The Real Thicc Kage @therealthicckage - Tumblr Blog

Felix the Demon

A doctor takes care of both sides. On one side is her own kind, humans who are desperate enough to seek her help, even though she deals with the other side. The other? A small village of demons who also needs her care and who has come to trust her fully. Well, except one.

Female Reader x Male Monster (both cis)

The shop is pretty quiet today, although I don’t expect it to stay that way for long. It’s never peaceful for too long around these parts, especially since I’m the closest thing to a doctor here. These days, I revel in periods of boredom. For the longest time there was no quiet, so when I wake to a morning like this, I take it in and savor it.

That is, until I hear a pounding at the front door. Someone is hurt and dragging themselves into the front of the shop. Oh well, so long, tranquil morning. Goodbye, crisp breeze. I suppose I will have to visit with you another day.

I go inside, setting my warm mug down before heading into the front. There I see a familiar face, and I sigh heavily and approach him as he slouches against the counter. “My god, how often am I going to have to see you?” I grab my kit, knowing he’s just going to stay on the floor until I deal with him.

“Can it, Doc,” he snarls. “It’s my back.”

“Your back?” I scoff. “Seriously, what happened, Felix?”

Felix is one of those marked as a demon. I’m sure that’s not what they really are, but over the decades it’s become the term people call them by. He eases down from the counter and sits on the floor, hissing as he reaches for his back.

“The bed is right back here,” I protest. “You can make it that far.”

“I traveled miles to get here, Doc. You better be happy I even walked through the door at all.” He winces, and his face contorts in a way I’ve never seen before. Felix is known to me for many reasons, but he’s come to me because I’m one of the only doctors who will treat him or any of the other demons in this area.

“You have to talk to me Felix, not snap at me. Lie down here, I guess, and tell me what you did this time.” I prepare my kit on the floor, taking out bandages, ointments, and the surgical sewing kit in case he’s had another chunk taken from him.

Felix rolls onto his back. The long tendrils that cascade from his head flop to one side, and I see his broad back is covered in dark, deep bruises, as well as cuts and splinters. “What the fuck, Felix?!” I demand.

“What sort of healer says that?” he barks back at me.

I scoff and get to work, applying pain killer to numb him while I try to remove all the splinters. “What on earth did you do?”

Felix sneers, and I see the glint of his teeth. “Oh sure, it’s always something I did.”

“It usually is.” I place the splinters onto an unused bandage as I remove them, then temper my voice and speak calmly. “Come on, now. Talk to me.”

Felix grumbles, muttering under his breath as he lays his head back down. “It was a fight, if you must know, and they got the jump on me. Started hitting my back with a plank.”

“Why were you fighting in the first place?” I take out a nasty splinter, one that’s bitten deep into his flesh. The skin around the splinters has darkened from its usual grey to a wine-like purple, tinged black around the edges.

“They were attacking a house in our village,” he grunts. He means the area off the mountain, where most of the demons live. “It was a kid, caused trouble, but... Ow!” he yelps. “That fucking hurts!”

“Sorry.” I smooth more of the painkiller over his skin. “So you jumped in, playing hero and causing trouble.”

“I wasn’t the troublemaker this time,” he growls back at me.

I smooth my hand along his back, trying to feel for injuries. “You’ve been lucky for far too long, Felix. You’re getting close to losing that luck.”

Felix flinches when I touch the bruises, but it’s at his lower back, just above his tail, where he can no longer hide his discomfort or agony. His expression contorts, and his whole body tenses as he tries to escape my fingertips. “Lie still, please,” I say calmly yet urgently.

“Then stop touching it,” he growls, hunching forward

“I think you may have broken your tail, but it could be a dislocation. I’ll have to administer some stronger painkillers, maybe even a sedative, to make sure.”

“You’re not putting me under!” Felix tries to pull away, but it hurts him too badly so he lies back down on his stomach.

“Then I’ll have to give you a shot.” I stand up and go behind the counter, into the closet for my supplies.

“Wait, Doc…” Felix hisses.

I wash my hands and put on gloves before preparing the syringe. I don’t get many of these, and I have so few left before I have to travel to the city. When I exit the close, Felix is struggling to stand. “Don’t you come near me with that!” he growls, trying to balance without the use of his tail. “Seriously, Doc!”

I kneel beside him, placing my hand on his middle back to distract him while I put the syringe in. “Seriously, Felix. If you stopped these antics of yours, I wouldn't have to waste my supplies. Now, stay still and give it a minute.”

“Fuck.” He presses his palm into his forehead.

I smooth my hand down his back every now and again, seeing him react less and less to the pain. “I swear, sometimes I think you get hurt just to see me.”

“Like hell I do,” he mutters.

“How does it feel?” I gently press two fingers near the base of his tail.

Felix takes a deep breath and furrows his brow. “What does?”

“Good, it’s working.” I start massaging my fingers into his tail, inspecting for broken bones. Luckily, it’s just a dislocation, but I have learned from working with demons that a dislocated tail could have a range of consequences, such as loss of balance for several days. He might not be able to walk until then, which means he’s stuck here.

“Okay, hold still for me. You’re just going to feel some pressure.” I hold up Felix’s tail, very nearly putting my hand on his rear.

“What are you doing?” he demands. “Hey! What are you…”

“I said stay still!” I shove him back down, grasping at his tail and pushing it hard back into place. He screams and thrashes before flopping back down on the floor. I ease his tail back down gently, then sigh as I move my hand away from him. “Take your time. I suggest you rest here for a couple of days. You won’t make it off the mountain in one piece if you try going now.”

I stand up as Felix moans into the floor. “Flattery won’t work today, I’m afraid. You know what I accept as payment.” I walk off to the back room again, fetching a pillow to place under his head. “Would you like something to drink?”

Felix’s ears flick and he hides his face into the pillow, muttering under his breath again. His shoulders tense, then slowly relax. I leave him alone to let him cool down from all the poking and prodding I did. And his tail is going to hurt for a while now.

The first time I met Felix, I was attending a birth at the demon village. The woman was human, and the pregnancy had taken a toll on her. Luckily the baby and mother both lived, but they were greatly weakened by the effort. I ended up staying in the village for a few days to look after them. While I was there, Felix had taken up guarding the house. He claimed it was tradition to defend the house of a newborn, considering how a birth rendered the whole family vulnerable. I’m not sure if that was a real tradition, but since the mother was human I could assume her family must not have been happy. As a healer, all I wanted was to do my job. Once I knew the mother and baby were safe, I tried to leave. But a fight had broken out elsewhere in the village, and I had to tend to the wounds. Every time it seemed Felix was around, and ever since then the demons sought out my help, knowing I’d tend to them without question. Felix is just one of my most frequent customers.

When I return to check on him, I find him still lying on the floor of the front room. “Everything alright, Felix?”

“I suppose,” he grumbles.

I kneel beside him. “Good. Would you like me to help you up?” I hold out my hand.

“If you laugh, I swear to…”

“If I haven’t laughed yet, I never will. Now, give me your hand, Felix. I’ll get you to one of the beds so you’ll actually be comfortable.” I take his hand as he offers it, supporting him as he rises, but he loses his balance and falls into me, knocking me into the countertop. His body is heavy, but his skin is like velvet. I push against him as he regains his footing and meets my gaze.

“Easy now, big boy.” I pat his chest. “You’ll be off-balance for a few days, so get used to that. Just hold onto me if you need to.”

Felix chews his tongue, then slips his arm around me for balance. “How humiliating,” he huffs. “Not you. I mean…”

“No, I get it.” I help him to my recovery room. I have four beds there for patients, one of which I’ve already prepared for him. “Stay on your side or stomach. You can’t lie on our back just yet.”

“I get it.” Felix grunts as he lies down.

“I’m going to put a splint on your tail just to keep it elevated. It might help with some of the discomfort you’ll feel.”

“I already do. It feels like someone is pulling on it right now,” he huffs.

“Then I’d best get that splint on.” I sit down beside the bed and add the splints, slowly wrapping gauze around them. “Anything else I should be made aware of?” I ask.

“No,” Felix mutters.

“Okay, then.” I keep wrapping to make sure the splints are secure and his tail will be comfortable. “You don’t have to be injured to come and see me, you know?”

“Shut up,” Felix huffs. “Like I come here to see you. I wouldn’t come here at all if I could manage.”

I smile to myself. “You would think after all this time, the two of us would eventually become friends.” I secure the gauze and let his tail relax.

Felix sighs. “I respect you, Doc. That’s more than most people get from me.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Hero.” I stand from the chair. “I’ll let you rest now. Is there anything I can get you?”

Felix lies there, looking to the side as I walk around the bed. “I’m humiliated enough. Just leave me to die here.”

“Sounds good. I’ll bring dinner when I make it.”

Later that day, I help Felix get up from bed and move around a bit. His balance is very off, enough that even standing in one spot gives him a sense of vertigo. He joins me at the kitchen table for dinner, glaring at the stew I’m serving. “What is this?” he asks.

“Eggplant,” I reply. “I’m just trying to use up some of the vegetables I have before they spoil.” I start eating. “If you want meat, just know I’d rather have eggs than kill my chickens. And Meredith is like my pet.” Meredith is a cow who I was given as payment, but her milk supply has saved my ass more than once.

“I don’t eat meat, actually,” Felix grouses. “But even still, do you cook by just throwing things in a pot and seeing what sticks?”

“I use what I’ve got, and I’ve learned to live with it.”

“You really avoid the main village.” Felix picks up his spoon and takes his first bite.

“They think I’m cursed because I work with demons,” I chuckle. “But they still come to me with their broken bones and missing fingers, so I won’t complain.”

Felix rolls his eyes. “You’re cursed alright, but not because of demons.” A smirk crosses his face, but it fades as he takes another bite of the stew. He puts down his spoon and looks around “I can’t take this. Where’s your kitchen?”

I wipe my mouth. “I can show you, but I don’t trust you around my knives.”

“I can save this thing you want to believe is food,” he huffs.

I arch a brow at him. “Save it from what?” I stand up and go to help him walk.

Felix gives me a withering look. “You. I know how to cook.” He puts his arm around me so we can lumber into the kitchen. He goes to the stove, peers into the bubbling pot of the stew I made, sniffs it, then eyes the small supply of spices I have at the ready. He takes a few, tossing them into the pot. Then he takes the basket of vegetables out from under the counter, extracting a pepper and a garlic bulb.

“I was saving that,” I huff.

Felix smashes the garlic with his fist to split it up. “It’s garlic, not a special occasion.” He takes a clove and peels it open. “It’s a lifesaver, a staple. You cook with it or you give it to someone who will respect it. Now, give me a knife.”

“You’re flirting. That’s new.” I open a drawer, pulling out a knife for him.

Felix smirks. “You won’t have time to appreciate my flirting when I turn it on.” He snaps the blade into the garlic then minces it up so fast I’m impressed. He chucks it into the pot, then starts slicing the pepper.

“I’ve learned a lot about you today,” I reply. “You don’t eat meat, and you cook. How on earth do you keep the girls off you?”

Felix sticks his tongue out. “You make jokes, Doc. But you would be surprised.” He stirs the pot. “Give it ten minutes, then it should be edible.”

“It was edible before.”

“For livestock.” Felix fumbles at the counter, nearly tipping over before he presses his palms into the counter to secure himself. “I fucking hate this.”

“It’ll only last a couple of days, so don’t worry about it too much. Just relax while you’re here,” I assure him.

Felix frowns, his eyes focusing beyond the countertop. His mind is somewhere else, so I try to redirect him. “Nothing bad is going to happen. The village will be protected, and nothing happens here that requires me to be protected. So stop worrying about that.”

“I’m not. I…” Felix stops himself and grimaces. “You don’t know me.”

I smirk at him. “I think I know you enough, Felix.” I nod towards the stew pot. “Is it edible yet?”

He fills me a fresh bowl. “Try that. I dare you to tell me it isn’t even a smidge better.”

“You use the word ‘smidge’?”

Felix sneers. “Just eat!”

I take my first bite, pleasantly surprised by how good it is. It was bland and a little green-tasting before, but now it’s hearty and spicy. “Not bad.”

Felix scoffs. “All I had to do was add salt to make it ‘not bad’. I made it good.” He refills his empty bowl, and I take it back to the table while he balances along the wall.

“Well then, you can knock some off your bill by cooking while you’re here,” I offer.

“I should get my bill wiped clean. If that’s how you eat, then my cooking should be worth gold to you.” He sits down, looking a bit tired.

“We’ll see.”

Felix huffs, stretching his shoulders and back as he tries to get comfortable. “I’ll give you a massage with some of that heating oil later,” I tell him. “You’re probably going to be extremely sore tomorrow.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about you manhandling me like that.” He rubs his shoulder and neck. “What good would a rub do?”

“A massage, Felix, and a therapeutic one at that. I promise it will help. And the heating oil will soothe like a hot bath. So it’s either that, or I give you a bath.”

He scowls. “Fine.”

After eating, we go back to the recovery room and Felix lies down so can give him the massage. I avoid his large bruises, but I do knead around them to relax the muscles there. He grunts and groans, flinching sometimes, but he relaxes enough for me to feel where the knots are the worst. His back is broad, his shoulders and arms thick with muscle. But his soft skin is nice to the touch. I have to admit, despite our back and forth, I do think Felix is quite handsome. And I do respect how he fights for his people.

A low moan escapes his throat, one that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I wouldn’t ever admit it, but it sounds almost lewd. “Everything okay down there?” I ask.

Felix sighs. “Yeah.” His voice is relaxed, smooth. “Not bad at all, Doc.”

“Good. This should make your morning a little better, but you may still be stiff as a board.” I sit back and wipe off my hands. “Just relax now. Don’t think. Just breathe.”

“Mm,” he moans again.

“If you need anything in the night, there’s a bell by the bed. Just ring it, I’m a very light sleeper.” I pull the blankets up over his legs. “Get some rest, Felix.”

“Thanks, Doc.” He turns his head and looks up at me. “No wonder you’re a doctor. Your hands are amazing.”

My cheeks feel warm for the briefest flash. “Go to sleep. You don’t sound like yourself.” I turn off the lights and leave the room, keeping the door open in case he rings the bell later that evening.

I come down in the morning to check on Felix, finding him sitting up in bed with a strange look on his face. “Everything alright? Did you sleep well?”

Felix nods and rubs his face. “Yeah. I just… I feel weird waking up in a strange place,” he murmurs.

I furrow my brow. “That’s fine. How’s your back? Your tail?”

Felix shakes his head. “Give me a minute, Doc.” He presses his face into his palms and breathes out.

I’m not sure why, but I put my hand upon the top of his head, rubbing the tendrils and the back of his neck. I stand closer, letting him rest his head against my side. “It’s just me here,” I murmur to him. “Just us. You don’t have to worry. I’m here.”

“Thanks, Doc,” he breathes. He places his hand on my arm, with a firm careful grip. “Thank you.”

I used to get scared like that when I was little. My family and I moved around so much sometimes I never knew where I woke up. Sometimes I was forced awake. I wonder how many places Felix has woken up that he didn’t want to be? “I’ll be right back,” I say gently. “I’ll go get eggs for breakfast. Do you eat eggs?”

Felix nods. “Can I have some water?”

“Yes, of course.” I step away from him, but his hand stays on me. “You’re awake now, it’s okay.” I take his hand and squeeze it. “You’re not dreaming.”

“Good.” Felix clears his throat and seems more like himself. He lets go of my hand and rubs his face. “Just the water, then.” I suppose both of us have seen the war up close.

The chickens are lively and happy as I go to fetch eggs. I toss them their feed and watch them peck at the ground for a little bit before heading back inside. Felix is bracing against the wall, looking more nauseous than off-balance. I place the eggs near the sink. “I was bringing the water. You didn’t have to get out of bed.”

“I didn’t want to run the risk of you ruining a perfectly good egg.” Felix comes up beside me, bracing on the sink and taking an egg in hand. “Nice big ones.” I smirked and he gave me a look. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Doc.”

Felix sits down at the table, and I place his full cup before him. “What else do you want for breakfast?” I ask.

“Doesn’t matter,” he sighs after a long drink. “I rarely eat breakfast.”

I pull down plates from the cabinet. “It’s the most important meal of the day.”

“Fuck off with your motherly platitudes, Doc!” he snaps. Then his eyes widen, showing the bright green a little more. “Sorry,” he grumbles. “I’m not a morning type.”

“I can tell,” I chuckle. I sit down near him at the table. “Do you mind if I look at your back, then?”

“Not right now. I don’t feel like being prodded just yet.” He looks away from me, showing the mottled color of the skin around his face. His neck and shoulders are a darker shade of gray, and they look different in the morning light. His ears flick forward, then back, and his eyes catch me staring. “What?” His lip curls up.

“Nothing. I’m just admiring you.” I lean back in my chair.

Felix’s eyes narrow at me. “Admiring what?”

I stroke away that bothersome lock of hair that keeps falling in my face. “If you don’t know, then I’m not going to tell you.”

“You don’t get out much, do you?” Felix finishes off the glass of water and stands up. As he turns to face the sink, I catch a glimpse of his back. He’s a fast healer, but the bruises still look nasty, and there are fresh ones around his tail. He must be very uncomfortable this morning. “Stop staring, Doc,” he scoffs.

I stand up. “You’re my patient, and I’m checking on you. I would love to see if any of those splinters have caused any infection, but I guess we’ll wait for you to rot to find out.” I come up behind him, knowing he can’t move quickly enough to stop me.

“Hey!” Felix yelps.

“Hey is for horses,” I murmur under my breath as I inspect him. The muscle twitches under the flesh, and his back arches in a sensual way. His hips roll back, but he quickly recovers, taking a stiff stance before the counter.

“That tickles,” he mutters shyly.

I’m surprised. “What?”

Felix turns away from me and picks up an egg. “I said it tickles, touching like that. Your hands are cold, too.”

“I didn’t realize it tickled, I was just trying to be gentle,” I say.

“I’m just going to fry these with toast,” Felix grumbles. “Got any butter?”

I’m not sure why, but my cheeks have grown warm and I feel rather embarrassed by doing what I do all the time. I step away and fetch Felix the butter before taking my seat, then glance out the window as the pan begins to sizzle. Today I have the garden to tend to, Meredith’s stall to clean, and fresh hay to put in the chicken coop. I count all these things off, barely noticing Felix setting a plate down in front of me. The egg is cooked in the center of the toast, which has a hole cut from it. “Egg in a basket,” I say in surprise.

“Oh good, you know what it is.” Felix turns back to the stove.

I swallow a lump in my throat. “My dad used to…” I clear my throat. “I haven’t had one of these in a long time.”

“They’re fairly easy. I prefer cooking them over scrambling.” He glances over his shoulder, seeing me staring at what should be a pretty unemotional breakfast. Instead I’m fighting back tears. I miss my family. All I have now is my sister. I sniffle, trying to keep myself from crying outright.

“It’s just an egg,” Felix says cooly.

“Yeah, well…” I lift my head and wipe my nose. “It is.” I take my knife and spoon in hand. “It just happened to remind me of something.”

Felix joins me at the table. We eat in silence, and occasionally stare off into the distance. “Not used to having company?” Felix asks.

“Not at all. I’m used to patients and being alone,” I answer with a huff. “So forgive me if my table manners are lacking.”

“I live in the village, and it’s always busy in the mornings. I’ve not had a quiet pause for some time.” Felix looks out the window. “I’ve always been in large crowds.”

“There’s safety in numbers.”

“There goes that cliched drivel again,” he chuckles. “Is that all you spout?”

I smile and shrug. “I can tell you to bend over and cough, if you’d like.”

A smirk appears on Felix’s face. “I’d rather you didn’t.” He finishes off his food, then leans back in his seat. “Is there anything I can do today besides cook?”

“You’re resting and healing.” I carry the dirty dishes to the sink. “I’ve got things I have to do today, but you aren’t going to be doing anything. You’re going to be in bed and letting your tail and back rest.”

“I’ll go crazy,” he growls. “Just sitting around doing nothing? You might as well bury me.”

“That goes against my job entirely,” I laugh. “Just do as I say, young man, and nobody has to get hurt.”

“Seriously, you can’t just expect me to lie in bed all day.” He stands up, but wobbles and sits right back down.

“That should be all the answer you need. Until your tail gets back into working order, I’m not risking you bashing your head or breaking a leg.” I fetch my garden gloves and slip them on. “I’ll be in the garden. Do you need me to take you back to bed?”

Felix just frowns. “No.”

“Then I’ll see you later.” I step out into the garden, and already the sun is quite bright. I take in a deep breath, enjoying the tranquility and quiet. Then I hear Felix fall. I hurry back inside, rushing to his side as he attempts to pick himself up.

“I’m fine! I’m fine,” Felix grumbles as I help get him upright.

“I can’t leave you alone for five seconds.” I take off my gloves and help him back to his feet. “Just lean on me.”

“I don’t want to go back to bed!” he protests.

“You need to. Doctor’s orders!” I get him back to the recovery room and make him get down onto the bed. He lays there limp, pouting with me. “Just rest. Why is that so hard?”

“Because it is.” He rolls onto his side so his back is facing me.

“I know it is, but I don’t want you getting any more hurt than you need to be.” I sit down on the edge of the bed. “If you promise to rest while I garden, then you can help me string beans later.” Felix stays quiet. “There’s going to be a lot, and I don’t like doing them.” I lean over him. “Just stay here for me. Okay?”

Felix turns his head and looks up at me. My heart skips a beat, then pounds faster. I feel close enough to kiss him, although I don’t know why that thought popped into my head.

“What are you looking at now?” Felix frowns.

I stand back up. “Never you mind. Promise me you’ll rest.”

He rolls his eyes and lies back down. “Fine. I’ll rest here, Doc.”

“Good, I’ll be back later. If anyone comes to the front, you just ring the bell. I should hear it.” I stop in the doorway and look back, feeling bad. I know Felix is used to being busy and doing everything he can around the village. Hell, he’s done a lot for me here over the years. I know this is driving him crazy, but the more he rests the sooner he’ll be back on his feet. “Would you like another massage before I go? Maybe that’ll help you feel more amenable.”

“Hmm? Another one?” Felix attempts to sit up, but stops and rolls onto his stomach. “Just don’t tickle me.”

I sit down and drip some of the warming oil onto his back. “I’ll try my hardest.” I smooth the oil in, taking my time like last night in order to avoid the bruises and feel out the spots where the tension is worst.

Felix grunts, sighing out as he tries to keep from moaning. “That feels nice.”

“That’s good,” I say softly. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

His hips swivel again, almost putting his ass right against my stomach. “No. I…” He’s trying to hold back a moan, but it only makes his body more responsive. “That feels good there.”

I’m kneading down the center of his spine. “Can I go harder?”

“Yeah, harder,” he breathes.

My cheeks feel warm, but so does the center of my chest. “How does that feel?”

“It hurts but it’s nice,” Felix bites his lip. His ears are flat against the side of his head. His neck strains back and I see his face. He looks strangely erotic. “Can you go harder?”

“Sure.” I lean into his back, rubbing to relieve him. “Harder?”

“More,” he groans. There’s a pop, and Felix lets out a moan that can only be described as sexual. I ease away from him as he buries his face in the pillow. We’re both quiet, afraid to move. “You can go now,” he whimpers.

I lick my lips. “You sure?”

Felix nods. “I’ll rest, I promise.”

I clear my throat as I get up off the bed. “You just… You be good now.” I hurry from the room, wobbling between the urge to burst into laughter or implode from embarrassment. Why did that get so… heated? Felix and I have known each other a long time and sure, I’ve thought some things, but never have I considered him a potential bed partner. I try to block these thoughts as I pick green beans, weed the garden and clean the cattle stall. Anything to keep my mind off Felix’s moan. But it haunts me, calls to me, begs me to linger on how I could hear it again. Be gone, spectre! You shall be exorcised if you do not leave me!

I go back inside hot, sweaty, and stinking. I go to my room and peel off the dirty, sweaty clothes and toss them aside. I fan myself off, then splash cold water on my face. Felix is a friend and patient, and I don’t need to be getting hot under the collar over this. I look at myself in the mirror, smoothing back my long, dark hair. I wonder, how does he see me? I splash my face with cold water again, then put on clean clothes before heading back to the recovery room. Felix is lying in bed, and he looks like he’s sleeping. I consider leaving him alone and going about my day without having to acknowledge what happened.

“What are you staring at?” Felix grumps. He rolls onto his side and lifts his head. “Can I get up now?”

I smile at him. “I don’t know. Can you walk after that pop?”

Felix’s eyes narrow, and his face wavers between irritation and longing. “I can walk just fine.” He slips his legs over the edge of the bed. “I can certainly walk better than you.”

I smile at him. “Well, get up. I’ve got all these beans to string.” I offer him my hand, helping him to stand, but he quickly falls backwards. His hand grips hard onto mine, pulling me down with him. “Your back!” I yelp, but it’s too late. I land on him, and he cries out in pain throwing me down onto the bed as he frees his tail. We then look at one another, frozen in place as we realize the position we are in. My eyes widen, and Felix’s breath hitches.

“Sorry, Doc,” he whispers.

“Happens all the time.” My voice cracks.

Felix’s eyes dart over my face. “Does it?”

I shake my head. “Never.” I don’t know why I don’t want to move, or I don’t until Felix kisses me. The sudden, urgent press of his lips makes me melt into him, and I touch his face, pulling him closer. Our lips part, and I feel his tongue. His hands dig sharply into my hips, and my teeth nip playfully at his lip.

Felix pulls back suddenly, a strand of saliva connecting our lips. He comes to his senses and jerks away, nearly falling off the bed. “Sorry, Doc.” He rubs the back of his neck.

“Yeah, that was…” I stop as I look at him. “Felix, I don’t…”

“I know.” He holds his breath. “That was… good, but…”

“It was good?” I start to smile.

“It was…” Felix stops and frowns. “It was. Yeah.” He laughs and looks away.

“It was.” I brush my hair back. “But maybe we should talk?”

Felix sighs and scratches his temple. “Maybe.”

“Do you do that often to people? Kiss them like some passionate maniac?” I ask. I want to keep it light, but I also want to know everything.

“No! I just let it take me over for a minute,” Felix huffs, and turns more towards me. He swallows nervously. “Do you do that?”

“I can’t even remember that last time I was kissed, even badly.” I rub my cheeks. “I’m not offended. We both agree it was good. Not to mention you’re a very attractive man.”

Felix’s ears perk up as he turns towards me. “You think that?”

The hair on the back of my neck bristles. “Well, sure. You know that, right? Everyone must think you’re attractive.”

Felix smiles, somewhere between shy and smug. “Well, then… you must know you’re attractive, too.”

“What?” I laugh.

“It’s true.” Felix comes closer. “You have other things that a gentleman such as myself would never dare admit out loud.” He’s close enough to kiss again, but the thought irritates me.

“Well, let’s keep those to ourselves for now.” Felix’s hand brushes against my hair, combing through and touching the back of my neck. “Easy, there.”

“Did it tickle?” he murmurs near my ear.

“Yeah.” I look up and into his eyes again.

“Should I stop?” He’s so close.

“No.” I’m out of reach of my senses.

Felix kisses me again, and I tilt my chin up to better reach him. I touch his chest, gently pulling him closer to me. Our lips part for the briefest moment so we can breathe, and next I know I’m on my back with his weight on me. He feels so good, but I know I should stop this, no matter how much my body is cheering for it to continue further.

“Dr. Ihai? Are you here?” Someone calls from the front.

I peel away from Felix. “Yes! Who goes there?”

“It’s Mrs. Cara, dear. My daughter is sick and I need something for her sore throat.”

I’m looking at Felix while she speaks, and we’re a breath away from going further and deeper. But he lets me go. I deal with Mrs. Cara, getting her medicine for her daughter and mixing an ointment to rub on her chest for her cough. When I’m done, I find Felix stringing the green beans in the kitchen. He looks at me and then away just as quickly. “Good thing she came in.”

“Maybe so.” I sit down and take a fistful of green beans to remove the string. “But it wouldn’t have been awful, would it?”

“I suppose not.” Felix starts to smile. “Might have been kind of fun, although I would be limited in what I can do.”

I bite my lip to keep from smiling. “You have tricks?”

“Sure, but now you won’t get to see them.”

We both start laughing. I look at his bright smile, the glint of his eyes. Holy shit, I never acknowledged how much I liked him. “I won’t?” I say between laughs.

Felix’s smile is seductive and sweet. “Well, maybe after dinner I can show you one.” He makes a show of licking his lips. “If you’re into it.”

“Maybe,” I say breathlessly.

Felix looks away shyly, biting his lip before he looks back at me. “Really?”

“Why not? We’re both adults.”

“Are we?” he teases.

“Yes. We are. What does it hurt if we give in a little?” I shrug as I go back to stringing beans. “To have some fun. Burn off some steam.”

“I have lots of steam,” he scoffs.

“Same.” I murmur.

Felix’s eyes flick over to me. “Have you ever… I mean, with a demon?” he asks.

“Once. But it was a really long time ago.”

Felix nods and lifts his ears. “How was it?”

“Fine.” I snap a bean in half. “I won’t be surprised by what I find, if that’s what you’re hinting at.”

“Just fine?” Felix smirks.

I frown at him. “Don’t make it a contest for something that happened ages ago. If we’re going to go through with this, then let’s have fun. Let’s both enjoy each other.”

His eyes brighten and his smile makes my heart jump. “Then why should we wait?”

I’m stuck between being a lover and a doctor. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. His hand captures my chin, and I am pulled back into another long kiss. I want him, of course I do. But as a doctor, I have to worry. “Just go easy,” I breathe.

Felix’s tongue hangs from his lips as he grins. “On you? Maybe.”

///

There is some sort of illness going through the town, and I’ve had many people come in wanting medicine for their children, something to ease a cough or help them sleep. Felix and I haven’t had a moment to finish our conversation, and I’ve had to close down the storefront so I can have enough time to make more of the needed medicine for tomorrow.

“Aren’t you going to bed?” Felix asks.

The corner just outside the recovery room is where I prepare and make my medicines. I was sure he was asleep, but I guess my light must have woken him. “Soon. I just have to finish these.”

Felix wobbles to the door with a strange look in his eye. “It’s so late it’s early,” he grumbles. “What on earth could take that long?”

“I’m just getting the medicines ready so I don’t have to make them on the spot. People get testy when I have to do that.” I reach for another bottle, filling it with the handmade capsules. “I’ll probably have to make a whole new batch of that balm tomorrow, too, so be prepared to inhale eucalyptus fumes all day.”

Felix takes my hand and pulls it away. “You should sleep. Who cares if someone gets pissy waiting for a medicine they need? They need it, so they’ll wait for it.”

I frown at him. “Would you want to wait for something you needed?”

Felix smirks and arches a brow. I sniff and yank my hand back. “You don’t need that.” I turn back to the table, and Felix stands directly behind me. His arms come up on either side of me, and his hands slide down my arms while his body presses very close to mine. “What are you doing?”

“Finding balance,” Felix says with a smug laugh. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“If that was all you were doing, I wouldn’t mind it at all. But I can’t help but feel you have an ulterior motive.” I fill another bottle and seal it.

Felix’s body is causing warmth to spread out from my core, heating me to a smoldering coal. I bite my lip to keep my focus on filling the bottles, but I’m sleepy and susceptible to following whatever my body wants, no matter what my mind is trying to argue. “Come on, put the jars away.” Felix’s hands easily sweep aside the work I’m doing. “You can finish in the morning. I’ll be up too to help.”

“You’re up now,” I murmur.

“But not willing.” Felix easily pulls me aside into the recovery room.

“Felix,” I huff, attempting to argue.

He cuts me off, placing a finger before his lips to shush me. “Just lie down. Morning is closer than you’re aware.” He puts me in his bed, then crawls in beside me.

“What are you angling at?” I grump.

“Sleep.” Felix’s arm drapes over me, and that warmth radiates through my body again. “I was sick of seeing that light outside the door.”

“I could have gone to my own bed,” I pout.

Felix yawns and chuckles. “Then go.”

I look towards the door, but in the dark it seems so far away. I let my body sink into the bed and Felix’s embrace, and his arm sags and grows heavier as he drifts to sleep. I feel his breath against my neck, his skin against my arm. I fade away as well, slipping deeper into the warmth and darkness.

I wake to the howling wind beating against the sides of the house, rattling tree branches to scrape along the windows. I slowly stir, opening my eyes to the gray light of morning. I blink a few times, almost gasping when I don’t recognize where I am. Then I remember I fell asleep with Felix in the recovery room, and sink back into the bed.

The wind sounds angry, tossing up everything to make it rattle, shake, and moan. I close my eyes, waiting for the sound of rain to follow it and create a symphony on the tin roof. Felix’s arm tightens around me, and a low moan escapes his throat. I wait for him to move or release me so I can get up, but until his arm lifts I am trapped here with him.

I touch his leg where the velvety skin meets with smooth pebble-like scales. He rolls closer to me, nearly pinning me down. His warmth is nice, and the scent of him on the pillows is also welcome. The rain comes, tinkling along the tin as it falls. Felix moans directly into my ear. His body shifts, and his arm locks around me. I would say I felt trapped, but I don’t. I suppose I feel secure, safe even? The wind and the rain and his warm embrace give me comfort and a sense of security.

“You smell so good,” Felix murmurs against my ear.

I twitch, and every hair on my body stands on end. I hold my breath as his lips drag against my skin. His tongue brushes my ear, sending shockwaves through my limbs and making my toes tingle. “You grew so warm all of a sudden,” he chuckles quietly.

I bite down on my lip. “I take it you’re awake.”

Felix laughs again then drags his lips over my neck. He buries his nose in my hair and takes a deep breath, then gifts me another seductive moan. “Even in my dreams I never woke to something like this,” he purrs into my ear again.

“And what are you going to do about it?” I wiggle my rear, pressing it firmly into his lap. “Just talk?”

Felix’s lips parted against my ear. I feel his tongue first, then the sharp points of his teeth as he bites down on the lobe. I whimper at the feeling, squeezing my thighs together as the heat turns into a tight tension.

“I can talk, If you want me to.” His hand finds its way under my shirt, touching my belly, sneaking up further until his fingers brush just under my bosom. “How about I tell you what I dreamed last night?” His other hand strokes down the side of my hip. “I found a statue in a garden that was all alone. She was covered by vines and moss, and she had her arms extended. I took her hands and stood beside her, wiping away the plants until her bare breasts were exposed. I kissed them until the stone grew warm and her hands came to rest on my head.” His hand slides up and his fingers curled around my breast. He squeezes gently, and I tremble as the sharp point of his nail digs into my nipple. Felix sighs into my ear. “I parted the vines around her legs, finding her thighs were open. She wanted to be touched, to be lavished in affection. I placed my lips upon her mound while my fingers explored between her thighs. The stone trembled as the statue pushed me deeper.” His fingers slip between my legs and knead me through my clothes. He moans again, and I grow weak. “I made her vibrate with my lips and my tongue. I made her come. I tasted the nectar that flowed from her sweet walls, and I made her come again to hear her scream.”

“Felix,” I gasp for breath.

“I want to make you come with my name upon your lips… Ihai.” It’s the first time he’s said my name. He always called me Doc. I turn my head, kissing him hungrily as his hands torture me. He kisses back, biting, sighing. He pulls down my trousers and grunts with need, pressing himself against my rump. I feel heat there, an urgency. He pulls up my shirt, exposing my bare breasts. His fingers slip back between my thighs, touching me, coaxing me. I bury my face into the pillow, whimpering as his touch finds my weakest point.

“Do you want me to taste you?” Felix whispers. “Do you want me inside?” He moans again and presses himself tighter against me. “Tell me your desires, and I will feed them with my body.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve been touched like this., at least by someone else. My body is starving for it and it isn’t picky about how this affection is to be given. I take my leg and wrap it around his hip, locking him in place. “Oh fuck,” Felix growls. His fingers glide across my mound, rubbing the swollen labia. “You’re exciting me too much,” he laughs.

“Look who's talking,” I pant. I kiss him again, losing my breath for a moment. “My head is spinning.”

Felix chuckles smugly as his fingers slide inside me, his thumb is left rubbing my clit. I cry out and he places his other hand around my neck. “You’re quivering around my fingers, tightening each time I move my thumb,” he moans. “You’re making my cock drool.”

“You think that’s sexy?” I can barely catch my breath.

Felix kisses and nuzzles into the curve of my neck. “Does it matter now? All I want now is permission.”

I nod weakly. “Take me. I beg you.”

He sighs, lips against my cheek. “Say it again.”

“Take me,” I bleat. “Fuck me, Felix!”

Felix chuckles, turning my head to kiss me again. His fingers leave my cunt and his palm cups around it. “I don’t plan to fuck you,” he moans. “I plan to enjoy you.”

I shiver all over. Felix’s hand moves away and his prick rubs against my vulva, sliding against my inner thigh. There’s ridges along the top and the head feels pointed.

“Take me, Ihai.” He plants the glans inside, slowly moving his hips to inch himself deeper. He’s thick, stretching me open so he can fit snugly inside. “You feel so amazing,” he breathes. “Perfect. Like I was made for you.”

“Don’t be so goofy,” I mewl. There’s drool on my lip.

Felix laughs, then kisses my neck and cheek. “I wish my tail didn’t ache so much, or I would so love to see you on top of me.”

“Felix, just move,” I whine.

“Oh,” his hand rests on my leg wrapped around his. “Like this?” He thrusts deeper inside so there is no doubt I am full of him. I cry out, pressing my head into his shoulder. He pulls out then thrusts back inside before pulling back out again.

“Felix!” I cry out.

He throws me over, laying me on my stomach as he mounts me from behind. He eases back into place easily, arching my hips off the bed. He drives himself deeply inside me, letting my moan and whimper into the pillow. “That’s it.” Felix takes hold of my hair, curling it around his fingers until I have to raise my head. “Good, Ihai,” he moans.

The tug of my hair, his one hand gripping hard around my thigh, all feels so good. His body, his touch, even his voice sensually fills me with pleasure. “Harder,” I whimper.

Felix’s hips grant my request. “Harder?”

“Harder!” I cry out.

He pulls my hair tighter, lifting me up and holding me around the waist. He looks down at me, grinning then kissing me. He thrusts into me, shaking me and the bed. My thighs are trembling, and I’m not sure how much longer I can last. I can’t breathe without a moan escaping me, my cries reverberating through the room.

“Come,” Felix growls into my ear. “I know you want to. Come on me. Come for me.” He licks my cheek. “Let me feel you.”

I’m not sure why his words work so well, but only seconds later I give into Felix. My body erupts. His hand wraps around my mouth to cover my cries, and he lays me back down upon the bed as his release spills over my thighs and belly. I even feel it splash against my lips as he shakes and pants above me, his eyes hazy and clouded.

“Felix.” I stretch my arm out to him.

He eases down, kissing me and stroking my body, and nuzzles his head against my breasts. “I have wanted you for so long,” he confesses.

“Shh. Be quiet.” I stroke the fleshy, hair-like tendrils at the back of his head and smile. “For the moment, I want to be quiet.”

And it is quiet, for about two seconds. “Hello? Doctor? Are you here?”

Felix starts up. “I’m going to kill him!”

“No!” I push him back onto the bed and stand up. “I’ll be there in a moment! Please be patient.” I gather up my clothes, slapping them on me in a hurry so I can go to the front. “I knew it would start early.”

Felix pouts from the bed. “Lock the doors.”

I smile back at him. “Not today. But later.” I kiss him softly, leave the room and don’t leave the front until later that afternoon. I was right - there is an illness going around. I have to make another batch of medicine, which Felix helps me wrap up. I also start a new batch of the eucalyptus balm, which has the whole house filled with the fumes. I keep the door open to air it out, but my eyes still sting throughout the day. Even with the rain and wind, patients still keep coming. I’m a little bitter that I can’t enjoy the afterglow of my morning, or even take a bath, but that’s life.

Once it begins to get dark, I know I can close shop. I lock the door and go back to find Felix in the kitchen. “That should be it for the day,” I sigh. “Hopefully.”

He turns from the stove, wiping his hands. “You look tired.”

“I feel tired.” I sit down at the table. “I just want a hot bath.”

Felix stands behind me, rubbing my shoulders. “Go take one, then.”

I moan softly. “That feels nice.”

His fingers knead deeper, inching down my back. “Should I go harder?”

I turn and smirk up at him while he grins. “You should take a bath, too. I don’t think you’ve had once since you got here.”

“How about we share, then?” Felix purrs into my ear. “To conserve water.”

I tilt my head back, meeting his surprisingly tender kiss. “It’ll be good to soak your tail.” Felix smirks, and I put my hand over his mouth. “Don’t say it or I’ll smack you.”

In the tub, I lay my back against Felix. The tub is huge for me, but for him it’s quite cramped. His legs are pulled up and his tail is draped over the back, but it’s nice to be so close to him. “Let's go to my bedroom tonight,” I tell him. “My bed is bigger and much nicer than those in the recovery room.”

“Ready already?” he chuckles.

“Maybe so,” I tease. “You’re pretty good, after all.”

Felix moans into my ear. “You know how I feel.” He runs water down my back then smooths his palms along my arms. “It took all of my power not to come until you did, let alone to pull out.”

I bite my lip and giggle. “If you hadn’t, I would have made you clean me out.” I turn around, kissing him and pressing my chest to his. “So remember all the extra work if you do that later.”

Felix groans and shudders. “Promise?”

I kiss him again, and his hands lock around my hips. I pull back, looking into his eyes as I stroke some droplets from his face. “I do like you. You know that, right?”

Felix nods. “I like you very much. I always have. Being with you like this answers a few of my dreams.” He runs his fingers through my wet hair and cups my cheek. “Touching you, kissing you, making that smile appear - I’ve always wanted that.”

“Why did you never say anything?” I ask.

Felix shrugs. “It’s what a fool does.” He rises from the tub and steps out. “Let me brush your hair before we go to bed.”

My heart skips a beat. Those are probably the most romantic words I’ve ever heard. I follow Felix out of the bath and sit down while he takes care of my hair. It’s so long that it takes me ages to brush and take care of it when I wash it. Having him do it feels almost like a luxury. When he’s done, he even braids it. “Thank you,” I say softly.

“Another dream.” He kisses the top of my head.

I take him to my room and light a candle. “How does your tail feel?” I ask.

“It feels pretty good.” he answers. “Not as sore anymore.”

“Would you still like a massage?”

His eyes brighten and he nods. “Yes, please.” He lies on his stomach, letting me climb on top of him. I kiss down his back, making him shiver. “It tickles,” he snickers.

I kiss again, and a moan escapes him. I knead into his sides, gliding my palms down his broad back. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” he breathes.

“Good.” I massage him some more, but once I notice him begin to yawn I move and lie down beside him. He snuggles up to me, resting his head upon my breast again.

“When I get my balance back, I’ll try to help fix that chicken coop,” he says. “I also noticed a few floorboards loose in the recovery room.”

“You don’t need to find excuses to come around. Just get injured like usual,” I tease.

Felix laughs. “I may have to stay a few days to fix the floor, you know?” He lifts his head, kissing me softly. “If you’re not busy, I may get distracted.”

I kiss him back as he moves on top of me. “What could possibly distract you?”

“A beautiful woman.” He glides his thumb across my bottom lip. “One that’s pear-shaped and kind, even if she comes off as cold.” Felix smiles lovingly down at me, making my heart feel faint. “I know how warm she really is.”

“Felix,” I murmur weakly.

“Ihai, I want you.”

I nod to him and he lowers himself, kissing me and touching me until the heat grows between us again. I look into his eyes, breathing steadily to keep from getting lost in his gaze. I smile dreamily, holding his face between my palms as I feel him move me.

“Ihai,” Felix moans.

“Go ahead. Enjoy me.” I wrap my arms around him, gazing into his eyes. Felix’s smile grows, and he presses his forehead to mine. “What is it?”

“I just want to remember this feeling,” he says softly. “The way you look in the candlelight, the way your voice sounds. I can’t believe this is real.”

I kiss him, and we move together. His body joins mine and I press myself into his. Felix was made for me, he said so himself, and it feels like it when he’s inside. There is no urgency like this morning, no desperation. I feel nervous, but he kisses it away. He makes me feel wonderful and so sweet. I fall asleep in Felix’s arms, cradled by his strength and gentleness. I want to stay awake as long as possible to savour it, but unfortunately I’m pulled under by exhaustion. It’s not until morning that I realize how happy I am. I wake to kiss Felix, to snuggle into his chest, and breathe in a new day washed clean by the rain.

///

I knew what I was doing when I chose the home I wanted to buy, because it was perfect to run my clinic out of. Even better, it lay directly between the demon village and the human one. I had no intention of turning away patients, no matter who they were. I was here to save lives. I was not a judge or jury.

It wasn’t long after moving that I met Felix for the first time. A young couple had come to me before that, and the young man, a demon, helped me move into my new place. The girl, a human, gave me fresh greens from her garden, as well as seeds so I could grow my own. She was pregnant and was scared, and so was her husband. Throughout the entire pregnancy they became precious to me as my first real patients, and their was the first baby I’d help into the world.

The last month of the pregnancy was hard, and the expectant mother was more scared than usual. I did all I could to ease her fears and make the discomfort much more mild. But when she went into labor, it was the middle of the night. A loud knock echoed through my home, and I woke with a scream in my chest. At the door was a tall demon man with long black tendrils that looked like hair, radiant green eyes, and charcoal-grey skin. I thought he was lovely, and then I got scared. “What are you do--”

I couldn’t even get the words out before he grabbed my hand. “The baby is coming. They sent me to get you.” The man pulled me out of the door and into the night.

“I need my kit! I can’t just run out!” I yanked him back, pulling him into the house, then went behind the counter while he watched me impatiently from the doorway, tail twitching and eyes narrowed. I remember looking at him, thinking how he looked like the dusk come to life.

“Hurry up! The baby is coming,” he huffed.

“Calm down, sir,” I insisted. “No need to get snippy with me. I know how urgent this is.” I grabbed my kit, finishing it off with a few added things. “Are you family?”

He took my hand again. “No. I’m a friend.”

“Then what’s your name, friend?” I huffed as I put on my jacket.

His green eyes narrowed further, but his ears did a happy little bob. “It’s Felix.” He led me through the night, the glow of his eyes leaving afterimages as he scanned the darkness.

“What was going on when you left? Did you notice anything? Was she timing the contractions?”

“I don’t know,” Felix huffed. “All I know is that she was screaming and crying when Carlisle was asking me to fetch you.”

“Oh dear,” I muttered under my breath.

“Is something wrong?” His tone was alarmed.

I shook my head. “I can’t say for sure. The last month has been hard on her, and this is a week early.”

We continued trekking through the woods, and I could only trust Felix’s judgement. I couldn’t see a thing, so he was my eyes. At one point, he scooped me up off the ground, carrying me across a river and setting me down on the other side.

Once we reached the village, I went to work right away. Carlisle was in a panic, and Rosemund was in agony. I did all I could for both of them, but by daylight exhaustion had settled in and cast light on our efforts. “It’s a girl,” I sighed with relief as the baby screamed.

Rosemund brightened, despite how exhausted she was. She took the baby girl greedily, sobbing over her. Carlilse was by her side, covered in blood and vomit from the hectic night. I went to take the bloody bucket I had washed the baby with outside to dump, out when I saw Felix standing by the door. “Have you been there all night?” I asked in surprise.

“A house is most vulnerable when new life is being brought into it. Tradition dictates that a guard keeps watch over the house until the baby is born and the family has rested.”

I was unsure if I should believe this at the time. Nowadays, when I look back on it, I realize that Rosemund’s family had been launching assaults on Carlisle. An attack during the delivery could have been extremely damaging. But it made sense to a mind that had worked feverishly on bringing a baby into the world. One that was difficult at the very least.

“Ah, makes sense,” was all I said.

Felix came over and took the basin from me. “I’ll go dump this out. You should stay and take care of the family.”

“Thanks, Flex,” I told him. And for a few weeks after that, I was certain his name was Flex.

Since the delivery had been rough, I decided to stay with Rosemund and Carlisle for a few days to make sure Rosemund and the baby did well. The baby was quite small, and Rosemund was having a hard time with breastfeeding, unsurprising since she had gone through so much during the delivery. All the while, Felix remained on guard at the house.

One evening when the new family had gone to bed, I left the house, standing outside to watch the sky fade from blue to pink to orange to purple. I sat near the fence as a cold breeze blew. I had slept in a chair all week, and I’d barely washed or eaten. I knew I was a mess, but that cold wind energized me just enough.

“Everything alright?” Felix came up beside me.

“Hm?” I tilted my head towards him, too tired to actually turn it. “They’re sleeping now,” I sighed. “First time all of them have at once.”

Felix set down an apple beside me. It had green skin in a shade similar to his eyes, mottled with little brown speckles. I picked it up and smoothed my hands over it.

“You need to eat something,” Felix said sternly. I was too tired to think of anything to say, so I just took a bite. It was sour, but crisp, with a slight honey flavor towards the core. It remains the best apple I have ever eaten. Felix stood beside me while I ate, his hands on his hips and his eyes towards the sky. His tail skittered and flicked towards me.

“Thanks, Flex,” I sighed after a few luxurious bites.

Felix narrowed his eyes at me. “What did you…”

There was a cry from behind us, and looking up I saw a child had fallen over and scraped her knee. I stood up and dusted my rear off. “Where are you going?” Felix furrowed his brow.

“I have bandages in my pocket. I’ll go put one on that kid’s knee.” I reached into my pocket and showed them off. “Won’t take but a second.”

I tended to the kid, despite my own exhaustion. Once I knew Rosemund and the baby would be okay, I went back home. Felix showed up a few days later with a friend of his who had fallen out of a tree. A few days after that Felix brought another injured party. He came himself once or twice, needing stitches or medicine. I soon was woven into the demon village as their local doctor, as well as that of the human village, although I carried an aura of dark rumor on both sides.

“There you go, Flex.” I said after finishing up a row of stitches on him. “Come back in three weeks so I can remove these.”

He gave me a look. “Felix.”

I looked up from removing my gloves. “Hm?”

Felix poked at his chest. “My name is Felix.”

An embarrassed shock went through my body. “I thought your name was…”

“I know what you think my name is, and you’ve been wrong for weeks. I just haven’t corrected you because you’ve been busy every time we’ve talked.” He smirked at me. “I’m not Flex. I’m Felix.”

I clicked my tongue and sighed. “Well, I suppose it’s nice to meet you, Felix.”

Felix chuckled. “You’ve not even been here a year, and yet it’s like you’ve worked here all your life. How are you taking to it?”

I washed my hands and sighed. “I’m enjoying it, although I don’t have the resources I would like to have. I don’t like going to the human side of the woods often, and the demon side doesn’t alway have the things I need.”

Felix stood up and looked over the stitches on his arm. “What is it you need?”

“Chickens,” I replied. “Which means a coop and fencing. I also need to expand my garden. I’d also like to have a room to dry things. I need a room so people can recover. I just want to get to a place of self-reliance, but all that requires more things. And I’m sure you don’t want to hear me ramble on about that.”

Felix sighed. “I can help with chickens, and the coop.”

I furrowed my brow at him. “What would you wanna help me for? I couldn’t even remember your name.”

“Because you help us without question. And for that, I want to repay you.”

I was stunned by Felix’s kindness, and more so by the fact that the other demons were willing to help as well. Felix was able to get me two chickens, which would eventually turn into five. He built my first chicken coop, although Carlisle built the one I have now. Felix would also make repairs to the house when I needed them, and helped me to expand my home, adding enough room for storage as well as the recovery room. He was always there with a helping hand, or a broken one. I took care of him each time.

One summer there had been a fire on the demon side of the woods, and Felix had gone into a burning house to rescue the people inside. He stayed with me while I tended to the sick and injured, and he stayed in the recovery room with the two injured children he had saved. At night, I could hear him talking to the kids, telling them stories and turning their minds away from their burns so they could sleep.

I feel silly thinking about how long it took for me to realize I had feelings for Felix. I had denied it for so long because I was focused on the needs of others, and forgoing my own interests. I should have known when my heart skipped a beat as he sang to those kids that I fell for him. But much like when I called him Flex, I didn’t know any better.

Rosemund and Carlisle are having their third baby very soon. I’d delivered their second child, which was a shockingly easy birth compared to her sister. Iris and Lily are both doing well and to them I’m not the doctor, but Auntie Ihai. Now that baby number three is on the way, I’m growing excited. I’m hoping they’ll finally have a boy, as they’re both praying for that too.

“My mother said she knew I was a boy by how big my foot felt against her belly,” Felix says.

“Really?” I chuckle. Ever since his tail was knocked out of socket, Felix has barely left, finding excuses to stay for days at a time with me. Not that I mind it. “You sure it wasn’t your head?”

Felix sticks his tongue out at me. “Laugh all you want, but she was able to correctly guess the sex of the babies her sisters bore each and every time.”

“Maybe you inherited her skills. Rosemund and Carlisle are coming by for a checkup, so you can put it to the test.”

Felix glares at me. “You’re teasing me.”

I kiss his cheek as I walk by the table. “Maybe a little. But Carlilse has told me that Rosemund has been having everyone with a method try it to see what the baby will be.”

“Do you have a method?” Felix asks.

“Of course!” I say brightly. “And I may give your mother a run for her money, too. I’ve never been wrong once.”

Felix’s eyes narrow. He knows I‘m about to feed him some bullshit. “Oh yeah? And what is this foolproof method?”

I wink at him. “I look at them when they are born.”

“What a crock of shit!” Felix says with a grin. “Here I am repairing Meredith’s stall, and you’re the one that’s filled with shit.”

“You can flirt with me all you want, but I have to go and get the exam room prepped.” I smile at him. “I promised Iris and Lily they could feed the chickens. Do you mind getting the feed ready for them?”

Felix stands up from the table. “Fine but you owe me later.”

I tuck my hair back and smirk. “For the chicken feed?”

“No. For the shit.” He winks at me as his tail flicks behind him.

“We’ll talk about it later.” I giggle.

After Rosemund and Carlisle leave, I go out back to see Felix petting Meredith. He’s been repairing her stall for the last few days, as well as getting it ready for winter. He’s gotten close to Meredith, and she’s been following him around like a lovesick puppy. I wag my fingers at him to come in. “Come inside! Rosemund brought us some of her homemade beer. I thought we could have it with lunch.”

Felix makes a quick dash inside with a greedy smile on his face. “How nice.” He sits at the table as I pour him a glass. He takes a drink and relaxes into his chair. “That’s the rub.”

I sip slowly as I enjoy my lunch. Ever since Felix settled in, I’ve not been eating meat at all. Since he won’t allow me to cook anymore, he’s taken over the kitchen. “I was thinking about lying down and taking a nap,” I tell him. “I don’t expect much else to happen today.”

“I was thinking about using the scraps from today to build an extra fenced-in area for the chickens,” he says.

“Well, okay.” I take another sip. “I was thinking, maybe, you could join me.”

Felix looks up from the table. His green eyes focus on me and the corners of his mouth turn up. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d like that very much,” I purr. “Wouldn’t you like it?”

Felix licks the corner of his mouth. “I’m sure I will.”

I stand up from the table, taking my dishes aside. “Then meet me there when you’re done, got it?”

His eyes start to glow, and his smile grows to reveal his sharp teeth. “You got it, Doc.”

I go back into the bedroom, taking my hair down and stripping down to just my shirt. I start brushing out my hair when I hear Felix enter the doorway. He watches me for a moment as I brush through my long hair, then comes in and takes the brush from me.

“I love it when you do that,” I sigh.

“I’ve noticed.” Felix sets the brush down and begins braiding my hair. He kisses the back of my neck once he’s done.

“That’s nice too.” I lean back and stretch my neck to the side, letting him kiss more. His lips fall upon me, soft and sweet. Then he bites down on my ear. “Hey! Easy,” I laugh.

“You’re not the only one in this room who likes to be pampered, you know?” Felix goes over to the bed and sits down.

“That’s exactly why I thought this little nap would be nice.” I go over to him, placing my hands on his shoulders and pushing him down onto the bed. “Just lie still for me.”

He bites his lip. “What am I going to lie still for?”

I place his legs into my lap andknead my fingers into his calves and down to his ankles. “How is this?”

Felix chuckles. “And here I thought you were going to do something salacious to me.”

I massage his feet, digging at the arch and then smoothing my palms but up his calves. Then I set his legs aside and reach up to kiss him. “If I wanted to do that I would have asked for it in the kitchen,” I say coyly.

Felix smirks, placing his hand on my hip. “I wish you would.”

I kiss him again as I straddle his hips, stroking my hands down his chest. “What would you want?”

Those green eyes glimmer at me. “To be with you.” He holds my face in his palm. “It wouldn’t matter what we did.”

I lie down, burying my face in the curve of his neck. “Stop that!”

He laughs, wrapping me up in his strong arms. “Your face was so cute! Show it to me!”

“No!” I whine.

Felix hugs me tighter. “I’m serious. You never let me see you when you’re cute!” He rolls me over and looks down at me, teary-eyed and pouting. His grin grows and he kisses my face all over.

“You say things like that and I don’t know how to react to it!” I continue to pout. “I don’t expect you to be so tooth-rottingly sweet.”

He chuckles against my neck. “You bring it out in me.” Felix looks back into my eyes. “I want to be with you all the time, and it doesn’t matter how we spend it.”

I exhale slowly. “Then why not just stay here, rather than going back and forth so much? You’re here all the time anyway. If you live here, maybe I won’t have to stitch you back together all the time.”

Felix inches in closer, and his body weight pins me to the bed. “You mean move in?”

I nod at him. “Yeah.”

This time he hides his face, holding onto me tightly. “Give me a second.”

“No! No! You wanted to see my face, I get to see yours!” I try to struggle with him, but he fights back. We’re both cackling, and it turns into wheezing before we flop onto the bed together, snickering like kids. We look at one another, both full of smiles. “Stay with me,” I repeat. “Live here as long as you can stand me.”

“Okay. You wore me down.” Felix kisses me affectionately. “I’ll stay with you.” He takes in a deep breath. “I’ll stay with you forever.”

“That’s a long time,” I murmur. “Are you sure you can stand it?”

He rests his head on my chest, and I wrap him up in my arms. “No, not really. But that’s all part of it right? The not knowing. The finding out. It’ll be okay. It’s you, and I know I can do it for you.”

I kiss the top of his head, then smash my cheek into his forehead. “I love you.”

“I know.” He lifts his head to look at me. “But I’m glad.” He kisses my cheek. “I love you too. Wanna know how I knew I would?”

“What do you mean?”

Felix chuckles. “It was a long time ago, back when you first came here. You just just delivered Rosemund’s first baby. You were exhausted, an absolute mess. You ate an apple I gave you, even the core. And even then when a kid hurt her knee, you helped right away. That’s when I knew I was going to fall in love with you.”

I have tears in my eyes, but I can’t hide them. “That long ago?”

“Yeah,” he grins. “I was young though, so I never realized what it was.”

I sniffle, and Felix kisses my tears away. “I think I experienced something similar.”

His eyes widen. “Really?”

“Yeah. It was a while after that, back when the Blackberry house burnt down. You stayed with those burned kids all day and night, told them stories, sang to them. I listened from the door and thought how beautiful it was. How a man like you could show such different sides to himself. I loved you then, all sides of you. But I was stupid to say the least.”

“Not stupid, It was just bad timing, I think.” Felix kisses me again. “It’s right now, and that’s all that matters.”

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