Lucifer (Brimstone Heat Book 1)

by Rayne Rachels

  Angie felt her legs quiver, but Lucifer kept her tight against him, keeping her safe in his arms as they rode out the last tremors of their lovemaking. He made a couple of slow, leisurely thrusts with his cock, causing her to moan with pleasure.

  “Is it always going to be like this?” she asked as he pulled her body up against his.

  He nuzzled her neck. “If my parents are any example, our passion and desires will only grow more intense as time passes.”

  “My only regret is pushing you away for so long,” whispered Angie.

  “No regrets. We are together now.” He peppered her neck and shoulders with kisses.

  The dryer dinged.

  Both Angie and Lucifer started laughing.

  “That was kind of anti-climatic.” Angie knew she was blushing.

  Lucifer withdrew from her body. He picked her up and carried her to the bathroom. He turned on the water in the shower. As soon as it was warm he stepped in with his lifemate still in his arms. Slowly, he put her down, letting her slide the length of his body. “That was just the beginning,” he said as he turned her to face him. Lucifer captured her lips with his, and Angie felt her desire reigniting like a wildfire.

  In minutes, the shower steamed up with more than just the hot water.

  *****

  Angie grimaced as she pulled her clothes out of the dryer. “I really have to go get my clothes and some other things from my house. After I get some different clothes, then you can burn these because I absolutely hate them, and I never want to see them again. Don’t forget to take the bra and panties when you take the others.” She shook the shirt and jogging pants at Lucifer.

  Lucifer leaned against the doorframe and watched her dress. “You need to move all of your stuff here. I don’t want us living apart.”

  “If the past couple of days are any indicator, we would survive apart.” She grinned at him. “I don’t want to live apart from you either. But…”

  “But what?” he asked.

  “I have two or three small problems.” She shrugged her shoulders. It was so nice to be able to move her arm and shoulder without being reminded of the bullet wound. “First, there is no way we can move all my stuff, so I just want to get the essentials. You know…my clothes, mementos and keepsakes, and my laptop. As for the rest, we will have to figure out what to keep and what to donate, and then hire movers. I’m not lugging that stuff in and out of houses.”

  “That sounds like a good plan. But instead of hiring movers, I’ll just call my brothers, and we can move the stuff you want to keep.”

  “No argument?” asked Angie.

  He shook his head. “No argument.”

  “What if I want to change some stuff here?” She gestured the house.

  Lucifer grinned. “You can change anything you want. If you want the house to be a little bigger, just let me know what you want and I will make it happen.”

  “Are you being for real, or did you hit your head while we were in the shower?” Angie stared at him, wondering why he was being so agreeable. “I mean, you don’t have a concussion or brain trauma?”

  He shook his head. “You are my lifemate and I just want you happy. So what else is there that you have a concern about?”

  She plunked her hands on her hips. “I still have issues with you being a cop. I know that’s your job, and I’m not saying you need to quit.”

  “Then what are you saying?” He pushed himself off the doorframe.

  “I need you to be careful. If you die because you are a cop, I am going to be extremely upset and pissed off. And then I’m going to make a special trip to Hell just to get your soul, and I’m going to torture you for leaving me all alone.” She stomped up to him and poked him in the chest with her finger. “Do you hear me?”

  Lucifer laughed. “I don’t think Dad will be too happy if you just come and take one of his souls. He’s kind of funny about people stealing his stuff.”

  Angie raises her eyebrows at him. “Do I look like I care what he or anyone else thinks? If you don’t want me making him mad, then you had better not die. Because as far as I’m concerned, your soul is now my property. It belongs to me and me alone. And if you die on me, you are in some really big trouble.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me dying.” He caressed her face with the back of this hand. “I’m immortal. I can’t die.”

  Angie wrinkled her nose at him. “Well, at least two problems are solved.”

  “There’s another problem?”

  “Well, yeah!” She rolled her eyes at him. “How are you going to feel about being mated to an old, wrinkled woman? I’m not immortal. I’m human. Humans tend to grow old and die.”

  “You won’t grow old and wrinkled,” laughed Lucifer.

  “Just laugh it up. It may be funny to you, but it’s not funny to me.”

  “Baby,” he captured her face between his hands. “When I claim you, you will gain the ability to live a very long time.” He kissed her nose and grinned at her. “You are stuck with me…as in stuck with me for eternity, if I have my way.”

  “Seriously? Angie’s eyes widened. “You’re not joking, are you?” She was worried their time together would be limited to a very short number of years. In fact the very thought of it really sucked.

  “I wouldn’t joke about something like this. You and I will have an extremely long life together, and maybe even some children to drive us crazy. I think my mom cursed me and my brothers a time or two.” Lucifer wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. “When I told you you’re mine, and I’m keeping you for eternity, I meant it.”

  Relief flowed through Angie. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. “She cursed you just a time or two?”

  “Well…maybe a few more times,” said Lucifer.

  Angie looked up at him. “Just a few more times?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’ve got a feeling you aren’t telling me the truth, are you?”

  He grinned like a little kid. “I didn’t want to scare you away with the fact that she cursed me probably once a week. She said something about having boys who were worse than we were.”

  “That does not sound very good, especially for me.” She shook her head.

  “I wasn’t that bad.”

  “Yeah, I have a feeling it’s going to be one of those ‘keep telling yourself that’ numbers.” Angie rolled her eyes.

  He hugged her tight. “Now, let’s go get your stuff.”

  “Okay.” Angie stood on her tip toes and kissed him. “But I’m so going to have a talk with your mom about cursing you. I don’t think she realized she just might be babysitting those boys. And when we get back you need to explain what your version of claiming entails.”

  “My version of claiming?” asked Lucifer.

  “Yeah, your version. Gracie told me how wolves claim their mates. I think she was hoping I would mate with one of the wolves in the pack,” said Angie.

  “You are not mating any wolf, or any shifter for that matter.” Lucifer’s eyes turned black.

  “Not possessive, are you?” Angie kissed him again.

  Lucifer hugged her tight. “You have not seen possessive yet. You are mine, and when I claim you there will be absolutely no doubt. When we get back from your house, I will explain what will happen when I claim you.”

  “I’m holding you to it,” said Angie.

  Lucifer grinned. “The sooner we get done retrieving you stuff, the sooner we get back.”

  *****

  Lucifer stared at the house. He turned and looked at Angie. “I still can’t believe this is where you were living? What were you thinking?” He shook his head. The house was small and narrow. At some point it had been painted white, but now what little paint left was severely chipped and peeling. Gray weathered boards stuck out everywhere.

  Angie shrugged her shoulders. “It was cheap. Besides, the inside isn’t that bad. You don’t see that many shotgun houses anymore.”

  “Compared to what? R
emember, I’ve seen the inside, and it’s not that much better.” Lucifer shook his head as he got out of the SUV and walked around and opened her door. “My biggest regret is not following through with my original thoughts when I first met you.”

  “And what was that?” asked Angie as she got out of the vehicle.

  “Throw you over my shoulder, and take you straight home and to my bed.”

  Angie looked up at him. “And I would have fought you.”

  “Not for long,” he said smugly.

  “Oh, you think so?” Angie poked his chest with her finger. “You sound a little overconfident.

  He tilted her head up and brushed her lips with his causing her to whimper. “I know so.” He winked at her. “After a couple of hours, you would have been love with me and wanting me to touch you all over.”

  She snorted. “You are so full of yourself. I guess we will never know if it would have happened that way, or if I would have wiggled my way out of your hands.” She winked at him and walked around him and up the steps. “Do you have my keys?”

  “Right here.” He reached around her to unlock the door, but the door opened as soon as he touched it. The door frame on the inside was shattered. Someone had kicked open the door and just pulled it shut when they left. Lucifer pulled Angie away from the door. “Go get into the SUV and wait for me.”

  “Someone broke into my house. There is no way I’m staying out here by myself. That is so not a good idea, and so not happening.” Angie shook her head.

  “Don’t argue with me.”

  “Someone broke into my house. There is no way I’m staying out here by myself.” Angie shook her head.

  “Don’t argue with me.”

  “I’m not arguing. I’m telling you that I am not staying out here by myself. I don’t care if it’s standing right here or waiting in the truck. I’m much safer with you than I am by myself.” Angie wrapped her arms around herself. “Haven’t you ever watched a horror movie? The female sent to a safe place is the first one who gets killed by the bad guy. So. Not. Happening. Today.”

  “Fine! Stay behind me.” He shook his head. “You are not watching anymore horror movies.”

  Angie shrugged her shoulders. “If you say so, but it’s so not happening.”

  Lucifer pulled his gun and pushed the door open. “This is the police. Come out with your hands up.” He listened for any sounds. Hearing nothing, he slowly stepped into the house.

  Angie looked around him and gasped. The living room was trashed. Furniture was overturned. Cushions were ripped. The walls were riddled with holes. “It looks like someone put either their fist or the foot through the wall. I hope they broke a few bones while they were doing it.”

  “There’s no one here, but I can feel the anger.” Lucifer looked around the living room. “We need to check the rest of the house. Stay behind me, but stay close.”

  Angie nodded her head and followed him.

  The kitchen wasn’t much better than the living room. A couple of cabinet doors were barely hanging on their hinges. Broken plates and glassware littered the floor. Even the refrigerator had been moved.

  “This is ridiculous,” whispered Angie. Her face was a little paler than normal.

  They moved on to the bedroom. Lucifer stopped at the door. Anger filled him as he saw the destruction. “I don’t think you really want to go in there.”

  “It’s worse, isn’t it?” Angie’s bottom lip trembled.

  “It’s completely trashed like the rest of the house.” Lucifer’s eyes were almost black.

  “I have to see.”

  “You don’t want to see, trust me,” said Lucifer.

  “Move, or I will move you,” ordered Angie.

  “Fine! Stubborn female. Don’t touch anything.” He pulled out his cellphone and called his office. “Get several of the guys over to 271 South March Street. I’m here with Angie Gunner. Someone broke into her house and completely trashed the place.” He didn’t wait for the person on the other end to reply. Lucifer just ended the call and put away the phone back into his pocket.

  Angie pushed past Lucifer and stepped into her bedroom. She hand went up to her mouth as she slowly looked around the room. The remains of the dresser drawers were scatter around the room. Clothes were everywhere. Angie bent down and picked up a blouse. She held it up only to find it had been shredded. “Please tell me this is not the way it was when you and Gracie packed the hospital bag for me?”

  “No, it wasn’t like this.” Lucifer took the blouse out of her hands and dropped it back to the floor. “I told you not to touch anything.”

  “I doubt we are going to find any of my clothes that weren’t damage, are we?” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She took a deep breath and let it out.

  Lucifer shook his head. “I don’t think we are.” The muscles in his jaw twitched. Anger flowed through his veins. He didn’t like the look on his lifemate’s face. And he definitely didn’t like the idea that someone was targeting her.

  “I don’t see my laptop.” She looked around the room. “It was in here on the nightstand.”

  “After the deputies collect what evidence they can, I’ll have them look for it.” He touched Angie’s arm. “Where are your papers and the mementos you wanted to take back to the house?”

  Angie blinked several times. She really hated getting so upset that she wanted to cry. “The most important papers are in a safety deposit box at the bank. In the back of the closet is an old steamer trunk that belonged to my mom’s granddad. It has all my mementos and pictures in it, if it’s even still there.”

  “I’ll look.” Lucifer walked into the small closet. In the very back, under a mound of blankets was the steamer trunk. “Found it,” he said as he pulled it out. “It doesn’t look like it’s been disturb.”

  Angie started shaking. “Why is someone doing this? Is it funny to them to destroy someone’s stuff? The library, the shooting, and now this.” She looked at Lucifer.

  “I will find whoever is doing this. I promise.” He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. He felt her relax. “Don’t worry about anything. I will replace anything and everything that was destroyed.”

  “You don’t have to do that?” whispered Angie.

  “I know I don’t have to do it. I want to do it. Besides, you’ll have fun shopping for new clothes.” Lucifer rested his chin on the top of her head. While she was shopping, he was going to do some hunting and he was starting with Ted Whitley.

  Angie laughed. “I really hate shopping.” The tears started rolling down her cheeks.

  Lucifer picked her up. Cradling her against his chest, he carried her out of the house and put her into the SUV while they waited for the deputies to arrive.

  Chapter 11

  “I still can’t believe I let you talk me into doing this,” groaned Angie as she followed Gracie Hunter into yet another clothing store. “It would have so much easier to just order what I needed.” She hated going to stores and looking at the clothes on the racks. She hated trying everything on. Nothing ever fit right and the sizes always varied from store to store, and even brand to brand.

  Angie hated shopping.

  The only thing she hated more was shopping at the mall. The crowds were always ridiculous. Why did people want to stand around and stare at the stuff in the store windows was completely beyond her. At least it wasn’t Christmas time. The stores and crowds at that time of the year were even worse. People who never went to the mall suddenly descended upon it like ants. A shudder rippled through her at the thought of shopping at the mall.

  And where did Gracie drag her to?

  The mall in Temple.

  Hell on earth, at least in Angie’s opinion

  “Quit you moaning and groaning.” Gracie narrowed her eyes at her friend. “You need clothes now. You can’t wait days or even weeks for the stuff to be delivered, though the good sheriff probably wouldn’t mind you having nothing to wear.” She waggled her eyebrows at Angie, causing he
r to blush. “And then there is the downside of ordering online. If the clothing doesn’t fit, you have to go through the hassle of returning it, which means a trip to the post office. At least here, you can try the clothes on and get the right sizes without having to return it.” Only Gracie would see the positive in shopping.

  “Says the woman who loves shopping.” Angie shuddered at the thought of all the clothes she had already tried on, and how much her friend would pull off the racks in this store.

  “I know this is not how you want to spend your Saturday, but you need to…correction…you have to replace your wardrobe. You’re my best friend, and I love you to death. But I do not want to see you walking around naked. Friendship only goes so far.” Gracie smiled as she bumped her shoulder against Angie’s. “I’ll make a deal with you.”

  Angie raised her eyebrows suspiciously at her friend. “I’m not sure about you and your deals, especially when malls and stores are somehow involved. You are kind of scary when you’re in a shopping mode.”

  “I’m not that bad.” Gracie smiled at her.

  “So says the woman who wanted to sneak into that club back when we were in high school just to see if we could do it. Does Quinn really know how one tracked minded scary you are when you decide you want to do something? Or what a shopaholic you are?”

  “But we did have fun riding the mechanical bull.” Gracie’s eyes twinkled. “Remember how we stayed on longer than the cowboy wantta-be, who thought girls could not ride bulls. The look on his face was hilarious when we both beat his time.”

  “Yeah, it was fun. Until the manager realized we were underage and threw us out.” Angie shook her head. They had been lucky the manager hadn’t called the cops on them.

  “We used to have a lot of fun.” Gracie bumped her hip against Angie’s.

  Angie slowly smiled. “Yeah, we did,” she reluctantly agreed. “So what’s your deal?”

  “We buy several outfits and some sex, lacy lingerie from this store, and then we will stop by the food court for coffee and chocolate chip cookies. And don’t tell me you don’t need any sexy lingerie. Every female needs sexy lingerie, even if it’s just to make yourself feel better.” Gracie propped her hands on her hips. “And I remember a certain sheriff who was snooping in your lingerie drawer. We need to find something in red lace.”