“Sorry to disappoint, but I don’t know any of those,” I say. “Are they normally knock-knock style or what?”
Celine rolls her eyes. “Please. Like you haven’t heard the rumors about angels.”
“I’m a demon, hot wings—we’re not known for being easy breezy ourselves.”
Her brow furrows, and she pushes a strand of flame-red hair behind one ear. “That nickname...”
“Is perfect?” I lean over and steal a whiff of her scent. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, like a cardamom bun rolled in cinnamon sugar.
“It’s the worst thing I’ve ever been called,” she says frankly. “And I’m a stripper on the Fringes, so that’s saying something.”
I clap my hand over my heart and dip my head in a low, sarcastic bow. “Earning a superlative... on our first day as roommates? I’m honored.”
Her lips twitch, but she pivots before I can watch the smile overtake her face and turn it from merely beautiful to breathtaking.
“I’ve only got one bathroom, unfortunately. You’re on the couch.” Celine looks around her tidy living room, and her shoulders dip. Something tells me she’s imagining my dirty socks wedged between the cushions.
“I’ll do my best not to make a mess,” I assure her, keeping my tone serious. She seems about as uncomfortable with this as I feel when people enter my family’s home.
“Luca is getting settled in the guest room, but we’ll have to head to the club soon.” Her phone vibrates on the kitchencounter, and she turns to glance at the screen. “I need to respond to this,” she says awkwardly.
“You don’t need to worry about me.” I give her my most winning smile. “You’ll know I’m here, but I won’t be any trouble.”
Celine nods crisply, then disappears down the narrow hall, hips swaying as she walks.
Gods, I want to feel her move all that sexy, sensual grace against me. A memory flies into my head of her flawless tits under the stage lights at the Naked Fang. Fuck, she’s perfect.If only?—
Luca steps out of a room halfway down the hall, eyeing me with his steady, suspicious stare. He’s dressed in a ragged tank top with his biceps on display and I have to fight the urge to rile him up for the fun of it. He’s more levelheaded than a lot of the shifters I’m used to, but every so often I see the familiar flash of animal instinct in his eyes. I’m dying to know what he is.
“If you get lonely in the guest room, I’ll be happy to join you,” I say, giving in to the urge to tease him.
Luca snorts, pointing at the door he came through. “Have you seen the size of that bed?”
I shrug, grinning as I check him out. “Who says we have to use the bed?”
“Good gods.” Luca shakes his head, raising his voice to say, “Celine, I’m going to cook something for dinner.”
“Okay.” Her voice is muffled but easy to hear.This is a small apartment for four adults.
“You cook, too?” I lean against the back of Celine’s couch, giving Luca my full attention. It’s fun to rattle him. Even more fun than messing with my brother, but in a very different way.
Ignoring me, he pulls a bowl out of the cabinet and tosses me a menacing glare. “Stop flirting with me or I won’t feed you.”
“Harsh.” I sigh. “But I can accept those terms. Where’s the bathroom?”
Luca’s head is buried in the fridge. “Through Celine’s room,” he says, his hazel eyes peeking over the open door. “Knock first.”
“Obviously.” I shoot him the bird. “What kind of asshole wouldn’t knock?”
I head down the hall before he can respond. The greenish-colored walls are covered with art, each piece meticulously hung. I don’t have a level handy, but I’d be willing to bet these paintings are even to a fault.
“Celine.” I knock gently on her closed door. “Can I use the bathroom?”
She doesn’t respond, but a second later the door swings open. I blink in surprise, absolutely fucking dumbfounded. Slathered head to toe in lotion, coconut oil, or gods know what, she looks like an entire soccer team ran a train on her.
“Don’t say a word,” she snarls.
“A-are you okay?” I sputter, unsure how the goop isn’t getting into her eyes and blinding her.
