“Comes in rather handy, really.” He scanned the humans nearby. “Around here, there’s quite the selection, too.”
Perfidious motioned for Beatrice to deal him a card.
Chuckling, he smiled up at her. “There for a while, I entertained myself by exchanging the bodies like clothing. But admittedly, I have a type, which requires a bit of patience.” He exhaled heavily. “It’s rare to find a human who realizes the true gift he’s been given. That wholemy body is my temple.” Perfidious met Beatrice’s stare. “Where arethoseguys? I’d be happy to keep them in my closet.”
Her eyebrow rose, gaze dropping to his cards. He waved a hand, refusing the offer of another.
“I know, I know,” he continued. “A picky demon. Probably don’t run across a lot of those, huh?”
Beatrice shook her head, but she’d lost the surprised look in her eyes. Likely saw all sorts here at her table.
“The last body I had … it ran its course after only a few weeks. Not quite as endowed as expected.” Perfidious squeezed his cheeks. “But I found this pathetic loser sitting alone in a bar. Had the look I was going for. And quite the heft if you know what I mean.”
Beatrice paid out his winnings for that hand, then pulled all the cards back before dealing more.
“For such a handsome male, he was quite the drain, though. Totally see why his wife left him.”
Her eyes widened once more, followed by a smile that said he could’ve been speaking any number of languages and she wouldn’t have cared.
“I’m making much better use of it now. If I’m lucky, I’ll get quite a few miles out of it before it’s time for a new one.”
Beatrice nodded, waiting for him to decide whether he would hit or stand. He waved his hand over the cards. She dealt herself another, then paid him out once more.
A female approached, peering down at the table as though considering her options.
“Have a seat,” Perfidious urged before turning his attention back to Beatrice. “The only reason I’ve yet to soil it with the flesh of a female’s because there’s only one I’m really interested in.” He waited until Beatrice met his eyes. “Penelope Calazans. You know her?”
Beatrice shook her head while the female who’d started to sit strolled off.
“Pity,” he said as he tracked the lithe brunette. “Probably could’ve had a bit of fun later.” He turned back to Beatrice, tugged on the lapel of his suit. “What about the suit? Like it?”
The dealer nodded.
“Brioni Vanquish II,” he told her. “Quite the price tag, but can’t beat the feel of it.”
While he waited for the waitress to return with his drink, Perfidious divided his attention between the cards Beatrice dealt and the waitresses moving about, attempting to sight the female whose mere existence had summoned him to Sin City.
“I don’t know Penelope,” he admitted to Beatrice, rolling one of the chips through his fingers. “But word around the campfires in Hell is she’s met her angel.”
Beatrice nodded, though it was clear she couldn’t care less what he had to say.
“It’s the reason I’m here tonight. To introduce myself. See if Penelope’s all she’s cracked up to be. After all, why should the angels have all the fun?”
A gentle tap on his shoulder had him peering over, meeting the eager, hungry eyes of the waitress.
“Thank you, beautiful.” He took the drink, passed her a five-dollar chip.
As she sauntered off, Perfidious returned his attention to Beatrice. There was a temporary lull in the game as an older man took the seat on the end, requested change, then placed his bet.
“If you’ve met one,” Perfidious continued, “you know why angels are a crappy choice for a female. Possessive, domineering. Think they’re hot shit because they’re almighty.” He shuddered. “Irritates the hell out of me.”
He chugged his drink, motioned for Beatrice to pass him another card.
“I figure for him to devote so much attention, she must be worth checking out. Risky, I know. I mean, he could see me, right?” He grinned, leaning in. “That’s the best part. Hecan’t.”
Beatrice peeked at her cards to ensure she wasn’t holding a ten beneath the ace. She pushed them back in place, waited for him to hit or stand one more time.
His familiar waitress passed by again, and he reached out, touched her arm. “Can I get another?”
