Page 9 of Raphael
I duck my head. “Clear as crystal.”
With a terse nod, she hooks her arm through Helena’s and guides her up into the pulsing lights and music. But at the threshold, Eve pauses, tossing a coy look my way.
“We’ll have a nice long chat about this later, yes? For now, keep it under wraps, you two.” Her meaning is as clear as sacramental wine.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Helena and I rush to say in sync. I avoid her eyes, her warm honeysuckle scent still clinging to my senses.
With a cryptic smile, Eve departs, plunging me back into muted darkness. I loiter awkwardly, waiting a few beats before attempting to slip out unseen.
The hidden cellar door gives easily now, leading me into the dusky alley. I gulp the crisp air like a drowning man breaking the surface.
What a night of surprises. My thoughts churn as I make my way through the garbage-strewn backstreets to where I parked. Helena’s kiss plays on a loop in my mind, a short circuit in my brain.
I knew Lucifer kept intriguing company. But his own niece? That’s anewlevel of forbidden fruit, even for me.
No. Fuck, no! I can’t. I shouldn’t.
When I reach my Mercedes, I pause with my hand on the door. I should leave this be. Nothing good can come from tonight’s little misadventure.
And yet... my engine still runs hot, thoughts swerving back to Helena despite all sense. What harm could one more encounter do? I’m addicted to her flame now—consequences be damned.
I rev the engine, peeling off into the sultry night air. I know Eve gave me clear instructions to keep away. But when have I ever excelled at obedience?
CHAPTER6
Helena
The door clicks shutbehind me and I lean back against it, letting out a shaky breath. My nerves still jangle from the verbal lashing Uncle Luci gave me for being missing when he summoned me earlier. As a half-demoness, I’m not immune to his wrath like his full-blooded kin. His volcanic temper is infamous across realms.
I toe off my sensible pumps with a groan of relief. The plush carpet of my new apartment envelops my aching soles. One perk of assisting with the club’s books is getting to stay rent-free in this posh Marina del Rey highrise Uncle Luci owns.
I pad across the open concept space towards the kitchen, flicking on lights as I go. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the far wall reveal a sweeping vista of the glimmering city and ocean beyond.
After the chaos of the club, the tranquil space soothes my frazzled nerves. I set my clipboard on the granite kitchen island and open the fridge, smiling as the cool air washes over my flushed skin.
A nice crisp white calls to me from the bottom shelf. I extract the bottle and rummage for the corkscrew, anticipation rising. Some liquid courage to steady my nerves is surely in order after the night’s events.
Tucking the bottle under my arm, I slip past the sliding doors onto the balcony. The sea breeze whispers through my hair as I settle onto a cushioned lounge chair. My limbs melt in relief, finally free of the torturous heels.
With a satisfying pop, I pull the cork free and take a deep swig right from the bottle. The wine’s sharp bite smooths as it slips down my throat, kindling a glow in my belly.
I release a contented sigh, leaning back to admire the view. Car lights stream along the highway in hypnotic patterns. The purple-black sky arches overhead, scattered with pinprick stars.
As lovely as it is, I can’t focus on the scenery tonight. My thoughts keep swirling back to the club’s dank cellar... and the mysterious man I met there.
Raphael.The archangel—no less. Just thinking his name sends a flutter through my core. I raise the bottle for another hearty gulp, heat creeping up my neck.
By the devil, I’d hoped the wine might banish him from my mind, not make the memories more vivid. Yet here they are replaying in technicolor detail—the press of his lips on my skin, his fingers tangled in my hair, his ravenous eyes devouring me in the dark...
A fresh wave of vexation crashes over me. How dare he catch me so off guard, sweep me away in a moment of vulnerability? He took blatant advantage of the situation.
Although... I can’t deny I was a ratherenthusiasticparticipant. I’d never acted so wantonly before, so quickly overtaken by desire. Everything about him seemed designed to tempt me beyond reason.
And despite my better judgment, it worked. From the instant our eyes locked in the shadows, reckless hunger awoke inside me. His touch lit my every nerve ablaze.
I take another healthy swig from the bottle, willing the memories away. But they continue to assault me—his deft hands exploring my curves, his velvet voice murmuring devilish things in my ear. The way he took charge, so irresistibly harsh and demanding, as he guided me to the edge of ecstasy…
A groan escapes me and I press the cool bottle to my flushed cheeks. Damn, the archangel’s bewitching skill. I must regain control of my wayward thoughts before they steer me down dangerous paths.
