Page 56 of Demons & Damnation

“Well, you’re clearly not human.” She looked down at her jeans and brushed some dirt off them. “And neither am I. But I guess you’ve figured that by now.”

When she looked back up at him, her eyes sparkling with life, Ben knew he’d met his match. He knew in that instant, without a doubt, she was his missing piece, his demi-soul, the missing part that would finally complete him.

“But...but I sensed nothing,” Ben said. “I should have sensed something if you weren’t human. I don’t get it.” He frowned and shook his head, questioning his own abilities.

Sam grinned. “You first. What are you? And who are you?”

He stared at her for a good few seconds before letting out a sigh and giving in. “My name is Balthazar. My brother is Azazel, and yes, he is actually my brother. We are...” He waved his hand through the air as if searching for the right word “...demons. We work for Lucifer and once a year for three months we get a holiday.” He lifted his arms up and gestured around him. “This year, we’re here.”

Sam nodded, pursing her lips. After a few seconds, she said, “I guess Dylan was right when he said something was off with you two.”

Balthazar frowned, giving her a questioning look. “How did he know? What are you?”

Sam grinned. “Werewolf, of course.”

Dawning realisation swirled through Balthazar’s eyes. “That’s why it attacked you. And you, not being a mum yet, don’t have full access to your powers.”

Sam shrugged her shoulders. “You got me.”

The two stared at each other for a good minute or more, silent, working out their options from here. Sam couldn’t help but think that actually, the universe had now given her everything she wanted—an older man, who was hot as hell, packed with money, and could give her everything she wanted. All wrapped up in this beautiful package. No compromise needed. He looked her age but had the experience and everything else of a proper gentleman.

Balthazar couldn’t help but wonder how his demi-soul had turned out to be a werewolf. What a curve ball. Could he give up his supernatural life to be a part of someone else’s? The supernatural world was dark and dangerous, he wouldn’t be able to protect her without his magic. But if he wanted to be with her, he would have to forfeit it.

Then a dawning realisation hit him, Mildred’s words coursing through his mind—Be careful, Balthazar. Sometimes the answer we crave is not the one given. Sam, being a werewolf, would live a much longer life than any human. At least two hundred years. If Balthazar gave up his demonic ways to be with her, he would still only get the mere eighty odd years of a human.

What a twist of fate.

“What next?” Sam asked, pulling him from his thoughts. “Are we just carrying on as normal or are we drawing a line in the sand?”

Balthazar ran a hand through his dark hair, letting out a sigh. “I’ll be frank, no more airs and graces. Is that ok?”

“Sure.”

“I think you’re exactly who I’ve been looking for. When I cast the spell for our holiday this year, I asked to be brought to the place where my demi-soul is.” He ran his tongue over his lips. “And I’m ninety nine percent sure that’s you.”

“Demi-soul? What the hell is that?”

“You might be more familiar with the term soulmate. We call it demi-soul because it’s half a soul. One complete soul is made up of two halves. You are my missing half.”

Sam took in his words for a few seconds before bursting out into laughter. When she saw the serious look on his face, she stopped. “Wait, you’re serious?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and said, “You think that’s going to get me into bed or something?”

Balthazar rolled his eyes. “Please, I’m not my brother. I would wait years for that if I needed to.”

Sam folded her arms across her chest and studied the handsome demon before her, trying to decide what his end game here might be. After a few seconds, she asked, “And what makes you so sure I’m who you’re looking for?”

“Without risking sounding cheesy, it’s the way I feel when I’m around you. Everything is as easy as breathing. I feel calm and relaxed...” He tapped his fingers over his chest “...in here. I feel like...” He took a deep breath and then said, “...I feel like I’m home when I’m around you.”

Sam bit her bottom lip and soaked in his words for several seconds. In a split second she realised there was only one way to know if his words had an ounce of truth in them.

Closing the gap between them, Sam pressed herself against Balthazar’s firm body, cupping his face in both of her hands. She touched her lips to his, marvelling at the soft velvet brushing back against her mouth.

Balthazar wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him with all the strength he dare without breaking her bones. When he parted his lips, Sam took her opportunity and tangled her tongue with his in a slow, passionate dance.

An involuntary shudder coursed through her body, settling in a potent bundle of tingles straight between her legs. Her mind filled with images of her stripping him naked, kissing every inch of his fine form.

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