“I like the perks. With the freedom to travel, I choose what jobs I take. The money’s damn good.”
He paused, and the silence between us stretched.
“You’re asking if I like killing people,” he looked down at me, his eyes suddenly tired. I flinchedbut nodded. He shook his head. “Please don’t ask me stuff like that.”
I pressed my lips together tightly and took a deep breath. His face suddenly relaxed,and he smiled. “You said you wanted to dance?”
I grinned and stepped back from the railing. “I did, but I need music.”
“Say no more.” Desi grinned as he pulled out his cell phone. We had both gotten new ones after the mess with Corrine.
Pride.
She had wanted me dead, so we had to go on the run for a bit. When she had calmed down enough to let me stay living my little undead life, we had to go get all new stuff for me that she had destroyed. A phone, my car,andmost of my apartment.
“I’m not much of a romantic. What’s a good sappy song?” Desi smirked up at me as he perused through his music. When I didn’t answer immediately,he cocked an eyebrow in warning. “You’ve got about five seconds before we’re slow dancing toFear of The Dark.”
I scrunched up my nose. While I enjoyed Iron Maiden just as much as he did, it didn’t exactly scream romantic.
“Oh! Okay, I think I’ve got one. I’m going old school. Cover your ears,” Desi ordered,and I giggled as I did as told. I turned around and closed my eyes.
A moment later,I felt Desi’s hands cover my hands. Gently, he squeezed them and brought them down from my ears. I turned slowly and tried to guess the song. It wasn’t rock, which surprised me.
“What is this?” I asked. The song was itching something in my brain. Almost as if the memory of it was on the tip of my tongue. It wasn’t until I saw Desi’s lips moving, whispering the lyrics directly to me, that it clicked.
WeakbySWV.
“I remember this,”I said softly as we moved. The memory was coming slowlyasif I was stepping into a warm bath. “You and I. A million years ago.”
“I’d say thirty, but a million is close.” He chuckled.
“Yes. It was the day we met. I had served you and your friends all night. I was so mad because you guys just kept ordering every time I tried to offer you the check.” My vision blurred as I started to remember. He was dressed in flannel and ripped acid-washed jeans. Just like all of the other grunge guys in the nineties.
“That would be my fault. I was attempting to flirt with you, but I was terrible at it.”
“Was? You’re still bad.” I correctedwith a grin.
“Hey, I managed to get you twice. Can’t be that bad, can I?”
“I think the whole soulmate thing helps.”
“Sure,” he paused to dip me. “If you believe in that kind of thing.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You must since you sold your soul for it.”
“That I did. And I’d do it again.” He pulled me back up,and our lips met for a long, tender kiss.
No sooner did that song end did another smooth love song take its place. He pulled me tighter, and I pressed my head against his chest, inhaling his cologne.
“I love the way you smell.” I sighed.
“I can get you a bottle of my cologne to spray on your stuff. It’s a blue bottle.”
I shook my head just a smidge, keeping my body close to his. “Not the same. I’d need to shove fireballs in all of my pockets to get it right.”
He laughed. “Sorry.”
“I like it. It’s you. It’s my Desi.” I sighed deeply and closed my eyes. A sexier song came on,and almost as if rising from a deep slumber, I felt the tell-tale throb against my thigh.
