Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Morning came reluctantly.

Not with the usual sirens of Sovereign traffic or the ambient pulse of penthouse light panels adjusting to his mood.

No, this was softer.

Too soft.

Lux cracked one eye open and stared at a ceiling that definitely wasn't his. It was cream-colored with a glossy finish, ringed by delicate floral molding and an antique chandelier. Everything smelled faintly of aged vanilla, roses, and…

Ah.

S*x.

The sheets still held the scent of skin. Of sweat. Of Naomi.

He exhaled, slow.

Delacour mansion. Right. That's where he was.

His body, however, didn't care about geography. It cared about routine. And unfortunately for him, that routine meant he woke up at stupid o'clock every damn day—around 6:45 AM—no matter how late he went to bed, no matter how many realms he traversed, no matter how many empires tried to sue him into nonexistence.

So here he was. Awake.

Annoyingly alive.

Annoyingly… needy.

He turned to his side, propping himself on one arm, the expensive duvet slipping off his bare chest. Beside him, Naomi still slept like a dream draped in golden light. Her hair was a mess across the pillow. Her lips slightly parted. Her shoulders rising in slow, even rhythm.

Still naked. Still flushed. Still wearing the aftermath of last night like perfume.

Lux's mouth curved into a lazy smirk.

She smelled like him.

Like greed and sin and satisfaction. Like victory, sweat, and affection tied in velvet.

He leaned in, nuzzled her shoulder, and whispered against her skin, "Morning, my love…"

She stirred slightly but didn't wake.

That was fine.

He didn't mind watching her for a bit. Half of him wanted to let her sleep. The other half—the demonic, incubus half—was already protesting. Loudly. Predictably.

Because mornings for Lux Vaelthorn demanded two things.

Espresso… or s*x.

And this place didn't have a single espresso machine in the room. Not even a coffee cart. What kind of billionaire household didn't stock caffeine on the bedside?

Unacceptable.

Which meant…

His fingers began to drift, unapologetically.

Down her side. Over her hip. A lazy, reverent stroke that could be passed off as affection—until he reached her breast and let his thumb brush her nipple.

Naomi's eyes fluttered open.

Sleepy.

Then aware.

Then amused.

She blinked up at him and smiled, voice rough and warm as she said, "Morning, my devil…"

Lux grinned down at her. "You sleep well?"

"I did."

"Hmm," he murmured, letting his hand cup her breast more firmly. "You smell like trouble."

"You smell like someone trying to start it."

"I'm not starting," he said as he leaned down to kiss her throat, "I'm continuing."

Their lips met—soft at first, then hungrier, messier. The kind of kiss that said: we don't need words. Just heat. Just now.

Naomi arched slightly against him, her hand rising to thread through his hair. She gave a soft, breathless laugh against his mouth.

"You're always like this in the morning?" she murmured between kisses.

"Only when I wake up in heaven."

"You sure this isn't Hell?"

He pulled back just enough to bite her lower lip, grinning. "Doesn't matter. I've already got what I came for."

Just as he shifted over her—intent, focused, painfully hard—there came a knock.

A very inconvenient knock.

Three sharp raps.

Lux froze mid-motion.

Then came a voice. Male. Cultured. Professional. British-accented, naturally. "Miss Naomi? Pardon the intrusion. Your father wished me to remind you that your meeting begins in one hour. Shall I prepare the car?"

Naomi's eyes went wide.

"Oh no," she gasped, sitting up in a panic, clutching the sheet around her chest like a defeated war general. "Shit. Shit—I forgot the board review."

Lux blinked slowly. "There's a board meeting?"

"Yes. Yes. I told you yesterday."

"No you didn't."

"I did!"

Lux sighed dramatically and flopped backward, staring up at the floral ceiling like it had personally betrayed him. "So. Not even a breakfast for me?"

Naomi, already halfway out of bed, shot him a look as she scrambled toward the wardrobe.

"You mean coffee?"

"I mean s*x."

She laughed, exasperated, while tugging on a silk robe. "You can have your coffee later."

Lux rolled onto his side, propped his head on his hand, and watched her bare legs move in and out of frame as she rummaged through hangers. "Naomi. I am a delicate demonic ecosystem. You can't just remove the intimacy component and expect me to function at peak capacity."

"I'm sorry, Lux," she called over her shoulder, pulling out a crisp navy pantsuit. "But I can't walk into a financial review meeting with my father's advisors smelling like you."

Lux grinned lazily. "You sure? Might raise your intimidation aura by ten percent."

"I can't risk becoming CFO of Lust and Delacour Group in the same week."

She disappeared into the bathroom.

Lux waited exactly three seconds.

Then got up.

Naked. Unapologetic.

He padded toward the bathroom, feet silent against the warm marble floor. Then began to dress up lazily.

The suite's decor was the kind of opulence that screamed respect me, with gold trim around everything and a mirror larger than most people's egos.

He opened the bathroom door.

Naomi squeaked. "Lux!"

She stood at the sink in nothing but her robe, toothbrush in hand, eyes wide.

He leaned against the doorway, completely amused. "Just brushing my teeth."

"You have your own bathroom!"

"I didn't feel like walking that far."

"You're insufferable."

He walked toward her, slowly.

The way a storm might stalk toward a coast.

Dangerously calm.

"You're rushing off to play heiress." His hand brushed her hip. "Leaving your poor demon without proper sustenance."

"Lux…"

He kissed her shoulder.

Then her collarbone.

Then the nape of her neck.

"I'll be back," he murmured against her skin. "For more. Later."

Before she could respond, he stepped back, gave her a wink, and vanished in a soft pulse of shadow and gold light.

[Skill Activated: Teleport]

The bathroom was suddenly quiet again.

Naomi stood frozen in front of the mirror, pulse elevated, cheeks flushed, her robe slightly looser than it had been two minutes ago.

She exhaled sharply.

"He is surely a trouble."

And smiled.

A small, crooked, completely doomed smile.