“Clearly. If I’m on a date with you.”
That strange expression flickered across his face again, and he set down his menu. “You’re not what I expected.”
“Good.” I picked up my menu, but my mind made no sense of the words. I was too distracted by what he’d said.
You’re not what I expected.
All this time, Az and I thought Lucifer was somehow responsible for whatever had happened to me. Human or not, I had a weird scent and missing memories. It all seemed linked to the King of Hell.He’dtracked down the contract.He’dkilled that old man. He seemed to know way more about me than I did.
And yet, he made it sound like we’d never met before.
“What did you expect?” I asked, my voice sounding far more strained than I’d intended.
“Someone a little more soft.”
I jerked up my head. “Soft?”
“Oh, yes.” He gave me a smile full of teeth. “The way you were raised doesn’t exactly inspire strength and ferocity.”
I set down the menu, wondering where the hell the servers had gone. If I was going to get through this night, I needed a drink. Maybe five of them. Promptly.
“I’d say the opposite is true. Growing up as a werewolf isn’t exactly easy.”
“Hmm.” He flagged down a server as she passed. Nervously, she pressed her palms against the black cloth tied around her waist. And then she took our orders. I just asked for a salad. I couldn’t stomach anything more than that.
I took the opportunity to glance around. No sign of Lars or any of his vampire friends. It seemed impossible that he wouldn’t appear right at the worst moment imaginable. Lucifer had brought me here for a reason, and it wasn’t because he liked the food.
The first hour passed without any drama. I had a glass of wine. And then two. My starter came, one I absolutely did not order. It was a plate of shrimp with their eyeballs still attached.
I did not eat it.
I was on my third glass of wine when I started to relax. The warming buzz of the alcohol swirled through my stomach, and there hadn’t been a single sighting of creepy vampires. That was, of course, when things got weird.
Lucifer stood and dragged his chair over to my side of the table. He smiled as he settled down beside me and draped his arm along the back of my chair.
I furrowed my brows. “Um, what the hell are you doing?”
“It’s a date, Sansa.” He pushed my hair behind my shoulder and leaned in.Sniff. “Typically, dates share some physical affection.”
I whole-body cringed. With a shaky breath, I shifted a little further away from him. “I didn’t get the sense that this was that kind of date.”
“Why wouldn’t it be, Sansa?” he murmured against my ear. “Is there someone else in your life? Are you not single?”
“Just because I’m single doesn’t mean I want to jump into bed with the King of Hell.”
“I’m not telling you to jump into bed with me.” He dragged his nose along my neck, just below my ear. “I’m telling you to give me a little kiss. Nothing more.”
Tellingme. Not asking. God, this guy was a dick beyond the whole evil demon overlord thing.
“I don’t kiss on the first date,” I said stiffly.
“I said I want a kiss.” His voice filled with darkness. “It was not a request.”
Nodding, I pushed up from the chair. “Yep, I think I’ve had enough. Here’s a hint. Next time you want to date someone, don’t order her to kiss you.”
He gripped the back of my neck and yanked me down. My butt hit the chair so hard my teeth clattered together. Leaning closer, he growled. “I don’t think I’ve been clear. I gave you a command. You obey it. If you don’t, I will find the thing you love the most, and I will destroy it. And we both know what that is.”
My heart pounded my ribs. The thing I love the most.My sister.
