Page 23 of Satan's Son

“Time will tell,” Ethan answered. “We should leave. We have another one to get to.”

I followed Ethan out of the small house and into the dimly lit street. Before he and I had our little fight, it could be said that I’d done most of the talking and he mainly grunted and yelled.

But now it seemed the tables had turned. Ethan was taking every opportunity to make conversation with me. We’d had to walk nearly two blocks to this girl’s house and the whole time he was firing questions at me, trying to strike up a conversation, but I didn’t let it happen.

Although I do admit it was becoming extremely painful keeping my mouth shut and not firing smart comebacks at him. I was missing my hobby of annoying him.

“You did well.” Ethan glanced at me as I walked beside him. “Didn’t even need me to step in.”

I nodded, and then looked straight ahead. “Where to next?” I wished Ethan would just tell me how he knew that information. I was sick of giving him the cold shoulder.

“Ten blocks up,” Ethan said through gritted teeth. Stopping abruptly, he wrapped a hand around my wrist. “Would you drop the cold attitude toward me already?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” I pulled my wrist away with a fierce look.

“Please.” He rolled his eyes. “It is most likely killing you not being able to annoy me. I don’t know how you’re managing it.”

“Well, seeing as your dream of me shutting up is coming true, I guess everything is just fine,” I shouted in his face. If anyone could hear me, I was sure I would have woken people from their sleep.

My heels clicked on the pavement as I stomped away, my fists clenched in my pockets.

“I looked after you.”

Ethan’s voice stopped me.

“I always have, since… well, since you were three and wandered away from your dad at the beach. I guided you back. Ever since that day, I…”

Ethan’s voice broke, and I couldn’t turn around to see his face because I was honestly stunned, barely able to take in what he was telling me.

“I’ve been a part of your life for… nearly your whole life. That’s how I know.”

His voice was soft, edged with embarrassment. As much as I couldn’t believe it, it made sense. I slowly turned around, shocked.

“So, you are saying that you… You’ve been looking after me?” I arched an eyebrow.

I saw the panic in his eyes, and the gulp he took before he nodded.

“Why?” Why would he want to look after me? He’d told me at the start it wasn’t his job to guide people, so why was he guiding me?

“You aren’t the first one to ask me that.” He glared down at the pavement.

“You have been looking after me?”

“I suppose.” He gritted his teeth. “I know I had no right to.”

I took a few steps forward, closer to him. He looked up at the sound of my heels. “Well, I don’t object to it.”

Ethan looked shocked when he heard those words.

“Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of questions but…” I felt the attraction right there and then. Ethan had been looking after me my whole life, shielding me from death. Sure, I admit I was feeling a slow attraction to him already. It would be hard for a woman not to, given his looks.

But after hearing that he was like a guardian angel to me, I could feel the lustful feelings twisting into love.

“But?” he prompted me, taking a step forward, now only a few paces from me.

I took another step closer to him. “I’m not mad at you.”

“Really?” He arched an eyebrow. “I’ve stalked you most of your life.”

“I think it is more along the lines of caring.” I tilted my head slightly. “Although you do have questions to answer.”

A flirtatious look crossed his face. “Don’t get me wrong. I want to answer all your questions but…”

“But?”

He stepped closer, his body touching mine. “But we have somewhere to be.” Leaning his head down slightly, he whispered in my ear, “Maybe after, I will answer your questions.”

The heat from his breath swirled around my ear, sending hot shivers through my body. His shoulder gently touched mine as he walked past me.

Closing my eyes, I had a feeling things had just gone from simmering to red hot. Just how burned would I get from dealing with the Devil’s son?

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