Once again, the student cursed his mentor’s timing, or lack thereof. First, there was the day they met. The day when Orias roused a passed-out Zuureth, who was face-down on the bar. The day he was schooled with his new “assignment” of returning those individuals foolish enough to think that they could actually get away with reneging on their deals with his Dark Lord.<br/><br/>And then, there was today. Or, more precisely, about 10 minutes ago. Juniper’s soft skin on his lips felt divine, a perfect complement to her enchanting fragrance. And if his worthless life was to end this very second, those sensations would remain genuinely blissful to him.<br/><br/>Zuureth was uncertain as to what exactly prompted him to kiss her cheek. Make that, cheeks. The bold demon kissed her twice! And he’d willingly do it again, if given half the chance. The only detail he’d alter would be to linger longer against her enticing skin. Perhaps it was the rattle of Orias’s keys at the front door that pushed him into action. Or, perhaps it was to answer an urge he’d had ever since he realized it was her tattooed name etched over his heart. Most likely, it was both.<br/><br/>While Orias continued to unload and display the groceries on the countertop, and they stole furtive glimpses at each other, Zuureth focused on the angel’s reaction to his kisses. A blushing Juniper seemed so innocent to him, as if this was her first kiss, albeit on her cheeks instead of her lips. Which, as far as the demon knew, truly<i><u>was</u></i>her first kiss.<br/><br/>Her lips. The mere thought of his on hers cemented in his mind a modest goal he now had for her. To feel and taste her lips. Juniper’s name above his heart thrummed steadily, due to their proximity to each other and his current thoughts about her. In a way, he was now appreciative of the elder demon’s interruption. Who knows what he woulda done had he not returned home when he did?<br/><br/>Both demons were, arguably, not stupid. Both demons were also, quite clearly, well aware of who was Boss in the kitchen. Between the pair of them, it was highly questionable of their ability to sort out making toast. Boiling a pot of water? Yeah, sure. That said, they dutifully carried out whatever tasks Juniper had them do, no matter how trivial. They knew better not to protest in any way, even Orias. This was so, due to the fact that if they wished to continue enjoying the delicacies the fallen angel concocted, her wishes were always granted. See? Not stupid.<br/><br/>Another tasty meal had been consumed and enjoyed, while the dishes, pots, and utensils were clean and drying in the dish rack. Yes, the demons had agreed to take turns with that chore, too. The rest of their evening was quiet and uneventful, at least on the surface. He couldn’t, nor wouldn’t, speak for the others, but Zuureth found himself dwelling on Juniper, and when he might again have some alone time with her. The wild card, also known as Orias, was like a threatening dark cloud, looming over the tattooed demon’s picnic. Keeping him in the dark would prove to be quite the challenge. Was he up for it? Zuureth believed he was, especially after considering that the angel was well worth the risk.<br/><br/>They agreed on turning in for the night at the same time. Once in their respective rooms, however, sleep was not necessarily the #1 item on everyone’s agenda. At first, Zuureth paced his room, in search of anything to distract him or catch his attention. When that got old (eight seconds later), he crept under the covers and foolishly closed his eyes. If that’s all it took for him to fall asleep, he woulda been out in no time. Juniper, however, continued to loiter in his mind’s eye.<br/><br/>The frustrated demon rolled onto his back and stared bullet holes into the ceiling. His right hand edged toward his crotch, and a slow, purposeful massaging was soon initiated on his boxer-briefs. Just as the predictable reaction began, he pulled his hand away in revulsion. Even<i><u>that</u> </i>didn’t feel right. Not while his attention was still focused on her, anyway.<br/><br/>Realizing he may never fall asleep, he watched as the clock changed to 3:17 am. The bulk of this day would surely drag by later if he was unable to doze off, even for just an hour or two. The wide-awake demon took note of his bedroom’s door stealthily open and shut. What in the hell did Orias want at this hour?! Zuureth wondered, already annoyed. And why was he being so sneaky about it, too?<br/><br/>Color him stunned then, when the awareness finally kicked in as to who was actually leaning against the inside of his door. Juniper? But, why had she snuck into my room? It was an odd hour to reveal a secret about a tattoo somewhere on his body. For her, Zuureth sat up in bed, positive that she’d explain herself. Words from her, however, were not imminent. Movement, on the other hand, was.<br/><br/>The fallen angel sat at the edge of his bed. Although close enough to touch, both kept their hands to themselves, their eyes locked. Her presence, as well as her silence, remained a most welcome surprise to him. Juniper’s subsequent action even more so. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, not bothering with his cheeks like he’d done to her. Just as Zuureth had imagined, her kiss ignited his senses. And he didn’t mind it for a second that she pulled away first. It was utterly inconceivable that the demon woulda been the one to end it.<br/><br/>Not knowing what to expect next, he was quite pleased that she remained, not just in his room, but where she still sat on his bed. The angel parted her lips, and he was very keen to hear what she had been obviously struggling to say to him soon after she closed his door. Alas, it was yet another failed attempt on her part, and he found himself feeling bad for her and her knotted tongue.<br/><br/>No matter. Zuureth had already identified precisely what to say to her. And that was absolutely nothing. Nothing at all. Instead, it was his turn to lean forward, in what he liked to think of as an exploration of sorts. While her mouth remained slightly open, the demon’s lips softly caressed the angel’s, slowly brushing against them in all manner of direction. His tongue soon joined the exploration, as it also touched both of her lips, but ventured no further within.<br/><br/>In the here and now, the mega buzz that he was experiencing from not just touching her, but especially from tasting her, reminded Zuureth of how thankful he was for the simple things. Like, his skin functioning properly, keeping his insides right where they ought to be, instead of splattered across the walls like they should be.<br/><br/>Total bliss was, it must be said, always accompanied with consequences.