Page 31 of Demon On Deck

“On it,” I say before tugging him down for a quick kiss and dashing out of reach before Evren can grab me for more and burn our dinner.

When I get back with the salad, wine, and bread, Evren is setting plates down on the table. He takes the wine, popping the cork easily, as I set the salad and bread down. Once we’re both seated, Evren serves up my food; even though I tell him I can do it myself, he always insists. We fall into easy conversation about the rest of his day and mine, enjoying the delicious meal he made us. It’s the kind of domestic bliss I always wanted. We finish up and head inside to wash dishes when the candles burn out.

I’m in the middle of washing the plate when it slips into the water, splashing Evren, who has been standing next to me, drying.

“Hey now,” he chuckles, ringing water from his shirt.

”Drama. You’re not gonna melt,” I giggle and resume washing.

Evren clutches his chest in mock offense. “You could extinguish me,” he says in outrage. I roll my eyes and splash him again.

“Oh, that’s how it’s gonna be, Doll?” He grabs the sprayer and begins hosing me down. I screech, dropping the plate into the water, splashing it everywhere.

“Evren!”

“You started it,” he says as he bellows laughter and continues to spray me with the hose as I splash him with the water.

I glance at the sink and quickly hit the handle, shutting the water off, and turn to stare at Evren.

“I look like a drowned rat,” I say between fits of laughter.

Evren continues to laugh as he sweeps me into his arms and kisses me. “You are stunning always, Doll.”

“Charmer,” I say, kissing him again.

“Your charmer,” he says. “Let’s clean this up and then get into some dry clothes.” We grab some dish towels and start mopping up the mess. After many towels, we make our way to Evren’s room. He grabs dry shorts and a shirt for himself and hands me one of his t-shirts.

“You’ll swim in it, but at least you’ll be dry. I’ll throw your clothes in the dryer. We can watch an episode or two of that murder mystery,” He says. I poke his ribs, drawing a deep yell and making me giggle.

I head to his bathroom to change, grabbing the makeup remover I left over the other night. Face washed, wet hair in a messy braid, I put on Evren’s shirt.

Good lord.

“Hey, Doll, I brought our wine in here.”

I walk out and wait for Evren’s reaction. He says nothing, but bites his lip trying not to laugh.

I gesture for him to go ahead before stating the obvious: “I look like a deflated circus tent.” Evren bursts out laughing, walking over to swoop me into his arms and carry me to the bed, where he lies down and tucks me into his side.

“Does that make me the ring master?” he teases, wagging his eyebrows.

I laugh and smack his chest.

“You’re terrible.”

“You love it,” he says, kissing the top of my head while my heart rate skyrockets and my stomach does somersaults. Unable to find words, I hum my agreement. Evren turns on the show, and we snuggle up and get lost in the show.

Midway through the third episode, I start yawning. I sit up and stretch. “I should probably go,” I say on yet another yawn.

“Why don’t you stay? You don’t work until tomorrow afternoon, right?”

That makes me pause mid-stretch. Evren and I have had sex. A lot of sex. At both his house and mine, though we realized, for practical reasons, his house was the better option, as mine wasn’t meant for 7 feet worth of beef cake demon. But we’ve never slept over.

This is a big step. Does that mean he’s serious? Is he having the same feeling I am? My mind explodes with a thousand questions and insights as to what one simple little question could mean. Before the pause becomes awkward, I finish my stretch and study his face.

“No, tomorrow is short hours. No one comes in on Saturdays before noon or after five unless it's a major holiday.”

Evren grabs my hand and starts to pull me back to the very warm, comfortable spot I was occupying, snuggled up to his side. “So stay,” he says simply.