The fat drops of rain pattering the ground turned into an onslaught of sleet. I’d left home in a hurry and hadn’t taken the wintry St. Louis weather into consideration. My ripped Def Leppard crop top left my belly bare, and the tears in my acid-washed jeans made the denim useless against the cold.
I’d needed to get out of there. I woke up and all I could smell, all I couldfeel, washim.
“You are more than a curiosity, dearest Dany.”
What did that even mean? Fucks sake, he’d been so dissappointed with me. Mad, even, because I hadn’t killed Callen yet. And then, what? My skin heated against the weather as I recalled the way he’d dressed me in a see-through gown and swept me across the gothic castle, caressing my body with care and my heart with such abandon.
“You arecalamity.”
What would loving the Devil even be like? Sharing a life with the guywho shows up in my bedroom and rewires my brain. Could I do that without turning into the part of me that craves the bloodlust? More importantly though–could he love me if I didn’t want to be that girl anymore?
Could Lucifer love the Dany who wanted the white picket fence? The Dany who woke up every morning and didn’t hate what she saw in the mirror?
Could he love the girl, and not the weapon?
“Judas save me,” I groaned into my hands, pace quickening with the rapid beat of my heart. “He can’t love you, you idiot. He’s Satan for Christ’s sake–”
“Dany?”
A car was slow rolling behind me. One I hadn’t even realized was following me. Illuminated by the console lights was Joe’s handsome face etched with concern.
“Joe,” I answered, sounding breathless even to my own ears. I swallowed down turmoil and, with as much bravado as I could manage, said “You know, I’m starting to think you’re stalking me.”
“That’s funny, because I was getting the impression that you sought me out and put yourself in these positions so that I’d have to talk to you.”
“As if I needed damsel plots to gain your attention, Batman. Look at me,” I said, gesturing up and down my sodden body. “I’m a soaking wet stripper.”
Joe pulled over to the curb and parked the car. “Can I perhaps offer one soaking wet stripper a ride?”
At first, I wanted to say no. The word was geared up and ready to fly. Then, the sleet fell heavier, reminding me of Lucifer’s frost with each icy sting and the ugly truth surfaced: I didn’t want company, but I didn’t want to be alone with… me. Because tonight, I couldn’t fucking stand the girl in every passing reflection.
I stopped walking, pursed my lips, and peered into the open passenger window. “I said stripper, not prostitute.”
His answering smile was kind and patient, and the softness in his eyes spoke louder than words.
Get in the car. Let me take care of you.
“Fine. I’ll get in the car. I’m charging you by the hour though.”
“Deal.” His answer was immediate, followed by a smooth exit from the driverdoor. Joe came around the SUV in the pouring rain, removed his rain jacket, and wrapped it around my shoulder.
“You don’t have to–”
“Yes, I do.” Joe flipped the hood over my head, and all of a sudden I was hugged by his clean scent. It was so at odds to the woodsmoke that followed Lucifer like a shadow.
We stared at each other, both caught in some inexplicable moment that felt impossible to shake. Water dripped from the fallen strands of his hair. The street lights reflected off the piercing green of his eyes and all of a sudden I could imagine his soul staring straight into my own.
I wondered what sort of darkness he found there, and if he would hate me as much as I did if he truly saw it.
He was the first to break, eyes swiveling with a smile followed by the quick unlatching of the passenger door of his SUV. “Your chariot, Catwoman.”
It took a few seconds to shake it off. “Catwoman, eh?” I teased as I slid onto the leather seat. It was warm under my ass, heating all the way up to the middle of my back and chasing the chill away. “Damn, Bruce,” I sighed. “You really know how to treat a middle class stripper.”
“I know how to treat alady.”
My head fell back as I snorted a half-hearted laugh. “My pussy doesn’t make me a lady.” Joe didn’t have a reply to my smartass, but I could see the small pinch of a smile curving his lip.
“Were you headed home?” he asked after a minute of silence.
