He winced as if that thought pained him. “I will never forget you.”
As she started to step away, he leaned down toward her lips.
Common sense told her to step away.
No, run away.
How could she? He’d come to mean so much to her that she couldn’t even explain it.
Savoring his scent, she lifted herself on her tiptoes so that she could kiss him.
Luke drank in her warmth. For whatever reason, she was the key to his being able to tolerate the human realm. Something he’d learned when she went home to visit her parents.
Longest week of his life.
Not only had he missed her, but by day five, he’d had to start bundling himself up again. On the seventh day, he’d been afraid frostbite would set in.
Then she’d returned.
Her smile alone had warmed him.
And her kiss had set him on fire. And so long as she stayed by his side, he didn’t get cold at all. It was a miracle he didn’t understand.
But definitely one he could taste.
Suddenly, Helly cleared her throat to remind them of her presence. “Should I leave, boss?”
Laughing, Sorcha pulled away. “You need to make more noise.”
“I thought I was. If you want, I can go watch The Conjuring with the FCD. I love the sounds they make whenever the exorcism part starts.”
Sorcha widened her eyes. “Does it really affect the Feral Closet Demons?”
Luke shook his head. “They just play act like they’re being banished. But they are entertaining when they do it.”
That was interesting. “Can they be banished?”
“Everyone can be banished. Sometimes it only takes a glance or unkind word.”
She caught the note in his voice. He wasn’t just talking about exorcism. And it made her heart go out to him. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Everything you’ve lost.”
Luke was caught off guard by her sincerity. Before she’d come here, he’d felt that pain.
Now…
He’d gained so much more. Being banished from home no longer had the sting it used to. He was actually beginning to like it here. “Vade retro me satana.”
She frowned at him. “What does that mean?”
“Get thee behind me, Satan. It’ll work on a number of Hell-beings.”
“Including you?”
“Only if it comes from you.” The thought of her banishing him…
