“Table for two, please,” Sin said, like he’d done this a thousand times.
I frowned. Now that I thought about it, he was at complete ease in my realm. He’d gone grocery shopping and cooked me an entire meal that first day while I’d slept. Apparently he’d spent enough time here to know how the little things worked.
If I went to hell, I’d be a lost, vulnerable little lamb. The thought irked me.
The waitress beamed and led us towards the back, past several filled tables. I scanned them all, praying not to recognise anyone.
A toddler in a highchair squealed in excitement, throwing her stuffed dinosaur in the air as we neared a busy table. Without missing a beat, Sin snagged the bright plushie before it could hit me in the face.
His lips quirked, and I sucked in a panicked breath as he turned to the small child. My limbs burned as I readied myself to intervene.
The toddler looked up at the demon and shot chubby hands out in a grabbing motion.
Sin smiled, a gentle look of indulgence on his features as he handed the toy back to the little girl. “Here you go. You have a very cute friend,” he said.
Of course Sin would think a bloodthirsty, overgrown lizard was cute.
My heart melted as the girl smiled shyly, cuddling the toy to her front as she peeked up at the demon.
Her mother cooed beside her, giving Sin a grateful smile. “Sorry about that. Go on, Annabelle, say thank you to the nice man.”
I wasn’t sure I’d call Sin a “nice man,” but I also wasn’t sure what to make of the expression on his face. On anyone else, I might even call it broody.
The thought struck me harder than my uncle ever had.
Did Sin want children of his own? And why did the idea of that take my breath away?
That odd warmth in my chest was back, stronger than ever, nestling right beside my heart.
“Ta-ta,” the little girl said, hiding her face in the dinosaur.
“You’re most welcome.” Sin pitched forward into a regal bow and the girl burst into a fit of giggles before Sin nodded to the mother.
The waitress looked how I felt, as if her ovaries might burst from the cuteness. I shot her the side-eye I wanted to give myself, and she blushed, quickly leading us further into the restaurant.
“We’ll take this one.” Sin pointed to a table in front of the vast windows.
My eyes narrowed. Would he insist on the tail collar while I ate? If he didn’t, any hunters watching would think I was complicit in my capture.
Nobody else would have just sat there opposite a demon and peacefully eaten lunch.
“Of course, sir,” the waitress said, a slight breathy quality to her voice.
I felt the first stirrings of a tension headache and massaged my temples as I followed Sin to his chosen table.
He dragged my chair out for me, positioning it closer to him.
I raised a brow but sat. Apparently the collar stayed.
Great. Who didn’t want to be lightly choked at lunch?
The demon joined me at the table, flashing me a wicked grin like he’d read the thought on my face.
“Would you like anything to drink?” The waitress asked brightly, having followed us over.
Sin’s attention dropped to her throat, and I tensed. Surely he wouldn’t just leap up and sink his fangs in? Right here in front of a restaurant full of people?
Sin showed off a fang as he smirked at me. “A bottle of pinot grigio. If you have it, please.”