Pfft, don’t let the sweet talk fool you. He just likes this thing I do with my wings when we are in bed. I reach them around an-
“La la la la!” I plugged my fingers in my ears, and Luc laughed. A full, deep belly laugh that sent a thrill of pleasure through me. It made me happy to see him laugh. Or maybe it made Ace happy. Semantics.
YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE, ACEREZEAL. I WANT YOU BACK FOR YOUR HELLISHLY AMAZING TITS, Luc teased and Ace snorted, but it was a happy sound. Geez, it was sickeningly sweet inside my head right now.
Eli tapped a finger along the sharp line of his jaw rhythmically. “So you have been concealing a voice in your head all this time?” He sounded… hurt. I should have known that he wouldn’t let it drop after Lucifer’s explanation. Not my good doctor.
“Deep down I didn’t think it was related to my illness. And I wasn’t hiding it, really. I just didn’t think there was a good time to bring it up? I mean, when is a good time to bring up the fact you hear voices in your head?”
Ri scoffed, one eyebrow quirking. “Probably at the same time we told you that we were returned souls from hell. I mean after that, voices that tell you to burn things are quite mundane.”
He had a point, and I stuck my tongue out at him.
“I’m sorry guys. But hey, at least we don’t have to worry it’s a brain tumor now, right?”
Eli was still frowning. “But it could have been.”
I shifted from Lux’s lap, giving my butt a little wiggle for thrills, and was rewarded with a small smack.
“Tease,” Lux growled. Heat pooled in my stomach as I had a brief flashback to the other night. He growled all sorts of dirty things in my ear as his body conquered mine. Heat flew to my cheeks. I was still a little way from being a sex kitten, but boy, I was really ready to ditch this room and get him naked again.
I swung my eyes back to Eli. I wouldn’t mind getting him naked either. Three little lines ran across Eli’s forehead, but his eyes looked disappointed. I knelt down in front of him.
“I’m sorry. I promise no more secrets. Trust me, I don’t have any left. Unless you count that time I stole a chocolate bar from the grocery store when I was ten.” I placed my hands on his strong thighs, pressing the tips of my fingers into the hard muscles because I just couldn’t resist, and leaned in close. “I didn’t even take it back. I ate it in secret behind my house in case anyone was trying to track me down.”
Eli’s lips twitched into a small smile. “I’ll add kleptomania to your list of symptoms.”
I couldn’t help myself. I leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to his full lower lip, sliding my hands up his thighs to his waist. He nipped my lower lip.
“Soon.”
Lucifer cleared his throat and stood. “I guess that is my cue to leave. Places to be, people to poke in the ass with a pitchfork.”
“Really?”
“No, Sweet Cady. How could you have a hellcat like Ace live inside you all these years and yet still be so unbelievably innocent? You seven need to fix that.” He waggled at a finger at them. “But if you hurt her, I will personally assign you to the very lowest level of hell and you will beg for reprieve for eternity and there will be none.” The temperature in the room dropped to frigid levels. “There are millions of you in my realm, you can be replaced easily, but Arcadia is special. Best you remember that.”
A cold shiver ran down my spine at his words, and I resisted the urge to do what my brain was screaming at me to do and run away.
Lux stood, stepping toward me. “Received loud and clear.”
Lucifer gave a curt nod, and then his normal pleasant demeanour was back. Note to self, do not fuck with the Devil.
“Arcadia, could you walk me to the door please?” I stood from where I was on the floor and walked him out. I brushed against Ri on the way to the door, his fingers lightly running against my stomach. My eyes went to his, expecting his hooded gaze to shine with the lust that was always there, but all I saw was a show of support. Ri had my back. I gave him a half grin.
But I was pretty sure I was safe with the Lucifer. Safer than I’d ever been in my life. The guy had literally made a bargain with God to save the soul inside me. While ever I held Ace with me, I was safe.
You will be safe regardless of whether I am inside you or next to you, Arcadia. You know this.
INDEED, YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE. BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO BLOCK YOUR MENTAL EARS RIGHT NOW.
How the hell did someone do that? I decided to sing Jingle Bells on repeat in my brain, but it didn’t block it all out.
YOU WILL BE BACK IN MY ARMS SOON, ACEREZEAL. THEN I WILL MAKE LOVE TO YOU LIKE THAT TIME IN THAT ITALIAN VILLAGE. DO YOU REMEMBER, WHERE THE DANCING SICKNESS TOOK THE WHOLE VILLAGE AND WE MADE LOVE IN THE CENTER OF THE TOWN SQUARE AS THE BODIES FELL AROUND US FROM EXHAUSTION?
Eesh. I couldn’t hear Ace’s response, she was much more in tune with my mental frequencies, but I could imagine.
Out loud, Lucifer chuckled. “I bid you farewell, Arcadia. I will return soon.”
“Wait. I need to ask. If I succeed redeeming one of the guys, what happens next? Do they just poof up to the pearly gates? Turn to dust? Because, I’m sorry, but I can’t help if it means that I just have to watch them die. I have feelings for them already, I just can’t.”
Luc patted the top of my head and gave another booming laugh. “Oh, I chose well with you. Do not worry. The terms of the bargain states that if they are redeemed, they will be able to live out the remainder of their natural human lives here on earth. They all died quite young, and they have good hearts. It is why I chose them. Given more time on the earthly plane, I am sure they would have repented naturally. But they have to continue to live well once redeemed if they want to get up there, otherwise it's back to me downstairs. But there is a time limit, Cady. Any who aren’t redeemed in that time will be back in my realm. There are no third chances.”
“What is the time frame?”
Lucifer shook his head. “I do not know. The other guy decided that one.”
Panic made my heart race. “What if it’s a week? What if it’s tomorrow?”
Lucifer shrugged. “You’ll just have to have faith.”
With that, he disappeared.
“Huh. I thought there would be smoke or flames or something,” I said to the now empty corridor.
He’s known to be a little theatrical when he wants to make an impressive exit.
I stared at the ornate cornice on the wall and tried to process everything that just happened. And failed. What had become of my boring, sedate life?
My door opened and Oz poked his head out. “Is he gone?”
I’d barely finished nodding when the door was flung open and I was in Oz’s arms. “I was so fucking worried. Mini Oz sent out a help alert and I was the first one here and you were unconscious on the couch with Luc standing over you and I didn’t know what to do, and then Lux was the next in and I thought he was going to try to kill the Devil. It was a mess. God, I’m so glad you are okay.” He pulled back and put his hands on my cheeks, peppering my face with kisses.
I laughed. “It’s okay, Oz. I’m okay, you're okay. We’ll all be okay.”
He picked me up, and I wrapped my arms and legs around him as he walked me back into my apartment. I pressed my face into his neck, appreciating the woodsy smell of him.
He walked me to the small breakfast bar and plopped me on top.
He stepped away and I was once again the focus of everyone in the room.
“Well, at least life isn't boring around here.”
“It was until you came along, mon chere.” Valery ran a hand over my short hair, smoothing down the spiky tufts.
Oz slapped a hand to his forehead and pulled the phone from his pocket.
“Ah shit. I forgot to cancel the help call once we’d worked out you were in no danger.”
Lux grunted. “She was dealing with the Devil. I wouldn't say that's safe.”
Oz rolled his eyes. “
You know what I mean.” He scrolled through the notices on his phone. “Oh well, too late now.”
Valery handed me a cup of tea he'd pulled from somewhere. I definitely didn't own these delicate little fine China tea cups. I was beginning to think Valery was some kind of magician too.
“Too late for what?”
“Sam and Tolliver are on their way home.”
Oops. “But what about fashion week?”
“You are more important than fashion week. When they didn't hear from anyone, they dropped their engagements and took Tolliver's private plane home. They should be here in a few hours.”
I should feel bad that I'd caused such an upheaval, but I wasn't. Maybe that made me a bad person, or selfish at the very least, but instead I was excited.
Tolliver and Sam were coming home early.
Chapter Twelve
I bounced on the balls of my feet, desperate to see over the heads of the crowd. There was a Boy Scout troop amassing in the foyer of the airport, and I may have been silently cursing them.
“Can you see them?” I asked Oz for the hundredth time, wishing I had his over six feet height advantage.
“I keep telling you, you'll know when they arrive.”
“How? We don't even have a little placard.”
With that, there was a cacophony of shouts. I studied the Boy Scouts, convinced someone must have fallen and broken their neck given the yelling. But then I saw the flashes of light. Paparazzi.
“Why did you leave fashion week, Sam? Was it a pay dispute?”
“Sam, are you worried that Lance Caulfield will steal your crown as the most sought after male model of the 21st century?”
“Who's the mystery woman? Is she pregnant?”
As they finally made it to me, a woman's voice called out,
“Tolliver, what do you say to the speculation that you are gay?”
I scoffed internally at that one. Unlikely. Tolliver looked offended. He reached out, wrapped an arm around my back and kissed me like we were in an old school romance film, dipping me over his arm as he plundered my mouth. The kiss went on as the flashes blinded me like fireworks. I felt thoroughly possessed.
“I guess not,” the woman's voice sounded amused.
He lifted his head and grinned down at me, and I couldn't help but smile back.
“I missed you guys,” I whispered to him.
“We missed you too, Sweetheart. I'm glad you came out of your meeting with Luc in one piece. Doesn’t happen as often as he’d have you believe.” He slung an arm around my shoulders and led me out of the airport terminal, the flashes still blinding as the paparazzi followed along.
“Are you guys really three paparazzi famous? I mean, I knew you were hot commodities, and most people would recognize you on the street, but I didn’t think people would be all that interested in your daily lives.”
“Sam got drunk and did some heiress in the back seat of her Rolls, much to the delight of a Pap that happened to be hanging around hoping for that exact scenario, and it blew up. Now they follow us around hoping he’ll be that dumb again. He’s not allowed to go out drunk and alone anymore.”
“Hey, the publicity was good for business eventually. People like a well-hung bad boy with great glutes.” He leaned forward until he whispered in my ear. “Besides, the only person I like doing in the back of a car now is you.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks and I bit my lip. More flashes. That was going to end up as the fifth run story on TMZ. Sam Sigurdsson trying to steal best friend’s girl.
The truth is much more interesting, Ace chuckled. Sam Sigurdsson wants to double team a girl with his best friend, despite the fact the girl is their only ticket into heaven. They could run it right next to the Elvis Spotted in Hoboken and Woman Probed By Aliens story.
We pulled up to the spot where Oz had parked the car in a No Parking Zone, and I was actually a little surprised to see it still there. Money talked apparently.
The guys threw their suitcases in the back, and Tolliver slid into the driver’s seat.
“No way am I letting that lunatic drive when you are in the car again. No wonder he died young.”
Sam laughed, but Oz’s face was contorted into complete devastation. It was gone in seconds, but I saw. I didn’t even factor in that they might have died in terrible ways, I was too worried about their past crimes. But they were all dead. Obviously they must have died somehow, and given how young they were, it probably wasn’t peacefully in their sleep.
I reached over and wrapped my arms around his torso. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks Cady-Lady. It was a long time ago.” He kissed the top of my head. “Let’s go home. I owe you a Call of Duty lesson.” His smile was back, but his eyes still held the bruises of past hurts.
I slid into the back with Sam, and almost instantly I was in his arms and he was kissing me like a starving man. He pulled me onto his lap, his arms wrapping around my waist to cup my ass.
“We gotta stop meeting like this or we are going to christen every one of Tolliver’s back seats.”
“I’m okay with that,” I purred back. God, but he was pretty. It literally knocked the breath out me every time. It should be illegal.
“Cady needs her own seat, and seatbelt,” Tolliver groused.
Sam sighed against my mouth, his perfect cupid’s bow lips brushing over mine one last time. “One day soon, I am going to get you into my bed without interruptions. Then you will sing my name in moans, Baby.”
With that, he slid me into the seat beside him, buckling me in. As Tolliver finally pulled out into the flow of cars, I snuggled into Sam's side.
“How was fashion week?”
Tolliver snorted. “Catty as usual. Pressure is high, stress is high and envy is rampant. Sam was in his element.”
“The parties were endless. I would much rather have been at home with you. I’m kind of glad that Luc decided to turn up and send everyone into turmoil. Meant I got to skip the black and white ball where rich old socialites with too much plastic surgery, grope me and try to slip me their room numbers. Male model is not synonymous with gigolo,” Sam sighed. “I just want to stay home and binge watch reality television with you. Toddlers and Tiaras. Dance Moms. Rupaul's Drag Race.”
I rested my head against his shoulder. “Consider it a date.”
We rolled straight into peak hour traffic and stopped.
Oz cleared his throat. “So, Arcadia currently possesses the soul of Lucifer's long lost lover in her body, and she manifests as a discombobulated voice in her head.”
Huh, so there is an easy way to explain that. Bravo, Oz. If I could just get a peek at his trouser snake I think he might just push Lux out of first place for my favorite Sin, Ace mused.
I rolled my eyes. No playing favorites. And no looking at their junk! I protested.
Sure I won’t. She didn’t even try to sound sincere, the crazy pervert.
“See, that’s what she’s doing when she pulls that face. I thought she was having episodes, but she’s talking to Ace. That’s the demoness’ name.”
Please tell him that I am a fallen angel. NOT a demoness hussy. They are basically all boobs, no personality. I could kick their asses half way across Elysium before they’d unsheathed those ugly damn claws.
Touch a nerve, much? I teased. Oh man, it was nice when the shoe was on the other foot.
“Ace said she is a fallen angel, and would like to ensure that you never refer to her as a demoness. Considering her sugar daddy is the Devil himself, you probably don’t want to piss her off. She’s got permanent PMS naturally.”
I could see the rapid blinking of Tolliver’s eyes in the rear view mirror and Sam just frowned.
I punched Oz in the arm. “You could have waited until we got home. It’s lucky we are in traffic or Tolliver would have crashed.” I turned to the guys. “It’s not as crazy as it sounds.” And then I repeated everything that Lucifer had told me.
Sam knocked on my head. “Fuck. So there'
s a whole other person in there, just chatting away? Does she like one of us better than the others?”
Envy, thy name is Sam.
Better not tell him that he isn’t even in the running for my favorite. Not even in the top three. Way too pretty for me.
“Nope, she doesn't have a favorite.”
Lying will get you sent to hell, you know, she chastised gently. I couldn't even tell if she was joking.
The traffic was moving again, even if it was at a snail’s pace. I turned to Sam. “So I’ve decided that you and Tolliver will be my first redemptions.”
More silence in the car.
“Whoa, have you been taking lessons from Lux in dropping bombs?” Oz asked. “Why them?”
I leaned forward and ran my hand through his deep brown hair. He’d left it out today, and it fell in messy waves that felt like silk. I don’t know what conditioner he used, but I made a note to raid his bathroom for the brand.
“Because they are the easiest. Greed and Envy. I’ve got a plan all figured out.”
Tolliver quirked a brow. “Care to share this master plan?”
“It’s simple really. We are going to spend all Tolliver's money. And Sam is going to quit being a model to help us do it.”
The car swerved into the other lane, and the driver behind us leaned on his horn with an angry yell.
“All of it?”
“Most of it. Keep enough that the family can live comfortably, but the rest should go in trust to the foundation.”
“A family? Is that what we are?” Oz laughed.
Maybe that wasn’t the right word, but I still didn’t know the correct terminology. “Polyamorous partners? Harem? Brother-Husbands? I don’t know.” Heat flooded my cheeks again, and Sam laughed, kissing my head.
“Lovers. Worshipers at the temple of Arcadia.” His kisses slid from my cheek to the corner of my mouth, then softly to my lips. I sighed against them. No guy should look like that and be able to kiss like this. It was unfair. Against the natural order of things.
Hell's Redemption- The Complete Series Boxset Page 9