But he disliked Laurie even more.He didn’t want to analyze why.It was just a vibe.It had nothing to do with how Skye seemed upset that the demon was around.Remi should have been rejoicing that there was someone else making her miserable when he was too busy to do it, but he just felt a slithering, slimy feeling under his skin instead.
After the meet-and-greet wrapped up, Liam and Ollie decided to go to a bar with a few of the women, and West said he was going to lock himself in the back bedroom to get some rest cause his ears were ringing.Remi quickly showered at the venue and waited on the bus for Skye to return.
The driver wasn’t there, and West would most likely have earplugs in, trying to sleep, so Remi was all alone, sitting at the dining room table.He opened the fridge and pulled out a beer.Unable to find the bottle opener, he slammed the edge of the bottle cap on the counter.The cap went flying, but stopped mid-air.
Laurie’s form appeared, outlined in a flame, the cap pinched between his fingers.He tilted his head, grinning a weaselly smile.
“What do you want?”Remi bit out.“Where’s Skye?”
Laurie shrugged one shoulder.“She got a phone call and said she had to strangle a promoter for trying to stiff her band.Sifted away.”His eyebrows rose as he tsked.“She’s quite possessive of you and your bandmates.It’s very intriguing.”
“Oh, yeah?”Remi said, taking a sip from his beer.He leaned against the counter, acting like he couldn’t care less what the demon had to say, but every hair on the back of his neck was standing up.Anxious.Cautious.
Laurie flicked the bottle cap in the air and caught it again.“To tell you the truth, I’m a little jealous.The last time Skye toyed with someone, we kept him tied up in a dungeon in Hell and fucked him senseless for a month.It was quite fun.I can’t remember how that fulfilled whatever it was he bargain for, but”—he smirked—“I think we both know Skye is quite creative with bargains.”
“You’re lying.Skye doesn’t fuck the soulless,” Remi said on instinct.
Laurie’s eyes widened, just a little, then his gaze traced over Remi, sizing him up.“Unless they bargain for it.Yes, I know.But how do you know that?Was that your second choice after becoming a rock star?”Laurie laughed.“I’d say you chose very poorly.”
Remi gritted his teeth, imagining Laurie and Skye fucking someone together.Imagining this dangerous man with silver hair holding someone’s arms behind their back as Skye with her red irises fondled and tortured their victim’s cock until they were begging and pleading for release.
He’d promise anything.Everything.What would they make him do?Would they only let him come if he made them come first?A memory from his dreams overtook him of Skye’s wings shuddering as she orgasmed from his touch.
He blinked and shook away those thoughts.With gritted teeth, he asked, “Why are you here?”
Laurie didn’t answer at first.He retrieved a gold cigarette case from his pocket, oddly similar to the one Skye had in the alley, and took a cigarette from inside.Holding the filter between his lips, he snapped his fingers and created a flame, then inhaled, lighting the end before exhaling a perfect wisp of smoke.
He pondered something with a faraway gaze.“Do you read classic literature?”
“What?No.”
“Shame,” Laurie said.He took another drag.“Wilde wrote this line that I love.‘A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure.It’s exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied.What more can one want?’”
Remi furrowed his brow.“What the hell are you talking about?
“There’s very little in a demon’s life that we can’t have with a snap of our fingers,” Laurie said.“So when we find a vice that keeps us coming back for more.”He shrugged and inhaled the cigarette again.“It’s hard for us to stop playing the game.That is until we win.Or our toys break.”
Fear prickled down Remi’s spine.“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because, pretty boy,” Laurie said.He took a few steps closer and leaned into Remi, pressing their chests into one another as he reached for something over Remi’s shoulder.“I don’t like being left out of the fun.If I ruin Skye’s game by telling you the real score, then she’ll come back to Hell and take her anger out on me.”Remi froze like the prey he was, caught between the counter and Laurie’s body.Laurie flicked his cigarette, ashes falling into the tray next to Remi’s arm.“Trust me.You haven’t lived until you’ve felt the threat of her heeled boots near your balls.”The enticing words were whispered against Remi’s cheek.
Remi’s heart was racing, anger coursing through him.His body got confused, like it usually did when these demons were around, and that pissed him the fuck off.He shoved Laurie, hard enough that his cigarette fell into the sink.
They both looked at it, and then Laurie glowered at him with pinched lips, his eyes flashing red.“Quite rude,” Laurie said.
“I already know that I’m just a game to Skye,” Remi said.“If I could get her to quit messing with my bargain and go back to Hell for good, I would.All you demons can just leave me and my band the fuck alone.”
Laurie laughed.“If compulsion doesn’t work on you, then a bargain isn’t ever going to stick either.”
“Why not?”
Laurie grabbed Remi’s chin and twisted it this way and that.“You aren’t entirely human.You aren’t a demon or an angel or a witch.You aren’t any magical race that I’ve ever encountered before.Skye should have seen that, but perhaps she was too distracted by your soul glow.That the bargain worked at all must mean whatever non-human piece of you that you have is minuscule and puny.But, nevertheless, whatever power you have is incompatible with our bargaining magic.”
Remi tried to yank his chin away, but Laurie’s grip tightened.“I don’t understand,” he said, more high-pitched and whiny than he meant it to be.“You’re saying that my bargain—”
“—was never supposed to happen,” Laurie said, his eyes pulling down at the corners, a slight pout to his lips as if he was deeply sorry for Remi.
Laurie patted his cheek, twice.Remi flinched back.Laurie picked up his ruined cigarette from the sink.“You’re living on borrowed time.I’d suggest enjoying the ride while you’re on it because it’s destined to crash very soon, and the only one to walk away from the rubble is going to be Skye.If you want her to tire of the game she’s playing, then you need to give her what she wants.”
