When it first got out that I could see them, Gabriel showed up at my house as eager as a pup, but when we found we couldn’t touch each other, he’d scurried away with his tail between his legs. Of course, not long after, Michael had showed up all glowery and domineering, demanding, like now, to know what I’d done to Gabriel.
“I didn’t do anything to Gabriel,” I said, repeating the words I’d had to say far too many times lately. I grabbed my Chinese from the microwave, not even bothered that it was lukewarm now. Plopping down on the couch, I slurped noodles, making sure to be extra annoying with each slurp.
Michael didn’t even seem bothered as he stood in the middle of my apartment. “I don’t know why you bother to fight it.”
“Fight what?” I asked through a mouthful of food. Maybe if I disgusted him enough, they’d get the message.
“Destiny, of course.” He smiled at me, and I swear my heart stuttered.
“I’m hardly fighting anything. Believe me, if ya’ll could touch me, really touch me, we would be having a whole different conversation right now.” Actually, I hoped we wouldn’t be talking, that our mouths would be preoccupied with other things. Not letting on to what I was thinking, I added, “Also, I don’t believe in destiny.” I avoided his eyes as I dug into my Chinese, the bottom of the container coming faster than I’d hoped.
“Jane, there’s a reason you can see us. Feel us.” His voice warmed, and I dared glance up for a moment. Michael’s gaze caused my whole body to warm as his voice caressed my skin. “We are drawn to you. I don’t know why, but I’ve known for a while not to fight what the Creator has planned for us.”
I snorted, standing up. “Well, destiny can kiss my ass, all implications implied. I choose my path, no one else.” I paused and raised a brow. “Unless you’re here to show me exactly what destiny can do?”
Ignoring my innuendo, Michael said, “You can hide behind your free will all you like, it won’t change the truth.” With Michael as close as he was, even his incorporeal self made my nipples harden, just from his presence.
I’d had just about enough of my body’s reactions for the night. I needed a break. Trying to get as much space between us as possible, I made for the kitchen. Tossing my sadly empty Chinese container in the trash, I scooped up what was left of my wine.
“Don't try to pretend you don't crave us like we crave you,” Michael commanded, prowling toward me. “Our senses are far superior to a mere human’s. I can smell your desire from here.”
“Who’s pretending?” I countered.
“We both know we could do more… things that don’t involve touching.” Michael's gaze raked over me as he spoke, making all sorts of bad ideas dance through my mind.
“That sounds like it might make things worse and not better,” I said, swallowing hard as my eyes traces the hard lines of his body.
“Perhaps.” I didn't think it was possible for someone to sound sexy and haughty all at the same time, but Michael had, you know, right before he vanished completely.
“Figures,” I grumbled at the empty spot he left. Unscrewing the wine bottle that had seen more action than me in one night than I had in the last year, I chugged it until it was gone.
Crawling into bed, I smirked as I remembered my conversation with Michael, but this memory had a decidedly different outcome, one that I’d love to let happen. Hell, it was one I wanted to have happen.
3
Thankfully, the rest of my night was quiet, and I meant that in a completely no-angels-in-my-house kind of way. I didn’t even notice I’d fallen asleep until the sun beamed in through the curtains, blinding me through my eyelids. I cracked them open enough to grab the blanket and yank it over my head. That small amount of time was all I needed to catch a glimpse of a blurry figure sitting on my raggedy old couch. Freaking wonderful.
“If you’re a robber, get on with it,” I grumbled from beneath the covers. “There’s nothing here to take unless you like cold Chinese and a pathetic attempt at a half decent life.”
“Now, I wouldn’t say that, love.” The sinfully delicious sound of Lucifer’s voice wafted through the fibers of the blanket. “I would say you have a more than decent life. You have me after all.”
Snorting, I sat up with the blanket clutched to my chest. “You would think that, but any sane person would have committed themselves by now.”
I should be used Lucifer’s gorgeousness. I should not get girly tingles every time I see him in his devilish splendor. The way he sat on my couch, both arms draped over the sides, one leg crossed over the other as if he owned the damn thing, made my traitorous thighs press together.
Lucifer’s dark eyes glinted with amusement, and for the first time, I noticed how his nostrils flared as if checking the air. Irritation filled me as Michael’s words resurfaced. Fucking angels and their enhanced senses.
Note to self. Buy obnoxious perfume to cover up the scent.
Not bothering to berate him for his omission of said abilities, he’s the Devil so he wouldn’t admit it anyways, I stared him down. “What do you want?” The exhaustion in my voice came out as a growl.
Standing from the couch, he towered over me as he took the few strides to my bed. Without warning, he sat down next to me, causing the mattress to dip considerably. I clutched the blanket to me even tighter, cursing myself for not putting on proper underwear last night.
“I want what all men want,” Lucifer murmured, his eyes darkening as they promised horribly naughty things I’d no doubt enjoy but regret when they were over.
“A big breakfast?” I countered, trying to get rid of the stifling tension in the room. “Do you guys even eat, like real food? For that matter, do you even follow human laws? If not, what’s the point of following social niceties or even wearing clothes for that matter?” My rambling was cut short when I had somehow come full circle to the point at hand.
“If that is what you wish, I can accommodate such a request.” His lips curled into a wicked grin as he reached for the buttons of his white dress shirt.
I reached out and grabbed his hand before he could disrobe or at least tried to. It ended up going through his chest. I couldn’t help but wiggle it around a bit. I blame the wine from last night. Too much wine and not enough water. I was dehydrated, I couldn’t be held accountable for my actions or run-away mouth.
“Please, keep your clothes on, my heart can’t take much more of your endless teasing.” I pressed my mouth into a thin line and patted at him awkwardly, promptly killing the mood. “I don’t have time for you today in any case.”
Lucifer, never the one to be disheartened, leaned forward, and purred, “Really? I could make time if you’d like.”
Pretending his tone didn’t make my core gush like Old Faithful, I cocked my head to the side. “You can do that? Stop time, I mean? Because really that would make my day a whole lot easier. You have no idea how many things I have to get done, and there is hardly any time before I have to be at work tonight.”
Seeing he didn’t get the desired effect, Lucifer sighed, the first signs of agitation causing lines on his face. “You really are something else, Jane.”
“So, I’ve been told.”
“I’m serious. Here I am, pouring my heart out to you ...” I snorted, causing him to glare in my direction.
“And you make jokes,” Lucifer sneered. ”You’ve admitted you want me, and I know that if I could touch you right now, you’d fall to pieces, and yet you defy me. Why?”
I shrugged with a wry grin. “It’s either that or go insane. A girl can only take so much foreplay without a promise of a climax before she goes crazy. You might be into the pain game, but I’m not a masochist. Now about the time thing …”
Exasperation covered his face as he ran a hand through his dark hair, tousling it even more than before. “No, I cannot literally stop time for you to get more errands done. The paperwork alone for such a feat wouldn’t even make up for what you could provide me with in return.”