Page 6 of Nightmares and Numerology

I bit the inside of my cheek to contain a smile. Angelo would probably take it as an invitation to exact a little retribution on Vin. While I certainly thought the incubus deserved the beating he’d gotten, setting Angelo on him twice seemed excessive. I mean, Vin had been trying to look out for Angelo in his own twisted way. But if I ever heard of him trying it again on anybody else, I would deliver the next beating personally. I had the powers of a demon, a faerie, and a night hag fused to my soul, thanks to Indigo. Next time, I’d know how to use at least one of their skill sets.

“I think he got the message.”

Angelo scowled at his spoon, clearly disappointed that there wasn’t more sugary goodness clinging to its contours. He stabbed it back into his bowl, digging out a whole strawberry. He then popped it into his mouth and chewed slowly.

“He still touched you. I don’t like that.”

“Because I’m yours?” I asked.

“No, because he scared you. Uncertainty can be fun; terror, not so much. I never want you to be scared of me.” He paused, considered it, then amended, “Well, any more than is appropriate.” I laughed at that, but he continued. “I plan to use a whip on you at some point. If you aren’t scared of some of the things I like, I might be concerned about your mental health. Iama demon, after all.”

Another laugh slipped past my careful control. I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t sure if I should have been scared or anticipatory. What was more, I couldn’t believe I was sitting here calmly discussing my sexual fantasies with a literal handsome devil like Angelo. Rodney would have tapped out of this conversation inseconds. He’d never said it aloud, but I sensed he thought I shouldn’t like or care about sex as much as he did. My libido seemed to confuse and disgust him on the rare occasion we discussed our sex life.

“I don’t have a lot of experience in that area,” I admitted. “Rodney wasn’t into it.”

“Rodney is a moron,” Angelo said, flicking a bug off the table before it could reach his sundae. “I suppose I should be glad for that. If he were worth anything, you’d be here with him, not me.”

I ducked my chin and scooped up a runny spoonful of pistachio ice cream to conceal my grin. It was petty, but I wasreallyenjoying the casual disparagement of my ex after this morning’s court debacle.

“Circling back to the original topic,” I said, jabbing my spoon at him. “What’s this about the pheromones? What happened?”

Angelo’s shoulders lifted in another helpless shrug. “I went to the coven after I noticed Vin wasn’t having an effect on you.”

“The coven?”

He nodded. “Those old biddies are usually the best to consult in cases like this.”

“And?”

“And as best as they can figure, it’s a fluke. You’ve siphoned my magic, which means you’re keyed into my pheromones specifically. It made you less susceptible to the pheromones of others, including Vin.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t think telling you would be an issue. As far as I knew, you didn’t plan to hook up with other demons.” He paused and studied me. “Was I wrong?”

The tone was teasing, but the mocking smile didn’t reach his eyes. The answer mattered to him, no matter what he said to the contrary.

“I’m a one-demon kind of girl,” I answered with a smirk.“But if you happen to find a handsome devil who wants to sign on for a long-term situationship, tell him to call me.”

Angelo’s reply was succinct.

In a movement graceful enough to defy probability, he moved my ice cream out of his way, seized my chin, and pulled my face up for a searing kiss. The sweet burst of strawberry on my tongue drew a moan from my throat. I was breathing hard when Angelo pulled away, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. My heart raced, like he’d already put me through my paces. The man could reduce me to a puddle with just a kiss. I wasn’t sure I could survive a roll in the hay.

“Let me rephrase,” he said in a husky undertone. “Am I the only one you want?”

It was a deceptively simple question with a needlessly complicated answer, mainly because it was sometimes hard to tell where I ended and Indigo began. My desires and memories had blended with hers in my subconscious. And that meant I couldn’t deny that a part of me longed for Indigo’s lost love, Anthony. It was especially difficult these days, with the man himself strutting around Haven Hollow looking mournful and disturbingly attractive, though we’d never so much as kissed.

“I think the more pertinent question is ifyouwant to be exclusive,” I managed. “You’re the sex demon with a reputation to uphold, after all.”

“My reputation can go to hell,” he answered almost too quickly. Then those searing eyes were on mine again. “I want you. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you. The question is: do you want me?”

I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. The answer was an unequivocal yes, but I’d expected it to take a lot more ribbing to get the truth from him. It took a second to unknot my tongue and answer him.

“Y-yes?”

Angelo’s lips tilted up in an utterly sinful fashion. It was the look he gave me before he said something he knew would make me squeal in mock outrage.

“You don’t sound sure.”

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