Sophia drummed her fingers on the table. “I’m not going to make enough money in time.” Even saving over half her paycheck for the next five months wouldn’t give her enough money to make the Europe trip she planned for her birthday. She laid her head on the cool wood and sighed. “I don’t want to put it off another year, but…”

Out of the corner of her eye, the centuries old plate hanging on the wall caught her eye. She long found the fox painted plate gaudy, but it was a family heirloom. Granny specified in her will that she must be the one to take care of it. She walked over and picked it up. Maybe this is worth a lot of money. It’s old, after all. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and pulled up a map app. The nearest antique shop was about a thirty minute walk. They closed in an hour. She shrugged. “Might as well.” She put on her shoes and carefully wrapped the plate in one of her scarves before putting it in a tote bag.

The walk to the shop didn’t feel like a half hour. If she could get at least a thousand out of it, the trip would be paid for and all her worries would vanish. Sorry, Granny, but this trip means a lot to me. I’m sure you’ll understand. The shop looked inconspicuous enough. A little run down, and the sign, simply saying Antiques, needed a fresh coat of paint or two. She opened the door and a bell chimed.

Inside were oodles of things. One side had ancient clothing. The other had furniture. The back walls were lined with books. All sorts of paintings and statues were scattered wherever there was a spot for them. She walked through the narrow walkways of items, searching for a front desk of the sorts.

“Can I help you?” The voice came from behind her. She jumped and bumped into a vase. She caught it just before it hit the ground. She turned around. God, he’s hot. The shopkeeper looked her age. His dark eyes had a sharp look to them, as though he could stab her with his gaze. His narrow face had a delicate beauty to it, almost to the point of androgyny. Glossy black hair framed his face. He had a wry smile that felt like he mocked her without saying anything.

“You almost earned yourself a thousand dollar bill with that.”

“Y-you were the one that scared me!”

He raised an eyebrow. “A shopkeeper greeting a patron is scary. Imagine that.”

He may look good, but he has the personality of a tyrant. She pulled out the plate from her tote bag. “I wanted to get this appraised.”

“Ah. Follow me.” She turned to her side and let him pass in front of her before following him along the maze of a trail through the junk. His tall slender build seemed to glide over the floor. Each movement of his held a grace she hadn’t seen in a man. It was strangely intoxicating. Stop, Sophie. He’s a jerk.

In front of the bookshelves was an elaborate desk. He sat in a large leather chair and gestured for the plate. She handed it to him and he peeled off the scarf as though it were trash.

His eyes widened. He stared at the plate, saying nothing for a long time. She tapped her fingers against her thigh. “Um, what do you think?”

He cleared his throat. “It’s worthless.”

“But it’s hundreds of years old!”

“I’m afraid millions of years make diamonds, while hundreds is merely coal.” He set the plate down. “But I’m quite taken with it. I’ll give you a hundred dollars for it.”

“A hundred?”

“It’s a hundred more than it’s worth, to be frank.”

She shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll keep it. It’s a heirloom from my Grandmother.”

When his eyes focused on her, she felt like he cut through to her soul. She bristled. He gestured to the shop. “You came here to sell this precious heirloom. I think a hundred dollars is more than fair for this piece.”

“And I don’t want to sell it for that price.” She reached out to grab it, but he picked it up and held it away from her.

“I think you should reconsider.”

She climbed onto the desk and grabbed it. “Give it back!”

He added his second hand for reinforcement. “You’re stronger than you look!”

She tugged back, and when he pulled it to him, she flew forward with it, crashing on the chair, sending it backward. The plate crashed beside them. A sound akin to lightning crackling made her ears ring. White smoke filled the room. His body shook with laughter beneath her. She scrambled off of him. He jumped up.

His hair, long as his waist, held the color of moonlight. His eyes were of molten gold. His skin had a paleness to it that seemed ghostly in the dissipating smoke. Fluffy copper ears were on top of his head. A long bushy tail swayed behind him. She stared. He looked beautiful, yet haunting. What is he?

He pumped his fist in the air. “I’m free!” He leapt over the desk and started running to the door. He only made it halfway before a searing pain spread from her chest through her body. She screamed.

His howl mixed with hers into a horrible cacophony. He stumbled to the desk and leaned over it, breathing heavily. “Who are you?”

She steadied herself. The pain vanished the moment he came close. She focused on his ears. “What are you?”

He scoffed. “Listen to me, human girl. I could kill you in a heartbeat if I chose. Tell me who you are!”

His gruff voice sent chills down her spine. “My name is Sophia.”

“Where did you get that plate?”

“We’ve gone over this. It was a family heirloom.”

“Are you related to that woman?”

“What woman?”

“The one who sealed me!”

She blinked. “Well, I must be, if this was passed down from my family…”

He hit the desk with his fist. “I don’t need your sarcasm, human!”

She flinched but anger took over her fear. “I don’t know who sealed you, but it wasn’t me. And how are you going to repay me for my broken plate?”

“Your plate?” He threw up his arms in an obviously sarcastic laugh. “Do you know what’s going on? We’re bound, human!”

“What do you mean, bound?”

He glared and started walking away. A trickling of pain pulsed through her chest. The further he inched away the stronger the sensation became, until it reached the point she cried out. He turned back around and walked back to her, relieving the pain.

“Do you understand now, idiot?”

She rubbed her temple. “How do we become unbound?”

He walked to the bookshelves and pulled out several books. He began flipping through the pages. He tossed that book aside and started on the next one. He went through the pile of books before turning back to the shelves and selecting more books.

“Are you going to do this all night?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

“I’m not going to be here all night.”

He continued pulling out leather bound tomes. “You don’t have a say in the matter.”

She gritted her teeth and started walking away. Though the pain grew stronger, she continued marching until he cried out, “Stop!” She dashed back to him. He grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled her to him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Grab some books and we’ll go back to my apartment. I want to sleep in my bed. I have to work tomorrow.”

He released her and lifted up a big stack of books. “Carry these.”

“Do I look like an amazon to you?”

“You wanted to leave, did you not?”

She crossed her arms. “Pick two.”

He rustled his ears. “The audacity of this woman!” He slammed his fist on the desk. “If I can’t break this seal we will be inseparable. That means you can’t go to work.”

She cringed. “But those are too heavy for me.”

He sighed. “Put as many as you can in your bag. I’ll carry the rest.”

She grunted as she picked up a stack. He growled and took the top three books off her stack. “I’ll carry a couple. Useless.”

She rolled her eyes and put the remaining books in her tote. It bulged and the straps cut into her shoulder. She tucked her arm under the bag to support it. “Ready?”

He glanced at her, sighed, and held out his arm. “Give me the bag.”

“I can carry it.”

He grabbed the bag from her shoulder. “Stubborn wench.”

“Don’t call me names.”

“Shut up, idiot.” She punched his arm. He laughed. “Is that all you’ve got?” She growled in frustration. He laughed harder. “You even growl like a pup.”

She ran ahead of him, just to the point of discomfort and stopped at the doorway. “You can’t go out like that.”

He arched his eyebrows. “Like what?”

She pointed to her head. “The ear thingie.”

His ears flattened. “It’s the twenty-second century. No one is going to notice. Plenty of people go out in costume.”

“But you looked different earlier. Normal.”

He shrugged. “I haven’t been in my true form for centuries. I’m not going to change because some idiot girl is uncomfortable.”

She frowned. “I’m not an idiot.”

“The hell you aren’t. Come on. You’re the one that wanted to leave. I could have read an entire book by now if it weren’t for your stubbornness.”

During their walk back, he didn’t say a word, thankfully. She didn’t want to stare, but she couldn’t help herself. His ears looked like a plush animal. It made her want to play with them. His tail, too, looked like something it would be fun to pet. She’d rolled with all the punches up until now out of shock, but the reality of the situation crept up behind her and slowly sucked the life out of her. Apparently, magic was real and the person, no, thing, beside her was some sort of half-human half-animal. “What are you, exactly?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? I’m a fox demon.”

“That explains your demonic attitude.”

He forced a laugh. “Ha ha. Aren’t you clever.”

“Do you have a name?”

“Of course I have a name. What do you think we are? Savages?”

“Excuse me for not being up to date on proper demon etiquette. What, is there an entire colony of you here I don’t know about?”

He sighed. “I’m the only one here.”

There was a hint of sadness in his voice. A bud of guilt formed in her belly. “Where do you come from?”

“The spirit realm. It coexists with your realm, but it can only be entered through certain points. When my powers were sealed I was forced to live life as a normal human and couldn’t enter the gates.”

No wonder he refuses to change out of that fox hybrid form. “Maybe someone in the spirit realm can help us.”

“Nope. Humans are forbidden to enter. If I entered with you in tow I would be sentenced to death.”

She grimaced. “Well, sorry… what is your name?”

“Ken.”

She snorted. “Like Barbie and Ken?”

He glared. “Like Kenishiro. People pronounce Ken better than Kenishiro.”

“Kenishiro,” she repeated. “It seems simple enough. Want me to call you Kenishiro?”

“No.”

“Don’t you want to hear your full name once in a while?”

“Not from you.”

She raised her brows and exhaled through a terse smile. “If we’re going to be stuck together for a while, I’d like us to be civil.”

“I’m not planning on being together long enough for it to matter.”

She sighed and said nothing else until they got to her apartment. Once inside, she placed the books on her living room table. He glanced around the apartment with an apprehensive gaze. “It’s small.”

“It’s big enough for me.”

“I don’t think I can survive in this place.”

She glared. “I’m not going to your place.”

He sat on the couch and picked up a book. “I guess it won’t matter if I break the seal today.”

She turned on her laptop and started surfing the internet for research of her own. Of course, everything she pulled up was fantasy. She peeked over the screen at him. His movements held a refined grace. Even when doing something as minute as turning pages he seemed regal.

But his ears were the cutest. They begged to be scratched and rubbed like a puppy. I wonder if his tail would wag, too. She giggled at the thought.

He slammed the book shut. “What’s so funny?”

She huddled behind her screen. “Nothing.”

“I saw you staring at me.”

She cleared her throat. “It’s getting around dinnertime. What do you want to eat?”

“Steak and vodka.”

“That’s…something I definitely don’t have here.”

He gestured to the pile of books on the table. “I’m doing hard work. I think you should get me what I want.”

He has a point, but steak and vodka are expensive. “How about I make us something?”

“Is it a nice rare steak?”

“Well, no. I guess the closest thing I have to that is a veggie burger.”

His face twisted to horror. “A veggie burger? Are you serious?”

She shrugged. “I don’t eat meat. I’m a pescetarian, so I eat fish, but no other meat.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason why fish get a pass?”

She shrugged. “I was raised that way and the idea of eating other meats make me gag.”

“I can’t believe people like you exist. There is nothing better than steak and vodka.”

She restrained a sigh. “Right. So do you know where to find steak and vodka?”

“There’s a steakhouse about five blocks from here.”

“You’re not going to the restaurant like that, are you?”

He sighed and in a blink of an eye he returned to the dark haired shopkeeper. “Happy?”

She nodded. “I don’t want to cause a fuss.”

“Of course you don’t. I should change back to spite you.”

“I don’t think a restaurant is going to accept a costumed weirdo.”

He rolled his eyes. “Let’s go.”

She kept a pace several steps behind him. After a block, he stopped. “Quit doing that. I feel like you’re stalking me.” He held out his hand. She stared at it as though it would burn her if she touched it. He jutted his hand out to her. “Quit wasting time.” She put her hand in his and he jerked her forward to him. “You’re not a virgin, right?”

“Of course I’m not.”

“You’re single though.”

She rolled her eyes. “What gave that away?”

He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “It would serve you well to be more feminine.”

She pushed him away. “Shut up.”

He chuckled. “I suppose you’ll pass as my date tonight.”

“Quit acting like you have a choice. And this isn’t a date. It’s payment for services.”

He snorted into a laugh. “Services, eh?” As the realization of her words came to her, heat rushed to her face. He squeezed her hand. “Like that.”

She looked down and tried to calm herself. Like it or not, holding his hand made her nervous. He was rather sexy, after all, even if his personality was foul. This entire situation would make for a funny story once it was all over. If anyone would believe her. She still didn’t believe it herself. All she could do was roll with everything and hope it ended soon.

In a split second she was in his arms, breathing in his musky scent. She pushed him away. “What the hell?”

He glared down at her and pointed to a street light. “What are you doing? You almost walked into that.”

She bit her lip. “Sorry. I was thinking.”

“Dim-witted idiot.”

“Shut up. This is pretty overwhelming.” His lips thinned to a straight line, but he said nothing. He put his arm around her shoulder and started walking again. “S-Stop!”

She tried to stop, but he pulled her along. “Go ahead and think. You’ll be quiet and I’ll make sure you don’t bump your head. You’re already ugly enough as it is.”

“Quit acting like you’re hot stuff.”

He smiled. “Is that what you think?”

Sure, his glossy black hair and beautiful almond eyes were intoxicating. And he smelled nice. And he had the grace of a prince. And though he had a slender frame, when he held her for that brief moment she could sense a silent strength from him. But there was only so much a woman could put up with. “You’re not sexy at all.”

He chuckled. “So now I’m sexy, am I? Who knows, if I get drunk enough tonight I may even find you attractive.”

She scowled. “You’re getting one drink. One. If you’re drunk you can’t read and I want this seal broken tonight.”

“You’re not a fun flirt, either.”

How are all these insults considered flirting? He stopped in front of a restaurant entitled Nat and Al’s Steakhouse. She peered inside through the window. The interior looked fancy. White tablecloths, leather chairs, dim lighting, and elaborate flower centerpieces. She bit her lip. This is going to cost a pretty penny.

He led her inside by the small of her back. The hostess smiled as he entered. “Welcome back, Ken. The usual?”

He nodded to her. “Get me someplace quiet. Is Leona working tonight?”

“She is. Would you like her to serve you?”

“If at all possible.”

“I will find her for you.” She picked up two menus and led them through the maze of tables to a booth in the corner. “Quiet enough?”

He flashed her a playboy smile. “Perfect.”

She opened the menu and skimmed through. “This is a steak and seafood restaurant?”

“Is it now?”

She chewed the inside of her cheek. Did he want to eat here because I would be able to find something? Or is this just a coincidence?

He closed the menu. “What does the girl with no taste desire?”

Column B. That’s what I get for thinking he’s a decent person. She ran her finger down the list of prices. Every entrée cost at least twenty-five dollars a plate. She sighed. “I guess the mahi-mahi.”

“Picked the cheapest item on the menu, did you? I’ll pay for this meal, so get yourself something decent.”

“Really?”

He glared. “I’m a man. Do you honestly think I’ll let a woman pay for me?”

“Then, I guess I’ll get the sea scallops.”

He nodded. “That’s better. Even I can agree with that choice.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m so glad I have the approval of the fox demon. I feel so blessed.”

He kicked her under the table. “Don’t say that aloud here.”

“Hey, Ken. It’s been awhile. I missed you!”

“Ah, Leona. What a breath of fresh air.” He stood and embraced the waitress. Sophia grimaced. Leona looked like she stepped off the runway. She was tall, had a beautifully slender body, and long hair with the waves women died for. No wonder he calls me ugly. Compared to a girl like that I may as well be trash.

Leona broke their embrace and noticed her sitting there. She gasped and put her hands over her mouth. “I’m sorry! Ken and I have been friends a long time. He usually doesn’t bring a date.”

She put on a false smile. “It’s okay. I’m his friend, too.”

Ken laughed. “She’s such a tease. She’s my date tonight.”

She gasped and gave her a big smile. “Ken doesn’t have many dates. You must be a special girl.”

Sophia raised her brows. “Something like that, I suppose.”

Ken nodded. “She’s special, I’ll give you that.”

Leona giggled. “I guess you’re getting the usual to drink?”

“Exactly.”

“And you?”

“I’ll just have a glass of water.”

Ken reached up and grabbed Leona’s forearm. “Wait a second.” He glared at her. “I’m not drinking alone.”

“I don’t usually drink and I have low tolerance.”

“Get her a monkey’s lunch.”

Leona smiled. “I’ll have those right out.”

Sophia wrinkled her nose. “Monkey’s lunch?”

“To go along with your monkey face.”

“Hey!”

He burst into laughter. “You’re actually making a cute face for once.”

She pouted. “Geez. I know I’m not a model, but you don’t have to be that mean.”

He smiled. “Finally realize your place in the world?”

She sank into the seat. “Whatever.”

“No smart remark?”

She rested her chin on her palm. “Do you have any idea how to get rid of the seal?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s a simple seal.”

“Why were you sealed in the first place?”

He scratched his head. “That’s a long story. To put it shortly, I was an immature little pup and did some bad things.”

“Where were you born?”

“The spirit realm, of course.”

“Oh. I guess, you look Asian, and your name is Asian, so I thought…”

“When I first came into your realm, I ended up in Asia, yes. I crafted my human form after them.”

“Crafted?”

“Fox demons can imitate any form we please. But it takes a lot of time and effort to make it completely convincing to the human eye. So most of us create one form and stick to it.”

She tapped her cheekbone. “So the man I’m looking at now lived hundreds of years ago?”

“No. I simply took features of others I found aesthetically pleasing and combined them into a form befitting a god.”

I don’t know about a god, but he sure has a god sized ego. “I see.”

Leona brought back their drinks. “Do you know what you’re going to order?”

“I’ll have the usual and she’ll have the sea scallops.”

“Okay! I’ll go put these in and leave you two alone.” She winked and walked away.

She sniffed the drink. It smells like bananas. She took a sip. It tasted like banana flavored milk. She arched an eyebrow. It’s not that bad. She took another sip and set it down.

Ken smiled. “You liked it.”

“Maybe.”

He chuckled. “Can’t give me the victory, can you?” He took a long sip of his drink. “There is nothing better than vodka.”

Less than a minute passed before he finished the glass and Leona brought another. Sophia arched an eyebrow. “I said only one drink.”

He rolled his eyes. “Unlike you, weakling human, I have a strong tolerance to alcohol. I’m going to celebrate the return of my powers and you’re going to do nothing to stop me, understand?”

“If you get drunk I’m leaving you.”

He laughed. “I’d like to see you try.”

* * * *

“Three hundred and fifty-six dollars,” Sophia whispered in muted horror. The meal itself cost only fifty of that. The rest were his endless supply of vodka drinks. He wasn’t kidding when he said he had alcohol tolerance. He barely looked buzzed and he drank enough to kill ten men. I guess his demon blood makes him more tolerant to alcohol.

He tapped the leather billfold. “Let me see the bill.” He saw the total and whistled. “You really know how to treat a man.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’re paying.”

She slammed her hands on the table. “What do you mean, I’m paying? What happened to I’m a man. I’m not letting a woman pay for me.”

He arched an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like something I’d say. It’s the twenty-second century. Women can treat their dates to a nice dinner.”

Her hands trembled with her rage. “I am not paying for this!”

Leona came by the table. “Is there a problem?”

He shook his head. “Nothing at all.” He nodded to the bill. “Are you going to give Gorgeous the money?”

She took a deep breath. You can’t make a scene here, Sophia. Just think of it as the price you have to pay to get this jerk out of your life. She pulled out her credit card and handed it to Leona. Leona smiled and left to the register.

“When we get home, you’re not going to bed until you figure out how to undo this seal. I don’t want to be with you a second longer than I have to be.”

He groaned and rubbed his temple. “You’re such an uptight girl. Don’t you know how to have fun?”

“And you’re an asshole!”

He chuckled. “You’re sweet, sometimes.”

Is he drunk? Does he only look sober? She glanced at the direction Leona went off to. The sooner they were out of the restaurant the better.

* * * *

The second they walked into her apartment, she made a beeline for the table and grabbed the biggest book in the stack. She pushed it into his chest and walked to her bedroom. She pointed to the floor. “You. Sit there and read this while I sleep. I have to work tomorrow. I expect to be unbound by the morning.”

The distance from where he stood to her closet caused a mild discomfort, but she ignored it and pulled out her sleepwear. She walked to her bathroom, where the mild discomfort grew to an ache. She flew through the basics of hygiene and walked back to the bed. He smiled at her. “Couldn’t you wear something sexier to bed?”

She glared. “Read.”

He shrugged. “I know a better way to do this. Take off your clothes.”

“What!”

He started unbuttoning his shirt. “The easiest way to find the seal is to inspect your body.”

“But why are you taking off your clothes?”

He arched an eyebrow. “I’m getting ready for bed.” He folded his shirt and took off his pants and underwear.

She covered her eyes. “I’m not going to have sex with you!”

He laughed. “I sleep naked.”

“N-not in here!”

“It’s not like that body of yours is sexy enough to get me excited. Now take off your clothes and I’ll search for the seal.”

“I refuse.”

He sighed. “Look, it’s either this or we’re stuck together another day. Come on, let’s give it a shot.”

“Do it with my clothes on, then.”

“How am I supposed to see the seal through your clothes? Idiot.”

“Shut up!” Tears threatened to fall. She turned away from him and wiped her eyes. Suddenly she felt warm arms around her midsection and a face nuzzling her neck.

“You smell nice,” he whispered. “And your hair is soft.”

“Let me go!”

He sighed and in a puff of white smoke, he disappeared and a baby fox with three tails appeared in its place. She blinked. That’s actually…pretty cute!

“Oh, so you’re not opposed to this form?”

She clutched her head. “What are you doing to me?”

“Talking to you. Now lay down and let me smell you.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Smell me?”

Fox Ken jumped on the bed. “You won’t let me touch you, so at least let me try to smell it on you.”

“Can you do that?”

“When there’s magic on someone their scent changes.”

“I see. I guess that’s okay, since you’re not touching me.”

She could have sworn she saw the fox roll its eyes, but she laid down and hoped for the best. Fox Ken’s cold nose made her giggle. He barked at her and continued sniffing every inch of her. When his nose neared her crotch, she pushed him away. “It’s not there and you know it.”

“You never know.”

“Will you stop! I don’t want you to smell that!”

“You shouldn’t be ashamed. The smell of a woman is a very erotic thing.”

“Stop!”

“You’re not fun to tease at all.” He continued down her legs and feet. He paced around her body for a moment and in a puff, turned back into his hybrid form. “I can’t smell it on you.” He ran a hand through his hair. “We may have to be together for another day.”

“I work tomorrow.”

He shrugged. “Call in.”

“I can’t call in! I have bills to pay, a trip to save for, and I just spent three hundred and fifty dollars on a dinner I didn’t even enjoy!”

He rubbed his ears. “Don’t yell so loud. My hearing is better than a human’s and you’re louder than a banshee.”

“Shut up!” His tail flicked behind him. He picked up the book then laid next to her. She nudged him. “What are you doing?”

“Reading. Go to bed.”

“You’re not sleeping next to me.”

“I told you, that body of yours doesn’t excite me in the slightest. I’m going to read and you’re going to bed.”

She huffed and pulled the blanket over her head. I’m going to wake up soon and this is all going to be a bad dream.

2: Chapter Two

 

Sophia rubbed her eyes and groaned. My chest feels warm. She glanced down and saw a black spot peeking through the covers. She threw them off. Nestled between her breasts was a little red fox with three tails. She screamed and threw him off her. As he flew in the air, he changed into his hybrid form.

His ears flattened against his head and his tail stood on end. “What are you doing?”

“Who told you it was okay to sleep there?”

Ken groaned. “I was tired, and what can I say? Your fat belly and breasts are comfortable. You need a new bed. I don’t know how you sleep on it.”

“I’m not fat!”

He arched an eyebrow.

Sure, my belly isn’t flat, but it’s not like I have a huge belly or anything. I mean, I think I’m pretty normal. Well, I could stand to lose a few pounds. I’m chubby, but I’m not obese. Not nearly enough to be called fat like that, anyway.

He laughed. “You’re thinking that you’re normal, aren’t you?”

“Be quiet.”

“I knew it.”

She crossed her arms. “Did you find out how to break the seal?”

“Nope.”

“What do you mean, no? I thought it was simple.”

“I thought wrong. I can’t find any mention of it in these books. I’ll need to go back to the shop and look through the rest of my archives.”

“I have to work today.”

He sighed. “Are we going to go through this again?”

“It’s going to end the same as yesterday.”

“You bull-headed brat. Do you want to break the seal or not? How are you going to work if we can’t be apart?”

She sank into the bed. “I’ve never missed a day of work.”

“Good. Then it won’t count against you that much.”

She chewed the inside of her cheek. Acting irresponsible in regards to her job went against everything she’d ever been taught. The bed creaked as he sat next to her and bopped her head. She batted his hand away.

“Are you that upset about missing work? What do you do that’s so much fun?”

“I’m a guide at the History Archives.”

“Is that so? You enjoy history, I take it?”

She nodded. “I love my job.” She felt her hair being rustled. She leaned away from his hand.

“Hate to say it, but you’re impressing me.”

“I don’t care if I impress you or not.”

He chuckled. “I guess I’ll be a tour guide for a day, too.”

She brought her knees up and huddled into them. “What am I going to say to them?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll use a little persuasion.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Persuasion?”

“Most of those from the spirit realm have the ability to influence thoughts. Not so much as control the mind, more like a hyper developed sense of persuasion. All I have to do is tell them I’m your trainee and our problem is solved.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Then why haven’t you used it on me?”

“I’ve tried. I can’t. The seal must make you immune to it.”

“Lucky me.” She jumped off the bed. “I’m going to get ready for work now.” She felt his gaze upon her back as she went through her closet and gathered her clothes for the day. When she reached the bathroom, she stopped him at the doorway. “You’re not going in there.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

He sat outside the door. “Hurry up.”

She shut the door and locked it for good measure. I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. I can only hope this persuasion power of his is worth something.

 

When they entered together, as expected, Lee Ann greeted her first. They were always early, so they tended to get along. Sophia gestured to Ken and said, “This is Ken. He’s my trainee for the next couple of weeks.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Lee Ann gushed, “Oh wow, I didn’t know they hired someone new! What will you be doing?”

Ken took her hand and gave it a firm shake. “I’ll be covering wherever’s needed.”

Nice save. “I’m going to be doing Egypt today, right?”

“Yeap. What parts of history do you like, Ken?”

“I prefer ancient Asian history the most.”

I guess since he lived through it. And I can’t believe that I can think something like that without batting an eyelash.

“Oh, what part of Asia are you from?” Lee Ann asked.

“I was born in Japan, but I grew up in Korea.”

Her eyebrows arched. “Wow. That must have been hard.”

He shook his head. “Not really. I went over to Korea long before relations were bad.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Umm, okay.”

Sophia reached over and pinched the back of his arm. You dummy! They’ve had bad relations my entire life and we look the same age! He calmly turned to her and gave her a look that would make a child burst into tears. She put on a huge smile. “Come on, Ken, there’s a lot I need to show you before we open to the public.”

“We should all have lunch together and get to know each other.”

“Good idea,” Sophia agreed and pulled Ken away to the Egypt exhibit. “You almost blew it back there.”

“We did fine. You were the one acting strange.”

She rubbed her temple. “I don’t think I can handle this. I should have called in sick.”

“I tried to tell you.”

“Shut up.” She sighed and gestured for him to follow. “Follow me and I’ll explain everything we talk about.” As she went over the tour, she found him quiet. Oddly quiet. It created a sense of unease about the upcoming day. Even though she only knew him for less than a day, one thing was certain about the fox – he was never quiet.

“Okay, we’re starting the first tour of the day. Just follow my lead, okay?”

“Easy enough.”

She smiled and went through her script with ease. As they approached the replica of the pyramids, a child asked how they moved the blocks. She replied, “They haven’t quite figured it out yet.”

“Actually, it’s rather simple. See these drawings right here?” Ken pointed to a hieroglyphic of a man with an urn pouring water, and several men pushing a block. “The water creates a slide for the blocks. But it’s an art to getting the ratio correct. Too much and the sand becomes muddied and the blocks sink. Too little and the blocks won’t move at all.”

The kid gasped. “Oh! You can read the pictures, mister?”

He chuckled. “Something like that.”

I don’t like where this is heading. She led them to the next exhibit. Halfway into her explanation, Ken cut in with his own. It happened several more times until she gave up and let him lead the tour. By the end her head throbbed with a headache. She walked into the break room and rested her head on the plastic table.

“I can see why you love your job,” Ken said as he sat next to her.

“You can’t tell them your lies.”

“Lies? I lived through it.”

She sighed. “Why aren’t you a historian, then?”

“Why chronicle life when you can live it?”

She arched an eyebrow. “But you own an antique store.”

“I searched for the item that held the seal for centuries. The antique store brought opportunities.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“Of course it does. I thought of it.”

“How do you have room for thoughts with an ego that big?”

He bopped her head. “What’s that supposed to mean? Idiot.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait until this is over.”

“Trust me, you’re not the only one. If you were even halfway cute your sour attitude would be tolerable.”

“Excuse me for not being a model like your waitress yesterday.”

“Leona? Yeah, she’s pretty nice to look at. She always smells like cigarette smoke though. Disgusting.”

Come to think, he commented on my smell yesterday, too. “You notice smells a lot, don’t you?”

He looked away. “So what if I do? I’m a fox, after all.”

She laughed. “I guess you’re an animal at heart.”

He glared. “I’m a powerful demon. Don’t you forget it.”

“Yeah, powerful enough to be sealed for hundreds of years.”

In a split second he transformed into his hybrid mode. She gasped and immediately put her hands over his ears. “What if someone sees those?” He cried out, a rather odd sounding cry, deep and airy. Her eyebrows arched. Wait, did he like that? She scratched them. His face instantly turned crimson. She giggled. “You’re like a puppy!”

He grabbed her hands. “Stop!”

She continued wiggling her fingers. “I wonder if your tail will wag, too?”

He wrenched her fingers away from him. “Those aren’t something you can touch willy-nilly.”

“Why not?”

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her onto his lap. She gasped when she felt a familiar firmness between her legs. As she tried to wiggle away, he held her tight. “Do you understand,” he whispered in her ear. “Are you going to accept responsibility for it?”

“W-what’s going on?”

“My ears are sensitive, you idiot.”

She swallowed. “I can’t take responsibility for that. I didn’t know.”

“Then as punishment we’re going to my shop after this is over.”

That’s surprisingly a simple punishment. She nodded in agreement. He turned back into his human form. She crawled off his lap. “Are you hungry? We don’t have steak and vodka, but you can get a pizza or something from the cafeteria.”

He sighed. “I’d rather not eat than eat some substandard sludge.”

She rubbed her temple. “Well, I’m hungry, and I forgot to pack a lunch because of the chaos this morning.”

“Whatever. Let’s get going.”

He’s so moody. The cafeteria was a bit expensive, and normally she would have skipped the meal, but the stress made her feel weak and skipping a meal in this state wouldn’t be wise. “I’ll have a veggie pizza.”

“And you?” the clerk asked.

“I won’t get anything.”

She rolled her eyes. “Go ahead and order a slice. I’m not going to eat while you starve.”

“Then I’ll have all the meats.”

The clerk glanced at both of them for a moment before turning around to make their order. Ken chuckled and put his arm over her shoulder. “She just looked at us wondering how we’re a couple.”

“You’re my trainee here, not my boyfriend.”

“Even if I’m in training, how are you going to explain us never being apart? You should always go for the simplest explanation first.”

“If we were a couple, you should at least pay for a meal or two. Especially if you’re going to run up a tab.”

He rustled her hair. She growled and smoothed her hair down. “When I go back to the spirit realm, you can have my shop and anything else I own. I’m not going to have any use of it, anyway.”

All the items in the shop? That vase alone was worth a thousand dollars! I can go to Europe for a year if I sold everything in there, I bet!

He bopped her head. “Quit wearing that weird smile on your face. It’s creepy.”

She slapped his arm. “Shut up.”

The clerk cleared her throat. “The pizzas are ready.”

After paying for their meal they sat at a small table together. He wrinkled his nose as she took a bite. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know how someone can’t eat meat.”

“You don’t eat your vegetables, do you?”

“Why? All I need is meat. I’m a fox, after all.”

“You should try new things. Here, have a bite.” She ripped off a piece and held it out to him. His eyes flickered from her hand to her face. She thrust it forward. He lifted up her hand and brought it to his mouth.

Her body froze into place. Not even her previous boyfriends did something like that.

Something in her expression made him laugh. “Food does taste better coming from a woman’s hand, even if the woman isn’t high quality.”

“I didn’t say to eat it from my hand!”

He shrugged. “I bet you’ve never had a man do that. I bet all of your boyfriends were boring men who don’t know anything about pleasing a woman.”

“Eating from my hand has nothing to do with that.”

“Does it?” He reached over and took her hand. His long, slender fingers stroked hers. His delicate touch betrayed his brutish attitude. Cool tingles flowed up her arm. He intertwined their fingers together. Smooth fingertips stroked her wrist. The sensations funning through her felt good, much to her horror. His haunting black eyes drew her in. Their foreheads touched.

“See?” he whispered. “You’re a woman who’s never had a man’s touch.”

Heat rushed to her face. She leaned back in her chair. Ken didn’t laugh aloud, but his eyes told her he found her embarrassment amusing. Only when his hand squeezed hers did she realize she hadn’t let go. She jerked her hand away from his as though he were a hot iron.

He continued eating like nothing happened. She ate, but the food lacked any taste. She tried to force herself to act normal for the sake of her pride, but even minutes later her heart beat quickly. He was right. The ripples of his gesture turned to waves inside her. Her skin burned under his gaze, but he surprisingly said nothing and ate quietly. He seemed the type to badger her and gloat in his victory.

She checked her watch as she swallowed the last bite. “It’s about time to get back to work.”

“I’ve remembered some great stories.”

“That’s unnecessary.”

“It’s more interesting than reciting facts like a robot. People remember stories, not dates or trivia.”

She crossed her arms. “You’re my trainee. You follow my rules.”

“You should stop being stubborn and accept my way of doing things. A little change never harmed anyone.”

“You need to mind your own business.”

His eyebrows raised and he exhaled. “You were so cute earlier.”

“Just let me do my job.”

He held up his arms in apparent surrender. When she started walking away, he trailed behind her instead of walking at her side as he usually did. When they started the tour, true to his word, he didn’t interrupt her. At first. By the third tour he told stories of his alternate history. Granted, most of his stories didn’t outright clash with the facts. And worse, she didn’t want to argue it. How many historians wished for a glimpse of what truly was in the past? Even she wished to travel back in time and hear stories directly from the source at one point. When their shift ended, she almost felt disappointed she wouldn’t hear more.

As they walked back to his shop, she asked, “Did you actually live through that?”

He nodded. “Technically, at the time, I was still in what’s modernly known as Korea. I didn’t travel to that area until about a generation after the fall of the empire. But that’s not too far removed from recent history.”

“Where else have you lived?”

“All of Eurasia and the surrounding islands. I’ve been in America the past century.”

“Looking for that plate the entire time?”

“Not the entire time. At one point I embraced my fate and genuinely enjoyed life. It wasn’t until two centuries ago that I began the search again.”

“What would have happened had I not brought it in?”

“I would still be looking, I suppose. My focus shifted to researching methods to try and brute force the seal off. It worked in our favor at the end. I have a wealth of material to search through for information on our binding seal.”

“Why did you decide to start searching if you accepted your fate?”

He glanced at her and gave her a wry smile. “You’re awfully inquisitive, aren’t you?”

He dodged that question. That makes me wonder why he decided to start searching even more.

He unlocked the door to the antique shop and held it open for her. “I’m going to read through the books. You can make yourself busy.”

Being that she could only go so far without causing herself pain, she only had a small area to explore. To the right of the desk he had an array of tea items, from pots to cups to stoves to items she wasn’t quite sure what they were used for, but being that they were next to the other tea items she could only assume they were used for tea.

On the other side of the desk there was an armoire with clothing. It ranged from ancient Asian to ancient European. Most were men’s clothing, though there were a few women’s items. She picked up a Korean traditional dress and held it up to her body. People back then were so tiny! This would probably have fit me when I was twelve. Still, one detail stuck out. She walked over to his desk, where he flipped through pages of a thick leather bound book.

“Are all these your items?”

“Stuff I’ve collected over time, yes,” he replied while turning a page.

Some of this stuff is hundreds of years old. He’s surprisingly sentimental. “Then, you like tea?”

“I do.”

She almost asked if he wanted her to bring him a cup, but then she remembered their binding. She sat down next to him. He glanced at her before returning to reading the books.

Even if that was a form made up of features he liked, it was strikingly handsome. His fox ears on top of his head made him seem boyish and adorable. Touching them was another story, however.

Maybe he wasn’t that bad. Sure, he was a little moody, but it’s not like she wasn’t either. Their situation didn’t lend itself to civility. There you go, making excuses because you think he looks cute. She rested her head on the desk. Living centuries must be lonely, though. Everyone you care for will die.

* * * *

“Wake up!”

Sophia groaned and rubbed her eyes. “Ken? What’s going on?”

“I found it. All we have to do is induce a state of high emotion.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“According to this passage, if you reach a state of emotional climax, it should be enough to break the bind between us.”

“So how do we do that?”

He stroked his chin. “Sexual intercourse.”

“What? No! An emotional climax doesn’t equal a physical climax!”

He shrugged. “Why wouldn’t it? It’s the easiest way. After all, you were plenty mad at me after dinner last night and nothing changed. The chances of you being extraordinarily happy or sad are slim. In this way, we get to have a little fun while we dissolve the bind.”

I take back everything nice I thought about him. “Find another way.”

He sighed. “Who doesn’t enjoy a good orgasm?”

She gritted her teeth. “Obviously me.”

He chuckled. “You’re a stubborn girl. I’ll enjoy breaking down those walls of yours.”

“You’re not going to ever have sex with me.”

“Fox demons are known for being good lovers.”

“Shut up.”

He smiled and cupped her chin. “After all, didn’t you enjoy the glimpse I gave you this afternoon?” Heat rushed to her face as she slapped his hand away. He laughed and picked up the book. “Shall we go home?” His sudden change of attitude stunned her to silence. He gave her a grin portraying his demonic origins. “You want to stay here? A little kinky for a first coupling, but I’ll work with it.”

“Stop teasing me.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist. “At first, I thought you were a little too fat for me. But I’ve been watching you all day, and there’s something about the lewd way you fill your clothes that’s intoxicating. I’m looking forward to inducing this high emotional state in you.”

She pushed his arm off her shoulder. “Let’s go home. There’s bound to be something else in that book.”

He sighed. “You’re probably the first girl that rejected me outright.”

“You must only go for stupid girls.”

“Or maybe you’re the first one that has bad taste.”

“Or maybe I’m the first one that has self respect.”

“There’s nothing wrong with giving into your base desires. Besides, this is about breaking a seal, not about love, or purity, or any other thing you’ve attached to the act.”

I know that, but… it’s still important to me. I don’t want to be a one night stand. I don’t want to be another link in his chain of lovers.

“Think about it while we walk back home.”

As Sophia stepped inside her apartment, her stomach growled. Ken smiled. “Shall we go out for steak and vodka?”

She glared. “You blew through your steak and vodka fund for the next five hundred years.”

“What are you making for dinner?”

“I have some lentil soup leftover in the fridge. There’s enough for the both of us.”

“No meat?”

“No meat.”

He sighed. “I’m a man, you know. I need meat to survive.”

“I thought you were a fox demon?”

“You know what I meant.”

“Just give it a try. You liked the pizza earlier, right?”

His ears flattened against his head and he looked down. “I was humoring you then.”

“So humor me another time.”

“Fine. But you’re going to owe me something for it.”

“If it has anything to do with that emotional state thing, I’m going to pass. You don’t have to eat it.”

As she walked to the kitchen, the pulsating pain throbbed through her body. She clenched her fists and continued walking through the pain. When she started seeing flashes of white and couldn’t take another step forward without feeling like death awaited, she turned around and ran back to him. They collided in a loud thud. She crashed onto the floor, but felt like she landed on a pillow, not the hard tile floor. She looked down and saw his face contorted in pain. She gasped and tried to roll off him, but he wrapped his arms and tail around her.

“Stubborn idiot.”

She thrashed her body.

He reinforced his hold. “Don’t make me handcuff us together.”

“You didn’t follow me.”

“You ran back to me.”

“You were running to me.”

They held their mutual glare until both dissolved into a fit of laughter. He helped her up and walked beside her to the kitchen. “I’ll try this soup of yours.”

“Without tricks?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m so tired I’ll eat anything to regain my strength.”

She smiled. “Good boy. You’ll like it.”

He glared. “Hey, what’s with the good boy?”

“Well, you have ears and a tail.”

His tail twitched. “I’m a fox, not a domesticated idiot beast!”

She ignored him and prepared the soup. When she set it on the table, he gave it a stink eye akin to a child with broccoli. She sat across from him and started eating. He lifted up a spoonful and sniffed it. She almost prodded him to eat it, but stopped herself. If she told him to do it, he probably wouldn’t. If she let him try it himself, he may end up liking it.

He blew on the spoon a bit, then lapped a bit of it with the tip of his tongue. He smacked his mouth a few times, then put the rest of the spoonful in his mouth. After that spoonful came another, and another, in rapid succession. She giggled.

“Don’t be too happy. I’m just hungry. It’s not that good.”

“You’re eating awfully fast for someone who thinks it’s not very good.” His ears flattened against his head. He continued eating without a reply. She smiled to herself and continued eating. When she heard sounds of his spoon scraping his bowl, she couldn’t hold in her laughter. “I knew you liked it!”

“Don’t get full of yourself. It’s not steak and vodka.”

She picked up his bowl. “Well, I have some leftover still, but I guess you’re full?”

“You should know a man needs more than one serving of that to feel sated.”

She giggled softly as she refilled his bowl. For the first time, she felt like she understood how he thought. He never liked to outright say his feelings, but his actions spoke more than enough for him.

She set the bowl down on the table and picked her empty bowl up to wash it. As she finished the pot she reheated the soup in, he came by to put his bowl in. He stood off to the side. She grabbed a washcloth and handed it to him. He began drying the dishes. As they worked in silence, a sinking feeling developed in her stomach.

The only clue they had to breaking the bind was invoking that emotional state. Though he was handsome, and really any hot-blooded girl would want to sleep with him, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. He was still essentially a stranger. I don’t think I can ask him to take it like we’re dating. He seems impatient enough as it is. He’ll probably laugh at the suggestion.

“I want to take a shower,” Ken said as he finished drying the last bowl.

“I guess we can do it like we did this morning.”

He arched an eyebrow. “I’m not going to sit outside your bathroom wet.”

She frowned. “But taking one together is a bit…”

“I promise I won’t force you into anything.”

She mulled over it. “It’s a small shower though. Our bodies will have to touch.”

“I’m not a teenage boy that gets aroused at the mere sight of a woman.”

That was true. Aside from her mistake at lunch, he never made any unwanted advances. “I’ll give you a chance, I guess.”

He smiled. “Come on, then. I didn’t get a shower this morning and I feel horrible.”

The closer they got to the bathroom, the faster her heart beat. This felt even more intimate than sexual intercourse. When they got inside, he stripped and turned on the water, completely ignoring her. He even stepped inside first. She breathed a sigh of relief and finished stripping. She could trust him.

When she stepped inside, his back was to her and he lathered his entire body. He changed back into his human form. She wanted to look away, but watching the soap travel down his slender, yet muscular frame was quite arousing. As he washed his hair, the muscles of his back flexed. She stood less than five centimeters away from him. She swallowed. I’m not gawking at him. This is such a small space that I’m forced to look at it.

His skin seemed pale against her own. She inherited her Mother’s skin tone, the rich golden brown of the Mediterranean. Her dark curly hair and high cheekbones were also a gift from her. She never knew her Father. He died in war while she was still a baby. But looking at the few photos she had of him, she knew her nose and eyes came from him.

When he turned around, he smiled once his eyes met hers. She covered herself. He grabbed her shoulders and slowly maneuvered their bodies around. As her nipples grazed his chest a shiver of excitement ran through her. She held her breath and quickly turned around so he wouldn’t see her embarrassment.

Her back burned with his gaze but she could hardly protest after gazing at him. She hurried through the motions to get it over with. But when she turned around, he had changed back to his fox form. His golden eyes froze her into place. He looked hauntingly sexy. He cupped her chin and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

He kissed her. She returned his kiss. As he embraced her, their slick bodies rubbed against each other. She moaned as their tongues tangled. He broke them apart and they stared at each other. He caressed her cheek. “You look beautiful like this.”

Her heart stopped.

He gave her a chaste kiss. “At first, I wanted to goad you into sex. But I can’t do it. It would be wrong to tarnish this beauty.”

W-w-what’s going on? He’s never this honest.

“Let me just kiss you tonight.”

She nodded before she realized what she was doing. His kiss held the tenderness of a lover. He stroked her hair as he kissed. Passion simmered beneath the surface of his gentleness, but he never seemed to let it overflow. She found herself relaxing into his pace and enjoyed exploring his mouth.

His hands ran down her body, rubbing her and pressing her against his. Her arousal flared in her core. As it built up, she found herself taking initiative, nibbling his lips, trying to goad him into doing more. Yet he took all her frustration and fed it back to her in a sweetness that cooled her heated heart.

The water ran cold. She reached behind her and turned off the water. She stared into his golden eyes. She drowned in him. He pulled her to his chest. “Don’t look at me like that.” His hoarse voice sent a shiver of desire through her. “I promised you I wasn’t going to do anything.”

She felt his lips on her forehead. He stepped outside. She leaned against the cold tiles and caught her breath. He opened the shower door and threw a towel over her head. She pulled it off and stepped outside. Through the steam fogged mirror she saw something strange. She looked down at her body. It sparkled as though she were made of stars. “What the hell?”

He patted her head. “That’s part of the seal peeking through.”

Was he right? Sexual intercourse is the key to breaking the seal?

He wrapped a towel around his waist. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”

Her brow wrinkled. I thought for sure he’d want to break the seal.

He tugged her hair. “Hey, slowpoke. Hurry up.”

She batted his hand away. “Hold on. I need to put lotion on and fix my hair otherwise I’m going to end up in a frizzy mess in the morning.”

He crossed his arms and sighed in obvious annoyance. “I don’t like that smell.”

She rubbed the lotion on her arms. “What do you mean? I think it smells nice.”

“I like your natural smell more.”

“Well, I like to smell nice.”

“I’m saying you smell nice without it.”

“Um, thanks, I guess.” She wrapped the towel around her body and they walked back to the room. “Do you know how long I’m going to glow like this?”

“I don’t know. It’s probably not permanent, though.”

“What makes you so certain?”

“The seal was hidden until we provoked it a bit. It’s supposed to remain hidden. It didn’t even show whenever we try to separate.”

He had a point. She put on her pajamas and climbed into bed. He changed into the three tailed fox and curled up at her feet. She patted his head. “Good night, Ken.”

He barked a reply and put his head down. She turned off the light and closed her eyes. I have no clue what he’s thinking half the time, but he seems to be a better guy than I first thought.