Page 41 of Midnight with the Devil

“We don’t need anything else?” Lucien glanced around the store hopefully.

“You really like shopping, don’t you?” She laughed at his baffled expression.

“I suppose I do.” He guided the shopping cart to the nearest line. She quickly put their items on the belt for a scanner.

“You check out yourself?” Lucien watched her in fascination.

“Do you ever spend time in the world in normal places?”

“Not really.” He paused and handed her items. “I stick to clubs and—well, mostly clubs. Although I did visit your friend’s Occultist’s Apothecary shop the other day.”

“What?” Diana swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. “You went to see Amara? Please don’t hurt her. She—”

Lucien cupped her chin, the hold firm but gentle. “She’s fine. I was merely curious as to who you are trying to get to help you defy me. The white witch is a smart choice.”

“I didn’t go to defy you.” She tried to pull away, but he curled one arm around her waist. To anyone walking by it probably looked like they were embracing like lovers, not that she was being held captive by the devil.

“You weren’t?” Lucien’s sensual mouth was a hard line, and it frightened her a little. Okay, a lot.

“No. I was just freaked out, okay? I’d only just realized the bargain we made wasn’t a dream, and it scared me. I needed to talk to somebody who believed in that stuff. I didn’t know she was a white witch.”

Lucien brushed the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip.

“Lucky for you, I can taste truth.” He leaned down and sealed his lips over hers. The kiss was explosive and sinful, open-mouthed with tongue.

Good God… She melted into him, grasping his shoulders to stay on her feet.

When their lips finally parted, she stumbled a little and bumped into the shopping cart.

“Truth.” Lucien’s lips curved up in a smile. “Good girl. You should never lie to the devil.”

“I wasn’t trying to lie.” She stared into his dark fathomless eyes, wishing she could read his expression. Everything about him was so closed off all the time. He was a dark mystery wrapped in obsidian and buried in fathoms of crushing oblivion. It was easy to become lost in his gaze. It sucked her in, drew her into a black hole where no light could shine. There was just nothingness. A tremor rippled through Diana’s body and soul.

Lucien’s hands absorbed her shaking, and he suddenly released her, stepping back as he resumed helping her check out. The darkness, the frightening “end” she had sensed just beneath the surface of his gaze had vanished, and once more he looked like an all too sexy man casually shopping for groceries. They checked out, and then they took the cart outside and loaded her trunk. She watched him return the cart to one of the cart kiosks in the parking lot.

“Now what?” Lucien asked.

“We’re done. I guess I’ll see you next Friday night at midnight.” She turned to the driver’s-side door and pulled on the handle, but the door didn’t open. Because a large masculine hand was pressed on the top of the door, keeping it closed. Tension coiled inside her as she spoke.

“Lucien, Ireallyneed to go. My parents are expecting me.”

“At thisbarbecue?” he asked. There was a hint of a challenge in his tone.

“Yeah.” She kept her own voice casual, hoping he wouldn’t be interested in coming.

“Then I’ll come too.”

Shit.So much for the casual plan.

She laughed a little too hysterically. “You can’t come to a barbecue. My parents and their neighbors will be there.” She gave another fruitless tug on the handle.

“So?” he growled in obvious frustration.

“You can’t just—”

“Can’t I? Do you forget who you’re talking to? I’m the damned devil. I’ve ended worlds, destroyed empires, and you think you can keep me away from some barbecue?”

Well shit. He has a point. She couldn’t stop him from doing anything he wanted to do. That was the problem.

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