Sitting on his throne, he looked up to find Simi in front of him, dressed in an adorable corset top with a short plaid skirt. “A doorbell?”
She laughed in that adorable way that never failed to make him smile. “Well, sure, if you wants them demons to announce themselves when they’re being all intrusive. Probably good for Shadow, too.”
But she didn’t include herself in that, he noticed. Not that she needed to. Her unexpected visits were usually the highlight of any given day. And even at times, the highlight of his year.
“So what brings you by tonight?”
“Actually, it’s day. I’d tell you to open the windows, but it don’t matter here. It always blah!”
She was right about that.
“You still haven’t told me what you think I need,” he reminded her.
Simi smiled and flounced over to the wall across from his fireplace. “A big, gigantus TV, right here. You needs that.”
“Why?”
“So when the Simi comes to visit I won’t miss seeing my QVC. We coulds even watch it together. Pop some corn. Eat some chips and barbecue …”
“We could. I could also let Paimon gouge out my eyes. Both are equally appealing.”
She made an adorable face at him. “What do you do here for fun? All these centuries the Simi comes to visit and you’re always in your chair, drinking. That can’t be all you do.”
He held up the book in his lap. “I read. It’s retro and fun. Best of all, you don’t have to charge it at night.”
Simi came over and looked at it. She wrinkled her nose over the fact it was nonfiction. “Okies. That’s fun. Simi likes to read, too. But it not the same as watching movies and shopping QVC.”
“I don’t like to shop.”
She scoffed at his words. “The Simi sees how you dress. You shop. A lot.”
And she’d done a lot of shopping with him over the years. Mostly because he loved the way she skirted about racks, looking adorable and trying to get him to wear ghastly things that should be set on fire.
“Your point?”
“You need a TV. Simple, silly.”
“I profane modern technology.”
“Again, we could watch movies and eat popcorn. Not have to go out to the theater all the time. I know how much you profane that, too.”
He rolled his eyes, even though her argument was a good one. He did spend an inordinate amount of time complaining about people and sticky floors, especially people who eyed Simi with an interest that made him want to rip out their spines and beat them. “I’ll think about it.”
Simi spread her hands wide. “I’m telling you, Thorny, big TV, right here. Beautimous!”
Maybe, but he doubted if anything could be more beautimous than Simi being herself.
One Month Later
* * *
Thorn was again reading when Simi appeared in his room. Looking up from his book, he arched a brow.
Hands on hips, she stared at him. “Don’t you be looking so surprised the Simi is here after you done texted me to come visit.” She held up her phone and twisted it playfully. “Simi thought you said you profaned tech.”
“I do. But not when it brings a beautiful demon to my home.”
She tsked. “What am I going to do with you?”
