“Yep, my three big boyfriends are going to come over, and we are going to have an orgy. Drinking wine out of each other’s belly buttons and scooping dip off our bodies.” I swiped my card to pay for my items and then tapped my chin as if in thought. “Do you think I should put down some towels? I’d hate to ruin the carpet.”
The cashier gaped at me, but before she could respond, I grabbed my bags and wagged my fingers at her.
“Wish me luck!”
Chuckling to myself all the way home, I just knew sleep would come easily tonight. Surprising, since the visit to the Granes’ and the dick at the bar had drained all my give-a-shits out of my system. Now, I could collapse on my bed and sink into the inky darkness with a grin on my face.
Arms full of groceries, I struggled to flick the light on the wall. A golden hue covered my tiny apartment, and I tensed. I wasn’t alone. Still holding my bags, my eyes found the figure lounging on my bed. His suit coat tossed aside, shirt unbuttoned, Lucifer screamed sex and danger.
“If you’re here to claim your kiss, you might as well get over it. I’m not in the mood.” I set my bags on the counter, a scowl on my face, half upset that I wouldn’t get to go to bed and the other half pretending the delectable angel laying there like he’d just stepped out of my naughtiest wet dream wasn’t affecting my panties.
Turning my back on the tempting sight, I unpacked my five bottles of wine and array of chips. I sighed in relief when I realized I had indeed bought something more than alcohol and junk food when I found a package of hot dogs. Strange, since I found leftover meat parts forced into a tube utterly horrific.
“Bad night, sweetheart?”
I jumped at Lucifer’s voice next to my ear. Standing from the fridge, I glared. “You could say that.”
“Well, allow me to make it all better.” Lucifer opened his arms to me offering me a full view of his defined abs and the dark trail of hair leading to the top of his pants. My eyes tried to go lower, but I forced them back to his face. I rolled my eyes at the quirk of his lips and twinkle in his dark gaze.
“And how would you do that?” I inclined my head.
“I might not be able to touch you, but I can do other things.” He closed in on me until I had no choice but to stare at the hard planes of his chest. His perfect nipples peeking out from beneath his open shirt, taunting me. Desperate for me to slide my tongue along those heavenly pecs.
“Is that so?” I angled my head back to meet his eyes and not my latest obsession. I’d be dreaming of those hard lines tonight, I just knew it. Clearing my throat, I turned back to the counter and grabbed two bottles of the wine, intent on putting them in the fridge. I had a feeling I’d need them sooner rather than later.
“Jane.” His deep voice lowered, doing wicked things to my insides. Swallowing thickly, I peered up beneath my lashes, feeling a bit shy in his presence.
That was an unusual feeling for me. Lucifer usually inspired the need to drop my panties, not the feelings of a prepubescent teenager who wasn’t sure how to shave her armpits let alone talk to a boy. What was wrong with me today?
I knew what it was.
What happened at the Granes’ house had broken through my hard-won shield, the one that helped me keep others at an arm’s length. Even Mandy rarely got to peer behind my impermeable defenses, but today had made the fight to keep them up too much. I was tired of it all. I wanted nothing more than to let myself be wrapped up in the arms of someone who cared for me. Wanted me.
Whether Lucifer actually cared for me as more than just a hole to put his hellfire filled horn, I didn’t know. The way he looked at me right now said differently. It wasn’t just a heat of consuming need, the genuine concern there had me pulling my lower lip between my teeth.
Finally, I sighed. “Why are you here, Lucy?” I used the nickname I knew would break whatever spell had come between.
Lucifer blinked, and the moment was gone. I immediately spun around. I shoved the two bottles into the fridge and shut it with a resounding slam. When I turned back to the fallen angel to see confusion etched on his face.
Tucking his hands into his pockets, Lucifer rocked back on his heels. “Being a friend. Or, at least, I thought I was.”
I scoffed as I marched out of the kitchen area. “Our definitions of friendship must be different. Because most friends don’t want to jump each other’s bones.”
“All the best ones do.” Lucifer leered, following me into the living room. “And would it be so bad, Jane? To be my friend. You could use someone like me when your time comes.”
Hands on my hips, I glowered. “What makes you think I’m going to Hell? I’m a good person. I don’t steal, I haven’t murdered anyone, and sure, I do tell the occasional white lie, and maybe I double dip my chips,” I explained, crossing my arms over my chest. “But I hardly doubt that’s enough to sentence me to eternal damnation.”
Like the pain in the butt he was, Lucifer shrugged. Just shrugged. Like that answered everything.
“What was that?” I gestured at him, irritation coloring my voice.
“What?” He cocked his head to the side.
Disbelieving and a bit hysterical, I gestured at him. “That. That shrug.” I mimed his shrug back. “When someone asks about their chances of being tortured horribly for the rest of eternity, you don’t answer it with a ... with a Goddamn, motherfucking shrug!”
A devilish grin covered his lips. Hands still in his pockets, Lucifer closed the distance between us. Leaning down, I almost thought he would try to kiss me. My eyelids fluttered in preparation, but his mouth bypassed my lips and brushed against my ear.
“The only one being tortured here is me.” After his mystifying words, Lucifer stepped back from me and nodded. “Good night, Jane.”
My mouth dropped open like a dog begging for a treat as I stared at the place the angel once stood. What the hell did that mean? He was the one being tortured. Why? Because he couldn’t get any? Well, it was a two-way street. I wasn’t getting any either!
“Of all the ridiculous …” My voice trailed off as I shook my head. I jerked off my work clothes and pulled on my bedclothes, the entire time thinking of all the different ways I wanted to torture the Devil. Not sexually. No, I meant pulling toenails. Boiling his balls in hot oil. Giving him an at-home perm.
The options were endless.
When I finally dove beneath my covers, I spent the next five minutes muttering to myself and readjusting my pillow. I couldn’t get comfortable now. My mind was raging and wouldn’t quiet down.
I forced my eyes closed, intent on getting that good night’s sleep like I had planned from the start. Every time I closed my eyes, the flash of Lucifer’s concerned expression and the way his lips felt against my skin, even just that tingling buzz, came to mind.
10
The next morning, I didn’t wake to the smell of coffee and donuts or a sexy angel just waiting to taunt me into a blabbering ball of need. No, for once my apartment was as it should be.
Empty.
Quiet.
I contemplated going back to sleep, making it a lazy day since it was my day off, but then my phone rang.
Of fucking course.
Growling at my utter bad luck, I leaned over the bed and searched the floor for last night’s pants. When I didn’t find my phone in there, I shoved back the covers and dug through the never-ending pile of clothes. Wasn’t there either. The incessant ringing kept going, and I wondered when the hell my voicemail would kick in.
Finally, I stomped across my tiny apartment to where I still had bags of groceries. Suddenly, panic filled me. My ringing phone pushed to the back of my mind, I dug through the bags of chips and dip. I tossed a box of toothpaste onto the floor, and then when I found what I was looking for, I let out a cry of relief.
My ice cream wasn’t in the bags! Thank God! I’d still have my chunky strawberry cream cheese ice cream to eat while I binge watched TV today.