“Don’t call me that,” Lucifer snapped, pulling me out of my pleasure-filled delirium.
“He’s right, Lucifer. Jane called us here for a reason, and we can at least give her the courtesy of explaining herself in her own time.” Michael tapped his fingernails on the table. How no one else heard him was beyond me. How they could touch anything at all didn’t make much sense. One of those things I shouldn’t think too much about.
I squirmed in my seat, the attention and my train of thought not helping me relax, but I might as well get it over with. Off like a band-aid as they say.
“I wanted to apologize.” Jeez, those words were hard to get out. “I realize I came down really hard on you guys, and it wasn’t fair to blame my raging libido on you. It’s not like you get me all hot and bothered on purpose ...” I trailed off before shoving another spoonful into my mouth to give myself a moment, the grins on their faces making me squirm. “Anyway,” I said through a mouthful of froyo, “I kind of need your help.”
“Ah, here it is,” Lucifer smirked, unbuttoning his suit button to lean forward on the table. “So, what is it you need? Not making enough money at the bar anymore? Want to strike out on your own?” The laughter in his voice made me sink further into my seat. At this rate, I’d be on the floor before I even finished eating.
“Oh, don’t pout.” Gabriel grinned and leaned in close. “We’re happy to help. I always thought the bar was too loud anyway. You should find a nice little shop where you can sell those little bobbles, you know, good luck charms and such. Humans like that stuff, right?”
I giggled and waved him away. “No, it’s nothing like that. My friend, Mandy, works for the police department, and they wanted my help finding some girl.”
Lucifer’s eyes lit up, his grin turning wicked. “Oh, this is about that bloke from last night, isn’t it?”
I nodded and, shoving my hair away from my face, sighed. “Look, you don’t have to help me if you don’t want to, but I thought you guys might want to do something else besides hanging around, you know, up there.” My eyes shot to Lucifer who raised his brows. “Or in your case, down.”
“We’d be glad to help you, Jane,” Michael said in a way I didn’t like.
“I feel a ‘but’ coming on.” I held onto my bowl until the cold burned my hands.
Michael smiled. “Of course, there will be certain conditions for our assistance.”
I couldn’t hold back my groan. “What do you want?”
“A kiss.” Lucifer jumped in before Michael could answer. “Each. At a time and place of our choosing.”
“I can get behind that.” Gabriel grinned broadly.
My lips pressed together tightly, the very thought of kissing any of them made my blood run hotter than it should with so much frozen yogurt in my system. Believe me, if kissing them had been a real option, I’d been in a four-way lip lock already, but sadly the only lip action I was getting was with my wine bottle. Why they were putting it on the table now, I wasn’t sure. Maybe something to look forward to if they became corporeal?
Or Lucifer just wanted a new way to torture me.
“Fine, but” - I held my finger up before they could speak - “how the heck do you expect to do that when you can’t touch me?”
“Let us worry about that.” Lucifer grinned like a maniac.
“Works for me,” Gabriel said, disappearing without another word.
“Agreed.” Michael inclined his head before disappearing as well.
“Hey, wait a second,” I called after them, but they were gone leaving me alone with Lucifer. My gaze snapped to his gloating face. “And then there was one. Are you going to give me some answers?”
Lucifer grinned until I could see his molars, making me wiggle in my seat. “All I will say is that I look forward to working with you and collecting my payment.” He licked his lips, and I would be lying if I didn’t say that it turned me on. A part of me really hoped they could find a way to touch me, that part of me was also jumping up and down like a cheerleader on prom night.
“Freaking angels,” I muttered, and as if my day couldn’t get any worse, my phone rang. I found the cord of my earbuds and the very not-plugged-in end of it. Not even taking the chance to look at the audience I probably had earned myself, I picked up the phone. “What’s up, Mandy?”
“Hey, Jane. Are you coming by soon? The captain could really use your ... expertise.” I could hear her exasperation even through the phone.
“Sure. I was about to head that way now. Just gathering my ...” I glanced at Lucifer who didn’t seem in any hurry to get moving. “… spiritual energy.”
Mandy snorted. “Yeah, all right. See you soon.”
Putting the phone away, I didn’t bother saying anything to Lucifer as I got out of the booth. I threw my melted goodness away, sadness filling my stomach at how such a delicious thing had gone to waste. I hated adulting.
I made my way to the parking garage of the mall the Tasty Orange resided in, not caring if the Devil was following me or not. I’d need one of them at the police station, but I was pretty sure they’d show up when I called. Until then, my panties would take the reprieve while they could. I had a feeling I’d be paying up soon enough.
When I got to my car, a certain angel with windblown hair was leaning against it. “What are you doing here?”
“Don’t sound so excited,” Gabriel grumbled, his lower lip poking out. If I could touch him, I’d bite that lip. God, I needed to get laid.
“Sorry, but I need to get to work.” I reached through him, trying to ignore the fact that my hand was practically going through his groin. I started to open my door, but Gabriel shifted until he was almost completely inside of me. Groaning at the tingles rushing through my body, I growled, “Do you mind?”
“Not really.” Gabriel grinned, a dimple showing on that right cheek I couldn’t help but want to lick.
“Well, it’s annoying.”
“Is it?” Gabriel chuckled. “From what I smell, it’s not annoying you at all.”
I pressed my thighs together and cursed my raging hormones. Maybe I’d just get a good vibrator and have a masturbation marathon. I wonder if the guys would want to watch? I know Lucifer would for sure. He seemed the type to be into to that kind of thing, and there was Michael’s offer before…
“I can’t wait to taste you,” Gabriel murmured his thumb stroking the pulse along the side of my neck, the warmth slipping through my skin and straight to my core. “Do you think if I tried, I could kiss you right now?” His mouth descended on mine, and a buzzing brushed along my lips, making my mouth numb.
I jerked my mouth away from him, my hands coming up to push him away, but I only ended up falling through him. I caught myself before I fell on my face. Spinning around, I glowered at Gabriel, who shrugged.
“What?” Gabriel asked.
“How did you think that was a good idea?” I crossed my arms over my chest with a sigh.
Gabriel shrugged again. “You can’t blame a guy for trying?”
“I suppose not.” Despite my quip, I had been hoping it would work too. I shook my head and sighed. “I promised Mandy I’d be down at the police station soon. I don’t think she’ll be happy to find out I’m late because I was making out with invisible guys.” I shot a look around the parking lot. I’d completely forgotten where we were, that was how absorbed I’d been by him. Thankfully, no one was gawking at the girl tonguing the air, but I didn’t trust it would stay that way.
“Let me come with you.” Gabriel appeared on the other side of the car before I even got the door open to my side.
Sitting in my seat, I buckled up and turned on the car before turning to him. “Look, I’m all on board for this kissing in exchange for help, but I don’t want you or me to get our hopes up.”
“Your hopes are up?” Gabriel cocked a brow.
“As are my nips.” I shot him a grin. “Believe me if you could touch me right now, we’d be in the back of my car like a couple of randy teenagers.”
Gabriel glanced back at the back seat. “I’d never fit back there.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. These guys were going to be the end of me.