The room was like Dr. Who’s TARDIS. Much bigger on the inside than outside. He had matte, jet black bookcases that held images of adorable young angels carved along the top and bottom. The shelves were covered with all kinds of occult and new age titles, along with history books. Some in languages she couldn’t even identify.
On the wall behind his desk, there appeared to be an arched gothic church window that looked out onto a beautiful forest, complete with deer. Actual black velvet curtains hung down the wall as if the painted arched windows were real.
Flanking the mural were two…
Lamp posts? Only they were statues of knights set on black marble columns with something that appeared to be a flickering torch held in the raised hand of each one.
There was even a jet-black crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Like the shelving, his huge black desk had angels carved into it, along with two black skull candelabra set on the edges. She assumed his PC must be inside the desk as the top held only a monitor and black, skull-skinned keyboard and mouse. The matching leather chair on wheels looked more like a throne than the average office seat.
Even his evidence board was black and covered with interesting black sticky notes with silver writing about the student they’d found last night. But what intrigued her most was the fact that it was a Smart Board.
Latest tech.
Wow…
This was a far cry from her awful, outdated space.
Luke put his hands in his coat pockets. “Sometimes, I like being on brand. It sets a tone.”
“And Captain Reyes was good with the purchase order for all this?”
He laughed, then stopped abruptly. “Oh, hell no. She’d have had an apoplexy if I’d tried to requisition all this on the feeble IA budget.”
“Then how…never mind.” He was the son of the devil. It was obvious that he wasn’t used to going without.
Or being denied anything.
Even without his infernal father, a man that good looking seldom heard the word no.
From anyone.
“Want me to fix your office?” Luke offered.
Why did that make her so nervous?
Probably because making a deal with the devil’s son was never a good idea.
“Fix it how?” she asked, cringing inwardly at the thought of working inside something reminiscent of Wednesday Addams’ bedroom. While his office was interesting, it would give her nightmares to work in something this gothic.
“To your tastes, not mine. I don’t want to give you nightmares. I’m aware of the fact that I’m an acquired taste.”
Had he heard her thoughts? If he had, he gave no clue about it.
And to be honest, she was a lot more tempted than she should be. “How much will it cost?”
He sucked his breath in sharply. “It’s a dear price, I’m afraid.”
She could imagine. “My soul?”
“God, no.” He closed the distance between them until she had to look up into those mesmerizing eyes. The air between them was rife with an energy she couldn’t explain or identify. Whatever it was, it made her breathless. Her heart raced.
“I don’t do that anymore,” he said in a low tone that caused her to hold her breath. “It involves the hardest thing on the planet. Much more valuable than most souls…”
Why was she enjoying this game? It should piss her off and yet she couldn’t resist his unholy charm. She actually wanted to step closer to him. “And that is?”
He leaned down as if he were about to impart a major secret. When he whispered in her ear, it sent a shiver over her entire body. “A please and a thank you.”
