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“Exactly,” Damiel said, helping himself to the leftover chicken sandwich that I’d been saving in my fridge. “Cadence and Eira will be here soon.”

“And Lucy will be dropping off Sierra in a few minutes.” I looked at Nero. “We should get changed for dinner.”

A tight, forced smile touched his lips. “Yes, we wouldn’t want to show up to a classy place like the Angel’s Roost in sports clothes.”

“Oh, you’re going to the Angel’s Roost?” Damiel said brightly. “We brought Eira there last week. She loved the plastic tablecloths.”

Nero’s mouth dropped. I grabbed his hand and led him into our bedroom, closing the door behind us.

“Before you lecture me about how plastic tablecloths are unbecoming of an angel, you should know that Damiel’s just messing with you,” I said quickly. “The Angel’s Roost doesn’t have plastic tablecloths. Tessa told me it’s actually a very classy place. They totally have proper tablecloths. And real silverware.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I smiled at him. “So make sure you wear something fancy.”

He crossed the room to his closet, and I went to mine. I selected a long dark blue gown with a gem-studded plunging neckline and a skin-tight bodice. Bonus: it was a halter top, so there was space for my wings, should I need to break them out.

“Ok, let’s go,” I said, turning around.

Nero just stared at me.

“What is it? Did I put my dress on inside-out again?”

“No.”

I looked down, just in case, but everything seemed to be in order. This time.

“Then what’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Is it too late to cancel our dinner reservation?” His eyes slid over me—very, very slowly.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t think we’ll be on time.” Then he grabbed me around the hips and tossed me onto the bed. I laughed as he swooped down on me, capturing my lips.

“Wait.” I stopped laughing when his hands caught on my bra. “You’re actually serious, aren’t you?”

“I haven’t been alone with you in months, Pandora. Not without kids or cats trying to destroy the place—or someone barging in to demand that we save the world,” he said, his voice thick and rough with impatience. “Of course I’m serious.”

He dipped down to kiss me again. And I really, really wanted to give in.

“Come on, Nero. We’re going to be late,” I said, so pitifully that I didn’t even convince myself.

“We can teleport there.” His lips brushed my neck, and I shivered.

I tried to calm my racing pulse by counting down from ten. I didn’t even make it to eight. “Our reservation is in five minutes.” I ran my hands through his hair. “That’s not enough time to do anything.”

He froze just before his lips touched mine. “You’re right.” And before I knew it, I was sitting on the edge of the bed, and he was standing, staring down at me. “That’s not nearly enough time for what I have planned.” His voice was a caress, his stare a firestorm.

My wings burst out of me, blushing red.

Nero inhaled deeply. “Oh, Pandora. You have no idea how hard it is for me to not throw all of our dinner plans out the window.”

“I’m pretty sure I do know,” I choked out.

His smile was pure sin. “Come on, my love,” he said, extending his hand to me. Magic ignited when our skin touched. “Let’s get going before I change my mind and rip off all of your clothes.”

When we left our bedroom, Damiel was standing in the kitchen, a knowing smirk on his face. Sometimes being around people with supernatural hearing was so annoying.