feel the scowl forming on my face as I contemplate the problem. Usually, that’s enough to fix the problem and convince any idiot man wasting my time to get out of my way, but the demon just smiles down at me as if my glare is the cutest thing he’s ever seen.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes at his obtuseness, crossing my arms over my chest. I gesture at the narrow space he’s left with one hand.
“Do you think you can move over a little there and make room for mere mortals?” I prompt, biting back my impatience.
“For you, anything,” he replies with another bow as he shifts as close as he can get to the tables behind him.
I give him a suspicious look—because that was almost too easy—and start to hurry past while the going is good. I don’t get far, however, before I hear his voice directly behind me.
“May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, female?”
I glance back at him, my brow furrowing.
“Why?”
The look that crosses his face is pure surprise. It would almost be comical except that he suddenly grabs my hand in his. I stiffen at the contact, and my free hand immediately dips inside my purse, fingers curling around the pepper spray hidden there. I tense as I wait for him to let go.
I jerk as his thumb skates softly against the back of my hand. He’s staring at the contact point of our flesh so hard that even I look down. My dark complexion against his marble-like one is a sharp contrast, one he seems fascinated with as he continues to gently apply soft pressure as he clasps my hand in his. What’s more intriguing is that what looks like colorless skin is actually like velvet now that I’m getting a better look. The tiny hairs covering him catch the sunlight pouring through the window as he steps in closer, taking on a pearly sheen that makes the opalescence of his horn seem all the brighter.
Fuck, he’s pretty.
“Why?” he repeats, seemingly captivated.
Startling purple eyes the color of spring hyacinths lift and stare at me. How did I not realize until now that he has the most gorgeous eyes I’ve ever seen on a man? Long white lashes frame them, each like slivers of mother of pearl in the sunlight. A tremor of interest runs through me, and the corners of his full lips quirk up, bringing my attention to that perfect bow shape of his upper lip. He is not just pretty, but beautiful, and hot as hell—and therefore very, very off-limits.
That settles it once and for all. No way am I going to tangle with a fuckboy who hits all the points on my “hell no” list.
“Because I would like to know the name of the female who has captured my heart,” he finally answers. “Every male would yearn for such from a perfect female standing before them.”
I stare at him, vaguely impressed at just how slick that was carried off. I shake my head and let out a small laugh as I liberate my hand from his grip.
“Sorry, demon boy, but I don’t think so,” I chuckle, freeing my hand from his warm grasp.
He cocks his head at me, and his long, delicately pointed, ivory ears angle forward. His face is a mask of confusion one moment and then bright with amusement the next. A melodious laugh escapes him, one I can practically feel vibrate through me in all the best kinds of ways.
“Demon? I must be the first unicorn in history to be confused with a demon,” he observes, laughter lighting his gaze.
A unicorn. Really.
I stare at him and huff. Surely, he could have been a little more creative than going for unicorn. Did he think I would buy it just because he has a horn?
He really must think that I’m gullible as hell.
“I’m sorry, but there’s no way in hell you’re a unicorn,” I say as I struggle to keep my lip from curling. “I’ll grant that you’re a very pretty demon, though.”
My disdain is showing, but there’s good reason for it. I was the poster child for unicorn obsession as a little girl. I have every bit of confidence that I can mop the floor with him and am not afraid to let it show. More than anything, I’m appalled that a fae would claim to be something as pure and magical as a unicorn.
“I most certainly am a unicorn,” he replies flatly. “Anyone of