Fuck. Did he hear that?
He ignored my taunt and instead slid a napkin with three cherries over in front of me. “You look lovely as ever.”
The complement was small. Hell, it probably wasn’t even sincere. That didn’t stop my stupid horny heart from falling over itself like a star-struck groupie.
I popped the cocktail fruit into my mouth, hopefully the epitome of unfazed, and savored the fresh burst of flavor. “You flatter me,” I said as I chewed, perhaps a bit too obnoxious. He didn’t seem to mind, though.
I think I hated him even more because of it.
“No,” he tsked and tapped a finger on his glass. The chill of his body crept into my side and it was hard not to give in and scoot closer. His icy presence was the only thing able to soothe the constant heat flushing my skin. “I save flattery for those I dislike.”
“And what do you save for me?” The question was out of my mouth before I could stop it.
He watched me for a long moment, thought reflected from behind intelligent eyes before he shifted in the seat. My brain buzzed, the smell of woodsmoke and embers on a winter’s night filling my nose as he leaned conspiratorily, like he was preparing to whisper his darkest secret in my ear. He answered, “Your life, of course.”
My stupid heart fell to the stupid floor. Where it got the audacity to think it was special enough for a secret was unknown to me. It didn’t numb the disappointment though.
You’re not special to him, Dany.
“Of course.” I shoved another cherry in my mouth. “Your generosity is endless, Luci.”
“Eternal,” he corrected.
“And you’ll never let me forget it.” He was always quick to remind me that my being here was by the sole power of his will, and that he could take a baseball bat to my knees any time he wanted. Like a fucking loan shark.
I chewed on the cherry stem as I watched the patrons of Lucious revel in debauchery. Women on poles, cocaine on the table, and men swarming like bees in every direction. Trying to think of literally anything other than the Devil at my side.
He wasn’t having any of that, though.
“Look at me, Dany.”
The empty hole where my soul used to be twinged, eager to do as he said. I fought to tame the pounding of my heart while looking as uninterested as possible. Maybe he’d believe it this time.
We both knew I was a fucking liar.
That baritone laugh vibrated the air around me, sending a sinful lick of heat to pulse between my thighs. It was the type of heat that only that chill of his touch could tame.
“Dany,” he taunted, drawing my name out like the last note of a symphony. The weight of his presence pressed upon my being before I ever felt the ice of his breath on my ear. With one wicked lick on my cheek, he whispered, “Look. At. Me.”
Compulsion coated his words like molasses. My muscles wanted to give in, and so against my better judgement, I let them. The patrons of Luscious disappeared, nothing more than an afterthought as he twirled a strand of my hair.
When I finally met his gaze, I could have wept. Black, slit pupils scanned my face, the liquid emerald surrounding the left shone like a neon flame against themilky white of the other where a scar marred him from forehead to cheekbone.
”That’s a good girl,” he crooned.
I was enraptured. Caught in those devil eyes just as Eve had been in Eden.
“We have a deal, Dany. Your ledger opens once a year for twenty-four hours on your Death Day. Three souls of your choosing in exchange for immortality.”
He didn’t bring up the red band burning my wrist, and I didn’t either.
“I haven’t forgotten,” I whispered through parted lips.
“Good.” He leaned back against the booth, the movement so abrupt it felt as if it sucked the air from between us. I both yearned to have it back and feared being caught in its web.
I swallowed, searching for some of the impudence I wore like armor so he couldn’t see how off-balance he made me. This man, though…
He left me bare.
