Page 34 of Her Vampire, His Ruin

In fact, like Edie, she seems immune to Logan’s compulsion but, interestingly, not mine. It’s something I’ve never come across before. She’s an anomaly all by herself.

Logan scoffs, then mutters. “Nice isn’t how I’d describe this shit-show.”

“Oh, believe me, the pleasure was all mine,” she replies, completely ignoring Logan’s remark and throwing me a wink as I look over my shoulder at her. “Despite what my grumpy angel just said, I’m certain he enjoyed himself too,” she adds, beaming as she turns her attention to him.

“Being mauled by a pocket-sized demon is hardly enjoyable,” he retorts.

Henrietta’s curls dance around her face as she laughs. “Playing hard to get is like waving a red rag at a bull. It just makes me want to chase you harder. Thought you should know.”

“I wouldn’t suggest it,” Logan snaps. “You might not like what happens if you do.”

“Well, on that note, I’d better get inside. Tonight has been a blast,” Henrietta says, unclicking her seatbelt. “Though I think I’ll be spending some quality time with Mr V since I’m wound up tighter than a grandfather clock.”

“Who. The. Fuck. Is. Mr. V?” Logan demands, his voice dangerously low.

“My vibrator, silly.”

I can’t tell if Logan’s silence is because Henrietta just called him silly, or because she announced she’s in desperate need of release. Either way, he’s struck speechless.

“Henrietta,” Edie admonishes, her gaze flicking between them both.

“What? I’m sorry, but am I supposed to just ignore the fact that my poor vagina thinks she’s finally hit the jackpot and is desperate for a little action? Angel might not want to take a long, leisurely stroll through my lady garden because he’s playing hard to get, but she needs relief, and so do I. So a date with Mr V is absolutely needed.”

With that, she leans in, kisses Edie’s cheek, and hops out of the car, the door slamming shut behind her.

“Fuck me,” Logan groans. “She’s not just any demon, she’s a goddamn succubus.”

Edie stifles a laugh.

“Is she always like that?”

“Like what?” Edie replies, straightening her features and turning her attention to Logan.

“So unafraid to speak her mind.”

“Aside from when she’s at work, Henrietta has no filter,” Edie begins, waving at her best friend, who is standing on her drive, waving back. “And I adore her for it,” she adds, a streak of protectiveness shining through her words. “Beneath all the teasing and the sex talk, she also has the biggest heart. I think this is just her way of protecting herself.”

“Why does she need to protect herself?” Logan asks, his tone cooling further as he leans forward between us.

“Her ex was a…” Edie’s voice trails off as she chews on the inside of her cheek. I can’t help but notice how she leans away from Logan. Unlike Henrietta, she has some self-preservation. Then again, she’s not like that with me, which is as curious as it is concerning.

“Her ex was what?” Logan presses, and out of the corner of my eye, I see him scanning the street, like he half expects Henrietta’s ex to appear out of thin air.

“It’s not really for me to say,” Edie replies. “But I can assure you she’s better off without him.”

“Is she in danger?” Logan asks.

“In danger?” Edie frowns. “I don’t think so. At least… Well, there was that one time a few weeks back when Gareth turned up at her house and acted a bit like those pricks in the pub earlier. She dealt with him, though. Gave him a black eye, actually.”

Logan swears under his breath.

“I’ve said too much,” Edie says, pulling a face. “Listen, she might be petite, but Henrietta is as fierce as they come.”

Logan opens his door with a muttered curse. “No, Henrietta is as breakable as you are.”

“Logan—” I begin, but he cuts me off.

“I’ll make my own way back to the club,” he snaps, then gets out of the car and slams the door.