She looked down at her night dress and felt frustrated tears push at her eyes. It was so hard to find things with moths on them.

  Her door clicked open and Mothy brushed her eyes turning to glare at Kieth. Who was shutting the door with a click. He turned fire eyes on her, stepped forward and tugged her into his space. He ducked down and caught her mouth slower, more enticing. The kiss was soft like velvet. His one arm wrapped around her pulling her in. His finger went to her hair but he ran his fingers through it. She didn’t know what to do. Sometimes she felt like she never knew what to do with Keith.

  He stepped forward and she was the one stumbling this time. He went to step again and she pressed two fingers into a healing wound.

  He pulled back hissing his hand going to the spot.

  “What do you think your doing?” Mothy asked him, though she couldn’t quite summon the bite she wanted to have. Her head was just a bit to swirly for bite. Keith looked at her with a strange mix of irritation, amusement and determination. He stepped forward pulled her hand into a fluttery grasp that she could absolutely break free from.

  “We poked around, and now we’re going to find out.” Keith told her lifting her wrist pressing his lips to it. It was a move, heated, sensual, charming. Mothy scoffed trying to pull her wrist away. The asshole tighten his grip just enough that she couldn’t yank it away.

  “Find out what? Whether you can deign to find me attractive?” She hissed out determining which wound to poke this time. Keith tugged her in before she could decide. He was in her space radiating heat ducking around her.

  “You’re beautiful Mothy. Is that what you want to hear?” Keith asked low close to her ear sending tingles down her spine. Mothy glared at him.

  “I want someone who actually thinks I’m beautiful not just willing to say whatever they want because they think I’m what a challenge?” Mothy snipped out. “I don’t need you-” The words left her mouth, and she watched something. Mothy had talked to Keith hundred times, he’d dragged her past no man’s land and she’d watched him fight demons. She’d watched him cry, get angry, she watched his different levels of interest in individuals.

  Mothy realized then she’d never seen Kieth snap. That was the only way she could describe it. His eye flickered a brighter flame. His arm swooped under her legs and he glided her swiftly and haphazardly into her bed. He followed right after. He radiated with a pulsing energy that felt like it might drown or devour her.

  “Keith?” She breathed. He looked into her eyes and that effect flickered out he cupped her cheek moved up so his forehead pressed against hers.

  “Can I?” He asked her mouth a breath from hers. Mothy opened her mouth her own breath gone. She swore and pulled his mouth down to hers.

  He was fast, and burning on her. As his hands trailed across her body. She adjusted so he could mold closer. He unlaced the ties to her night dress and kicked it down. He continued to kissed her, touch her. It was exhilarating, amazing… annoying. He made no move to shed his own… well the cloths she’d provided for him. When he adjusted her again this time she realized so he could brace himself more. His face wincing a bit, with that bullheaded look of he’d just ignore it. She pulled away.

  “Mothy.” He puffed out. She ignored him pulling at his shirt which he moved to make it easier for her to take off. Then his pants. She looked over where the wounds were. “Mothy.” He breathed a bit more pleading.

  “Lay back.” Mothy told him. He paused looking at her then huffed and laid back. She climbed over him and his hands jumped to her hips.

  By the end of it she’d ended up under him. His weight pinning her in place.

  “Your heavy.” She huffed. Though in truth she didn’t mind it. She liked her areas cold, but she liked the things around her warm and nothing was warmer than a demon. Keith hummed and pressed his face into her neck nuzzling. “If you fall asleep on me I will kill you.” She emptily threatened. Keith laughed. He turned off of her tugging her in leaving her more room to breathe but still be tangled with him.

  Mothy contemplated kicking him out but figured tomorrow was as good of time as any. She settled letting herself float off to sleep.