Page 85 of Devil Bound
Yes, those were things I could focus on and actually do.Things I could control.
With any luck, Sexy Mitch and Christine had already made a break in the case, and the murderer was in custody even as I was taking a nap in the Devil’s bedroom.Tomorrow, my life might be back to normal.There was no use in prolonging this moment which had been bound to end from the start, and fuck these soft, soft sheets Lucifer had wrapped me in.
I could see my clothes slung over the back of the chair by the door, just where I’d left them in preparation for my escape.I needed a shower, yes, but I wasn’t going to stay for that.
Carefully and slowly, I pushed the sheets aside and maneuvered myself out of Lucifer’s arms.He stirred once, but either he was faking sleep, or being with me had exhausted him.Given that the bed was so large, I had to crawl carefully across the mattress, hoping the shift of my weight wouldn’t wake him.
In the end, I got to my feet and ignored the cold air that froze all the places he’d touched.I shook my head at my idiocy and firmly told the small voice in my mind that wanted me to creep back under the covers with Lucifer to shut up.
My mouth and throat were dry, so I grabbed one of the water bottles he had left out, ignored the sliced apples that looked perfectly delicious in the moonlight, then snuck toward my clothes and gathered them up.Since this wasn’t the first exit I’d made from someone’s bedroom in the middle of the night, balancing all the stuff in one arm wasn’t too much of a challenge.Lucifer’s bedroom door was well-oiled and opened on silent hinges.
I looked back over my shoulder like the idiot I was, hoping to see those blue eyes cutting through the darkness, but Lucy was asleep, and this way, when he woke up, he wouldn’t have to hurry me out the door with hints that grew less and less subtle by the minute.
I left the door open behind me so the noise of closing it wouldn’t wake him.When I was nearly at the stairs, I stopped to pull on my boxers and T-shirt.The boxers would need to go straight into the laundry once I got home, but at least I was decent.Lucifer’s scent clung to my skin, and I tried to ignore the spices and fire notes as I unscrewed the water bottle and drank about half of it in one go.
Going down the stairs this time around was much easier than it had been with the butt plug, and consequently, I managed it faster.
The big ballroom beyond had the eeriness of a large place filled mostly with shadows, but I ignored it, walking back to the fireplace room and from there to the kitchen.Two dark rectangles on the kitchen island made me grin and appreciate just how much Metatron cared.The angel had put out my phone and wallet for me, and with any luck, the phone was even charged.
I finished the water and left the empty bottle on the kitchen island, then hastily put on the rest of my clothes.I pulled a bill from my wallet and left it under the water bottle so I’d be even with Lucifer for the coffee.The wallet went into my right back pocket and my phone went into the left.
I considered just leaving as I was, but I liked my shoes.I left the kitchen, speed-walking on my sock-clad feet and passing the indoor pool.You’d definitely be able to see the outdoor pool from this one.I had no idea who needed that, but I wasn’t going to stay around and ask Lucifer about it.
The large rooms were eerie, with their shadows and their moonlight glaze, but I was a professional necromancer, and shadows didn’t scare me.I found the shoe shelf and picked up my shoes, then hurried back, stopping just in front of the door to put them on.
Nothing in the house stirred.The front door opened easily, and a gust of night air washed over my skin, blowing Lucifer’s scent out of my nose and replacing it with grass and mossy earth, with tree and plant scents.
This time, I turned to close the door.The click of the lock connecting was loud-ish in the quiet night, but no lights went on behind me as I walked down the garden path to the street.
My own car was still parked outside my apartment, so I pulled out my phone to call a cab.As the screen came to life, I saw several text messages from Sexy Mitch, as well as a voicemail.I decided to listen to that first.
“Hey, Lionel,” Mitch said, his voice flatter and duller than Lucifer’s.I bit my lip.I couldn’t start comparing people to Lucifer.I needed to forget all about the Devil and his sexy—and his smug face.“You left sort of abruptly with that other magic user the other night.”Oh, if only Mitch knew what Lucifer really was.“I just wanted to check in, make sure you’re okay because that guy seemed off.Give me a call whenever.”There was a pause.“Dinner with you was nice.Maybe we can do it again.Call me.Please.”
Oh, wow.I scrolled through his text messages.They went more or less in the same direction, and before long, I’d hit the call button and was waiting to hear his voice.
“Lionel?”Mitch said after a couple of rings.“Are you okay?”
I heard some sort of background noise, although I wasn’t sure what exactly.Maybe he was streaming something after another long day at the office.I was glad I hadn’t woken him up in the middle of the night though.
“I’m fine.Sort of.Sorry, am I disturbing you?”
I got the sense he’d put his hand over his phone.After a moment, he was back.
“No, sorry.Just the TV.So what was that, you’re sort of okay?What’s with that guy?He’s not really your boyfriend, is he?”
I took a deep breath.“No, he really isn’t.Listen, I’m sort of stranded on the outskirts of town.I know this is a lot to ask, but I was wondering whether you could come pick me up?I can totally call a cab if you’re busy.Or need to get some sleep.I know it’s late.”
“Don’t be silly.”Mitch’s voice vibrated with a different quality all of a sudden.“I’ll come get you.Where?”
That was a good question.I wasn’t sure.
“Hold on,” I said, then I ran down the street to the nearest intersection.I looked at the sign and stifled a groan.
“It’s Milton Avenue.”Of course it was.
“Right.I can find that.You just wait right there, Lionel.I’ll come get you.”
“All right.See you then.”
