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I tap his chest with my hand. “Ahhh, but that’s where our opinions differ. Have you even tried talking to Lucifer? Even if he didn’t put a loophole in the curse, it’s not like he can’t lift it once he knows you’ve met your fated mate.”

“No,” he tells me, shaking his head. “I haven’t tried talking to Lucifer, and I won’t because this is what I deserve.”

And there it is—the real reason why he keeps pushing Audrey away.

He feels guilty for what he did, and he doesn’t feel like he deserves her. It’s stupid and completely wrong, but at least it makes a little more sense to me now.

It also gives me a jumping off point on how to convince him to accept her as his mate.

“So you don’t think you deserve happiness? That’s it?” I lean into him further, his eyes falling to my lips once again.

“That’s not what I said.” He shakes his head again. “What are you doing to me, Brenden? Are you trying to control my mind?”

“Who? Me?” I point at my chest, attempting to look innocent—which I am. I already said I wouldn’t try to control his mind, and I’m not planning to change that. “I’m not doing anything to your mind. You’re my friend. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

He can’t seem to tear his eyes away from my lips, and I throw caution to the wind when I lean in to kiss him. He stands there frozen, and I wonder if I fucked up.

But then he kisses me back, and I melt into him. I’ve imagined kissing him before, but as usual, my imagination has nothing on reality.

Nex deepens the kiss, our tongues tangling together as he wraps one arm around me and pulls me against him. My cock perks up as I feel him harden against me.

I wonder if Audrey would be mad if I pulled his cock out and jerked him off. I’d like to see what he’s packing, and I think she would too.

My lips curl up into a smile when I hear her step into the clearing. She walks closer, coming up short when she realizes what’s happening. I catch the hitch in her breath, and I know she’s enjoying the view.

Unfortunately, Nex also notices it and pulls away. He glances between the two of us before shaking his head and hurrying down the steps. He transforms into his demon form and takes off in the air, leaving me and Audrey to stare after him.

“I wasn’t expecting to come home to that,” she finally says, trudging toward me.

As soon as she makes it within arm’s length of me, I tug her into my arms and kiss the shit out of her. She’s smiling when she pulls back, and I like that a lot better than the despondent face she’d been rocking after watching Nex run away again.

“I wasn’t expecting it to happen, either. Are you mad?”

Audrey shakes her head. “About you kissing him? Absolutely not. It was hot. But I am getting sick and tired of him running from me every time he sees me.”

“Understandable, but he’s scared,” I tell her, and she hums.

“I’m aware, but I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know how to make him give me a chance.”

I make a face that she doesn’t see since she’s laying her head on my chest as we speak. “I don’t know if there’s anything you can do, but I’m working on it. I promise.”

We stand there for a few minutes in silence, just enjoying each other’s company, until she pulls back to grin at me.

“Are there any other mates of mine you’d like to make out with?”

I throw my head back as I laugh. “No, firecracker. Just Nex. At least for now.”

She giggles, and I let out a sigh of relief. It’s been far too long since I heard that sound. She’s been stressing out too much over everything with Nex and Cassian—not that I can blame her—but it’s nice to hear her letting go, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

“Donovan growled at Nex when he answered the door,” I tell her, leading her inside. “But I shoved him back inside and shut the door in his face.”

“You did not!”

Donovan scoffs. “Oh, he did too, and I’m not a fan.”

I shrug. “Too bad, so sad.”

“Oh, that’s it, vamp. You’re in for it now.” I laugh, throwing myself away from Audrey as he launches himself at me. My grin stays on my face as I avoid his grasp while Audrey giggles.