“I guess you have a point,” she finally said, settling back in her chair.
“We’ve got another few minutes before the cookies are ready,” I said, pretending to eye the timer. “How should we spend them?”
She stood without answering me and walked to the sink before grabbing a sponge and starting in on the few dirty dishes I’d placed in the soapy water.
“I’ll wash, you dry?”
Her words were soft, and she wouldn’t look at me, but it was something, so I joined her dish towel at the ready.
It was the closest we’d been since our initial hug, and I was not remotely immune to the proximity. Maybe it was because of what she was, or what she represented. Or maybe I’d just been waiting so long for us to be together. Whatever the reason, I, Lucifer Morningstar, was completely and utterly distracted.
“Hel-lo? Earth to Cole?”
I blinked and caught Merri waving a dirty spoon under my nose. “Sorry,” I said with a nervous chuckle. “My mind wandered. What did you say?”
“I said, if I’d known you would be so easy to be around, I might’ve taken you up on your offer sooner. Honestly, I probably should have.”
Yes, you should have. You should have come to me the moment I offered. You should have been with me all this time. Not withthem. Did I say that out loud? No, of course not. I’m not an idiot.
“You came when you were ready. And like I said, it was an open offer. I’m just glad you took me up on it.” The smile I offered her was lopsided and one hundred percent boy next door, golden retriever vibes. Maybe I was laying it on a bit thick, but I didn’t want to give Merri a single reason to mistrust me.
With a ghost of a smile on her pretty pink lips, she handed me a clean measuring cup. Did I take the opportunity for our fingers to touch? Absolutely. I wanted every possible bit of contact I could get with her, and I needed her to crave me in the same way.
For my plan.
The plan to impregnate her.
No other reason.
Her eyes locked on mine at the brush of our skin, and I thought for a heartbeat I had her. But then a frown pulled her brows together as she assessed me.
“Your eyes.”
“Yes. I have two of them.”
“You said they were green.”
My stomach clenched. Fuck.
“They’re a shade of green.”
“Uh... no. Those are definitely blue. Well, blue-gray if we’re being technical.”
“I mean . . . depending on the light.”
She raised a brow.
“And you know, what I’m wearing.”
“I guess. Mine never change. They’re always this.” She waved a hand at her face.
“So, beautiful?”
Those cheeks flushed again. I loved making her do that.
“Yours are too. Gorgeous really. The starburst in your iris is almost metallic. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
I was devil enough to admit that I preened a little under her praise. It was the first compliment she’d given me. The real me. Not stupid Cole. Somewhere in my donning of his meat suit, I’d forgotten to update that detail and allowed some of the real me to shine through. Ineverforgot such details. I’m sure the more discerning of you are going to try to tell me that I subconsciously wanted her to care about and notice me. And my response to you is, butt out.
