What went unsaid forced Belle to relax. Warmth chased away her worries as she started at his simple smile. There was something big afoot here and Eddie was the focal point of it. He was so unlike all the others that had been under Pi’s wings. The tenderness so causally offered to her was unexpected and it caused a blush to stain her cheeks. She turned her head down to hide it under curtains of pale gold.

Tangent caught it though and kitten sneezed in disgust. It was up to her to break up whatever sort of moment this was. So she caught Eddie’s other hand with her claws and rewarded his kind pets with the application of tiny teeth. As planned the man recoiled with a start and nearly fell out of the chair. She managed just a slip of a cat smile before having to dash down the length of the table scattering papers everywhere. Her mistress would be angry with her for some time, but it had to be done. She heard a stream of French curses chasing after her but kept skittering with all the speed her four legs could manage. The transformed imp sprung off of the table and hit the ground running. In the next instant Tangent was through the door into the kitchen.

Whatever was at hand had been thrown at the cat, but the remains of Eddie’s bagel bounced off of the door. The tender moment was ruined and Belle hovered between relief and fury. She brushed crumbs from her hands and set her hands on her hips. Oh that imp was going to get it later. Like all demon masters she could tug on the ties that bind and demand Tangent come back to her. That wasn’t the sort of relationship that they had. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” Eddie licked at his wounds. “She didn’t quite draw blood. I guess that they act like cats when they look like them.”

“Cats and imps, I am convinced, share a common ancestor.” Belle’s laugh rang out, light and airy before she took two steps and fell into his lap. She tipped her head back, exposing exquisite throat and letting her hair drape over his shoulder. After a wiggle she got comfortable. “This is very serious business though. Shall I kiss it and make it better?”

In a moment of weakness he offered out his hand. “I know. Very serious. I don’t really even understand what I’m working on. I just think… I know it’s important.”

“Then I shall aid you with it as I may, you have my word. I will even try to stop fighting with Pi.” Belle sounded doubtful at the end of her statement. She wrapped both of her small hands around his and lifted it to take a look. The cat scratch was hardly bad at all. The tip of her soft tongue snaked out to brush against it slowly. “I am honored you told me.” Instead of confiding in Pi. It made her feel, well, extra special. She ran her wet muscle along the outer edge of his forefinger. Without another word slipped the digit into the warmth of her mouth. The Frenchwoman hollowed her cheeks and pulled slowly on the captured flesh. At the same time, even though emphasis wasn’t needed, one of her hands lowered down to the front of Eddie’s pants. She raked her nails over the front of his zipper.

Right now she didn’t want to think on the oddity she witnessed any longer. It put unfamiliar unease into the pit of her stomach. As Belle figured it having a belly full of steaming man juice would wipe away that feeling. If only was willing to give. She let the finger go with a husky sort of breath, then teased it with her teeth. “Let me show you.”

“I thought you weren’t here to seduce me.” Eddie moaned and pressed his hips closer to hers. The floral scent that rose off of her pale skin was welcoming. Truth be told he was terrified as well and couldn’t bring himself to look at the scattered papers. Nor could he bear to look at the laptop as it worked away. Somehow… in a way he could not explain, he knew this was going to lead to something horrifying. Eddie just couldn’t stop himself.

“Psh, a woman has every right to change her mind. You should know this by now.”

Fin