Page 8 of Hellfire & Bowties
“It’s an old-school but highly effective method. We may have to retire it in a few centuries as it becomes obsolete. Like the thumbscrews,” Zorun mused, tapping a claw against his chin. “But people still like to break those out every now and then, so who knows? Things come back into fashion all the time.”
“Oh, I saw the thumbscrews in the storage room,” Oren said. “If they come back in, you’re toast, because those were in horrible condition.”
“Luc let you into the storage room?” Zorun asked.
Oren bit his lip, eyes going wide. “Um…” He shuffled his feet. “I think he wouldn’t have minded… if he knew… I was in there.”
“Right.” Zorun’s face was completely blank. “How about we ask him?”
“I mean, we don’t really have to,” Oren said, shaking his head and adjusting his glasses. “He’s a very busy… man… individual…”
“You can call me the devil, hon. I’m not gonna get offended.” Luc’s voice came from behind him, and Oren jumped, doing a very impressive twirl on the spot and coming face-to-face with Luc.
Well, face to pecs. Very naked pecs. Very hot, large, defined… What were they talking about again?
“Um… I… um…” Oren swallowed hard, looking up to distract himself from the expanse of naked skin in front of him. Why did he have to be so heart-stoppingly hot and climbable? Would he mind if Oren climbed him? Having a personal jungle gym sounded like a good idea. “I didn’t know if it was like… a slur, or something. So I didn’t want to assume.”
“It’s about the same as me calling you a human,” Luc said. “Just stating a fact.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Good. As for wandering around Hell unsupervised, I don’t think it’s the best idea for you at this point,” Luc said. “Not all the demons have been informed of your stay here yet, and I don’t want anyone mistaking you for a sinner. You wouldn’t have a lot of fun with that.”
I could have a lot of fun with you, Oren thought as he ran through the rest of Luc’s words in his head.
“So I can wander around Hell… if I’m supervised?” Oren asked, squinting when Luc laughed at the question.
“Not the message I thought you’d take from that.” He looked over Oren with a weird glint in his eye. “But sure, if you can find someone to escort you, I don’t mind you looking around.”
Oren beamed, loving the feel of those bright eyes on him, wanting more but not knowing how to get it.
“Zorun can show me around,” Oren said, pointing a thumb at the demon and ignoring the sputtering coming from him. He wanted to get Oren in trouble? He was welcome to keep him out of it now.
“Sounds good to me,” Luc said. “Zorun, make sure he’s safe, and no going to the bottom levels. There’s no need for him to see that. Keep it casual.”
“Boss—” Zorun started, his markings glowing brighter in annoyance, but Oren clapped lightly to cut him off.
“I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Now, your sleeping arrangements.” Luc ran a claw over his chin. “I’m afraid that’ll be a bit of an issue. A few of the empty rooms we had caved in over the last few centuries, so they’re not available, and all the other demons are paired up in their rooms. I’m not sure we can find a spot for you…”
“He can room with you, boss,” Zorun said, his hard face splitting into a creepy smile. “Your room has plenty of space, and you’re the only one not sharing.”
Oren gulped again, watching Luc’s expression shift from one emotion to the next, none of them recognizable to Oren. He wasn’t exactly sure he could label his own emotions at the moment. Happy? Ecstatic? Nervous?
“I mean—” Luc started, but Zorun cut him off.
“You can even take over the tour and start there. It only makes sense. I’ll stay here and torture souls.” Zorun looked like an overly chirpy, hell-sent bird as he shuffled them off withinsistent bats of his huge wings, not allowing them a single moment to react before he slammed the door shut on them.
“Umm…” Oren stared at the door, then peeked up through his lashes at Luc.
The devil.
He was alone with the freaking devil.
About to go to the room of the freaking devil, where he was supposed to bestaying.
He heard Luc sigh, that huge chest rising and falling once before Luc turned to him. Oren quickly looked away, not wanting to get caught ogling.
