Page 51 of Sweet Surrender
Like Knight could scent his anxiety in the air, he asked,Are you all right?
I’m fine. Saint sent back firmly. The demon didn’t push.
The last time he’d felt this happy had been the first time he’d run away.Monthsafter he’d run away, when he’d stopped looking over his shoulder and had thought perhaps, he really could start rebuilding his life. He’d thought maybe distance would make the heart grow fonder, that his mother would eventually understand—
Saint flinched away from the memories.
Every single time he thought—just when he was grasping onto some form of happiness, they swooped in and crushed his joy, no matter how small it was, like they could somehowsenseit. Saint had learned to survive, then, pushing his need tolivefurther and further away, promising himself some “secure” future where he could finally be free of them.
That future felt so close to his grasp now, he could almost taste it. And because it felt so close, ironically, was exactly why he was afraid.
He’d had to let Knight the Dog out of the flat because he’d whined and cried for freedom, possibly too used to living outside. Hopefully, Saint could eventually train it out of him.Knight had reassured him that it didn’t matter where the dog went, he would remain untouched. Iftheyever came across him, their eyes would pass right over him, like he was any local dog.
Teresa, Voke, Mrs. Efezino, Samuel, and heck, practically everyone at the school was covered, too. That lay everyone Saint could possibly care about. Saint was fine. Hewouldbe fine. They’d definitely get the hint this time around and leave him the fuck alone.
Still, that feeling of dread refused to go. An insidious voice told him to clutch at this all-consuming happiness while he had it, because he wouldn’t be having it for long.
He told that voice to shut the fuck up.
His relief was palpable when he and Knight walked home—holding hands!His heart pointed out giddily—and Knight the Dog came bounding from his corner, mouth open, tail wagging madly.
Saint didn’t bother with the snacks, grinning when the dog’s tail practically went wild when Saint didn’t drive him away as he opened the smaller gate to his home and unlocked his door.
The dog was whining even though it was clearly happy. It darted back and forth at the threshold, as if still unsure of Saint’s invitation.
“Come on,” Saint crooned. “You spent the night here last night, and you were fine, weren’t you? Come on, big guy. It’s all right.”
The dog eventually darted in, tail tucked between its legs. Saint leaned down, crooning and scratching behind its ears until it felt calm enough to explore, sniffing absolutely everything in the room.
Knight had helped him out with some dog food. The moment the dog smelled the bowl in the corner, it swooped in and began to eat, its hind legs nearly lifting off the floor with how happilyand eagerly it chomped away. Saint’s heart felt so fucking tender.
Finally semi-alone and without an audience, Knight tugged Saint into his arms to kiss him properly. Saint grinned into his mouth. Then his stomach growled.
Knight laughed, pulling back from the kiss to murmur against his mouth, “Any requests?”
“Are you seriously about to become my personal chef?”
“Yes.”
Saint laughed. “Okay. Hm. I’ve always wanted to try ramen.” He brought up a few references on Knight’s phone, which he hadn’t failed to notice was a carbon copy of his own.
Knight’s red eyes glowed brightly as he looked through the pictures. “Done.”
Saint pecked his lips. “I’ll just go take a quick shower.”
“You take too many showers.”
“Pouting cause you’re going to miss me?”
“Yes.” Saint couldn’t help but kiss him again, his lower belly filled with butterflies. “But my point still stands.”
He laughed. “You try working in the disgusting heat of this country all day and tell me you won’t feel all sticky and nasty when you get back home. I’ll see you in a bit, angel.”
Knight’s wings fluttered at the endearment, though his expression didn’t change. Saint smiled giddily to himself.
Underneath the spray of the shower, he couldn’t help but think of last night. He slid a hand down to squeeze his half-hard dick, biting his lower lip as he stroked until he was fully erect and throbbing.
He was about to reach for the soap and slick his free hand, desperate to recreate that fullness inside him, when he felt a curious knocking in his head.
