My teeth clenched at the “sweetheart,” and he grinned at me. His grin was so good-natured, I usually couldn’t help but smile back. I forced myself to glower at him instead. His grin simply widened.
“Why are you in such a good mood anyway?” It was the most relaxed I’d seen him since he returned from the underworld.
“Daimonion’s running scared. It makes me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy to know he’s doing everything he can to try to heal himself. He may be one step ahead of me, but he won’t stay that way for long.”
I swallowed. Truthfully, the thought of Vas going up against Lucifer’s greatest assassin scared the crap out of me. Vas must have seen it on my face, because he cupped my cheek. It took everything in me not to nuzzle into his hand.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Mere.”
“I’m worried about you anyway.”
“I’m touched that you care.” He didn’t say it offhandedly or sarcastically. He said it as if he was truly touched, and I went to take a step back.
“Uh-uh.”
He slid his hand to my hair, fisting it to hold me still for him. I opened my mouth to tell him to back off.
And his mouth crashed down on mine.
He tasted like Maraschino cherries and sin. My mind went blank, and he tightened his arms around me. His lips were soft and skillful, and his tongue teased mine. I couldn’t help it. I opened further for him, until I felt as if I could float away, as if the only reason I was still on the floor was his arms, wrapped around me.
I let out a moan, and those arms tightened, the hand in my hair holding me exactly where he wanted me. I somehow fell deeper, until all I cared about was his mouth on mine, his hand in my hair, and the bulge in his jeans, pressed against my stomach.
I wound my arms around his neck, giving in to the feel of him. I’d wanted this for so long, dreamed of Vas since the moment I saw him…
What was I doing?
I pushed against his chest, and Vas brushed his lips against mine once more, taking his sweet time to release me. His eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them, his expression almost feral.
“This is a mistake,” I managed to get out, taking several steps back.
Vas followed me. “Do you think I care what you did? Do you think there’s anything you could do that would make me no longer interested in you?”
Tears burned my eyes. I hated,hatedthat he knew what I’d done. I swallowed a sob, and Vas’s eyes turned tender. Then they hardened, and that same expression came over his face. The expression that told me he was thinking of Ag. And Daimonion.
“You’re right,” he said. “This is a mistake. I apologize.”
He turned and stalked out of my bar.
6
MEREDITH
Iwoke up and stared at the ceiling as my fingers brushed over my lips. First kisses were supposed to be…uncomfortable. Awkward. Mediocre.
Obviously, Vas hadn’t gotten that memo.
My thighs clenched at the memory of his arms around me, his lips firm against mine. His tongue…
No. Do not think about his tongue.
I swung my legs out of my bed. Then I padded into my small kitchen and hit the button for the coffeemaker, which I’d thankfully remembered to prepare last night.
I didn’t have time to moon over Vas. He’d admitted it was a mistake. We were on the same page.
I scowled and leaned against the counter. I needed to focus on today’s little visit to Nero.
I absolutely did not want to enter his territory, but I would. Because I refused to lose my bar after everything I’d done to keep it.
