Lucifer was eyeing me suspiciously on my way back, stool in one hand and bleeding head wound in the other, when I stopped and screamed, “Seriously?”
He stood, so very out of place, beside a completely decorated tree, garland and all. “You let me go through all of that,” I gestured wildly behind me, “knowing you were just going to finish the damn thing while my back was turned?”
“You’re so independent, Dany. I thought it no good to interrupt your… mission.” His light, teasing tone slid like butter over my hurt feelings. “Would you like me to kiss it and make it better, perhaps?”
It was a joke–had to be. So why was there a slow burning ember in his eyes that heated me from the toes up?
“Can I share some honesty with you, Dany?”
Lucifer took a few tentative steps toward me, and my mouth went dry. “It, uh, it is the best policy,” I answered lamely.
He watched me intensely, like a predator trying not to lunge, as he walked toward me until he was so close that his breath ruffled my hair.
“In all of the millenia that I’ve walked this God forsaken plane, not a single being has gotten as under my skin the way that you have.”
“Oh?” I breathed.
He fingered a strand of my hair before bringing it to his nose and inhaling deeply. “Everything about you calls to my very marrow.”
“Wh–what?”
What did that mean? I could hear his words but they were like puzzle pieces I just couldn’t match together.
“When I saw the two of you in that car, I was ready to unleash hell upon this Earth.”
“So why didn’t you?” I whispered hoarsely.
“Because,” he ground out, and it seemed like he was practicing that same restraint, as if the memory of Joe and I together was fresh in his mind. “It would have been against your wishes, dearest Dany. You want him.”
Want. Not wanted.
“That didn’t stop you, though,” I said. Memories of my own came flashing back.
You’re going to come for me, dearest Dany. Look at me. Scream my name.
And fuck if I hadn’t hinged on every unfettered demand he unleashed.
“You were there,” I continued. “I saw you.Feltyou.” The air vibrated around his shoulders and ice rolled off of him in waves. The tension, the restraint… it was palpable between us. The beast was roaring under his skin, and I wanted nothing more than to tame it.
I reached out and tentatively took one of his clench fists into my hand. It relaxed under my touch, and I moved it to my cheek. Our eyes locked as he slowly placed his palm against my heated cheek and nuzzled into his cold.
“I don’t want him,” I whispered. And I meant it. Joe had been a beautiful distraction, but it was like a mirage in the desert. The oasis had been in front of me all along.
I kissed his palm and felt his sigh all the way down to my toes.
“What do you want, Dany?” he asked through tight lips. “Do you want to fuck me?”
“Yes,” I answered, and I meant it. His temperature dropped; mine spiked. I took his fingers and set them at the edge of my waistband, looking him dead in the eye so there was no mistaking what came next.
Lucifer stilled, his whole body tensing as he turned his gaze away. I caught the flash of hurt before he could hide it though.
I knew that look because I’d felt it before. Beasts were not born, they were created, and nothing made a beast quite like pain and betrayal.
And so I continued, “But I want more than just a night, Luci.” Those green eyes turned back to me, caution lining his brow. I knew I should say more, but I didn’t have the words. Was I supposed to tell the angel of death that I wanted more than sex? What if he couldn’t give me more? What if I ruined this moment by asking him to stay?
I opened my mouth to take it back, but didn’t get the chance to speak.
Lucifer’s lips crashed into mine, both hands on either side of my face to hold me just where he wanted me. They were desperate, hungry kisses and had me moaning into his mouth.
