Page 46 of Greed

“I’m finding that hard to believe considering there seems to be a great number of women that he has eyes for regularly.” Minny shot me a look, and for the first time since my fall, I wanted to crawl under a table and hide in a hole. This conversation had driven right off the tracks, into a ditch, and was heading for water, and I didn’t know how to get it back before I drowned.

“Oh, you mean his Wednesdays?” Skye offered, and I glared at her, warning her to shut up with my eyes.

“His Wednesdays?” Minny raised her eyebrows.

Skye leaned in a little closer and waved Minny in like it was a big secret, and as Minny did, her arm brushed up against mine. I had a twinge of guilt as pleasure raced through my body. I couldn’t stop staring at her. I was starting to feel like a fucking perv as I fantasized about pushing her over onto the bench and lifting that little dress up to fuck her right here while Michael watched me take her from him.

“Yeah, he screws like every girl that signs up on Wednesdays. He feels sorry for them since they don’t get serviced well at home, so we have an understanding. I swear he thinks Hump Day is a real thing.”

“Can we get more wine? This bottle is almost gone.” I held up the bottle and waved over the waiter. “I think we’re going to need it,” I said and looked over at Michael. “Do you have any special plans while you’re in town,” I asked, hoping to change this conversation to anything else. I would have settled for literally any other topic.

“Nope, but I’m really intrigued by this Wednesday thing. Where do you find the stamina? I can’t believe you have such an active sex life, brother. Mind you, that is extreme at it’s finest and we all know you love your extremes. I’d love to hear more.”

I looked down at the table. “I bet you would,” I mumbled. “If you’ll excuse us, Skye and I, we have a couple of things to discuss.” I pushed her with my hip out of the booth, and she grumbled but slid out. I directed her toward the back door of the restaurant. As soon as we were outside, I turned on her.

“What the hell are you doing?” I growled. “You’re making me look like a complete asshole.”

“First, you are an asshole, but that is your charm. Second, are you kidding me right now? Everyone in that place can see you acting all googly-eyed over that twerp of a human. What the hell is wrong with you?” Skye pointed toward the closed door. “That desperate puppy dog act you’ve got going on in there, is not like you. In fact, none of this is like you.”

Skye walked a few strides away and then turned to continue her tirade. “You’re breaking bread with Michael! Mi-ch-ael, the fucker who threw your ass out of Heaven, or have you forgotten?” she continued, mimicking me in a high-pitched voice. “Ohhh, Michael, it has been a very long time since we have shared a drink or broke bread together. Why don’t I get on my knees and suck that glittering angel cock of yours while I’m kissing your ass?” She stuck a finger in her mouth and made a gagging noise. “Please spare me. I don’t care if you want to fuck the human. I mean, you literally fuck a hundred of them a week, but she is a goody, goody, and you’re making an idiot out of yourself trying to pretend to be something you’re not. Nope, huh-uh, that was too much for this demon to stomach.” Skye crossed her arms over her chest. “I mean, did you see the way she looked at you when I mentioned Wednesdays?”

I could almost see the smoke coming out of Skye’s ears as she finished venting.

“Well, I’m so happy you have decided you’re in charge of my life and my dating life to boot. I was unaware I needed a coach on how to get through a day. I guess you can think about how much non-fun I’m having without you from home. I want you to leave. No, on second thought, I’m ordering you to leave. And, Skye, don’t fucking challenge me or set out to embarrass me like that again, especially in public, or it will be the last thing you ever do before I send you to scrub out the shit troughs for all eternity in Hell with a chastity belt on that pussy of yours.”

Her eyes went wide like I’d threatened death. “Ri, I’m your best friend, and for you to be doing this, there has to be more going on here than what you’re saying. If Michael has done something to mess with you, just tell me? I’m looking out for you.” Skye placed her hands on her hips as she spoke. The thing was, Michael was indeed messing with me, just not the way Skye thought, and she’d never understand. I didn’t even understand, so how could she?

“Skye, I don’t need you to look out for me. I’m a grown-ass man, a fallen archangel, and a demon, a mother fucking sin—I’m pretty good at looking after myself. I have lived longer than ten of your lifetimes and am still here. Trust me when I tell you, I know what I’m doing, and it’s obvious asking you to come was a mistake. Go home.”

“You’re unbelievable. If Michael isn’t screwing with you, then the girl is,” Skye said as I pulled open the back door.

“If she is, then it is my choice to let her screw with me, just like your life is your choice. Please try to remember who gave you that life. That was the whole point of me pulling you out of the Pit of Despair so that you could live your life. So go live it.” I marched back inside and went to the restroom to freshen up before returning to the table.

“Did Skye decide to leave? Such a shame,” Michael said as I sat back down.

“There was another event she wanted to attend, a last-minute invite, and she decided to head to that.” Michael looked like he was going to question more, but his phone rang.

“I’m sorry I have to take this,” Michael said and got up to take his call. I turned to look at Minny, who was nibbling on a bun.

I slid a little closer, and her body tensed as her hands stopped moving. She literally looked like she’d just frozen in place. There was an electrical charge in the air between us. She had to feel it, too, because it was impossible to ignore.

“Minny?” I whispered, my voice rough with the strain of trying to keep control of myself. When she didn’t look at me, I brought my finger up, and as my finger touched the smooth skin of her chin a shock raced up my spine. The searing heat spread, my pulse pounding as those sea-blue depths locked with my own. The air vibrated around us with charged energy. I wanted her. I wanted her laid out under me, and I wanted to see her face as she came screaming my name—no nameless ass in the air routine with her. I wanted to feel her come. I wanted to bring her more pleasure than she’d ever known, and I wanted to hold her when we were done.

Suddenly, I could hear laughing and see a child on a swing, the sun was shining, and Minny was running around a yard with another—so similar was the property to the one I’d visited in Maryland. I blinked, and the image was gone.

“I’m sorry,” I managed to say around the unknown emotion that was gripping my throat.

“For what,” she said softly. Her lips were begging to be kissed as she looked at me from under her thick lashes. I was tempted, so tempted, but I feared I wouldn’t stop if I took a taste.

“For what you saw when you dropped by and for being so rude to you at the race.” I had no idea why it bothered me, but I didn’t want her to see me as what I was, as what I’d been since my fall. It shouldn’t bother me. I was Greed. I was Mammon, I was…I had no idea anymore as I stared into her eyes.

She started to turn her head away, but I cupped her cheek and ran my thumb across the softness of her skin, desperate to keep the connection. She was so different, so unique. My abilities reached out, and wrapped around her body. There was still no sin that I could taste making her even more alluring. None of any kind lingered on her skin, and there was not a drop of greed in her soul. It wasn’t impossible, but she was pure, a pure soul, and I wanted her for myself. My greedy need to have all that was special understood what she was. She was one of a kind.

“You don’t need to apologize. I barely know you. I was shocked by what I saw, but it’s your life and your building. I was the one trespassing.” She slid away from me, and a thread of panic swirled as our connection broke. “Can you please make my apologies to Michael? I need to get home. I’m feeling a bit under the weather. Thank you for the wine. It was quite lovely.”

She stood, and I watched her leave, not sure what to do. I wanted to chase her down, to stop her and make her give me a chance. A chance at what I didn’t know…be better maybe? That was ludicrous. Or was it?

“I’m gone less than five minutes, and you scared Minny off. Good work,” Michael said as he sat back down.