Page 23 of Bellamy

“Touch,”Lust whined.

With the strength-suppressing cuffs, it was harder for Lust to get a read on Phoenix. But even without the cuffs, I’d had the same result. The demon saw my default hazel eyes when he looked at me. It was different than when Lust hadn’t been able to get a read on Daman, making Daman see all types of eye colors.

With Phoenix, Lust couldn’t change to any color. He was stumped.

“Goddammit,” Phoenix said. “You’re a mess.”

“S-Still hotter than you.”

He scoffed, though there was a sharp edge to it. Like a catch in his throat. “Do you ever shut up, Nephilim? One day I’ll teach you a lesson about that smart-ass mouth.”

“Promise?”

Those whiskey eyes met mine, deep pools of brown with lighter shades mixed in. “You’re filthy. Come on. I’ll help you get cleaned up.”

The chains fell away from my legs, and the pressure pinning down my arms eased. It was the perfect opportunity to knock his ass out and escape, but I was too weak. Plus, the magic cuffs on my wrists remained. I wouldn’t be able to go far before I collapsed from total exhaustion.

“Won’t this piss off your little friends?” I asked, slumping against him as he helped me sit up.

“I care little what they think. I’m here because I want to be.”

“Yeah? And why do you wanna be?”

Phoenix slipped an arm around my waist. “You’re too pretty to stink so much.”

I tried to laugh but was too tired. Whether the demon was lying through his teeth or not, I didn’t know. But the idea of a bath was too damn good to pass up.

Teleporting was a head rush. One second, we were in that dingy, dark room, and the next, we were in a large bathroom with marble floors, fancy light fixtures, and a claw-foot tub big enough to fit two adult males.

I squinted against the sudden brightness. After being in the dark for so long, it was an assault on my retinas.

“Sorry.” Phoenix adjusted the lights, dimming them slightly. “Better?”

I glared at him. “Is this some kind of trick? Good cop and bad cop? Belphegor fucks with my head, and then you swoop in to make it all better? Get me to let my guard down?”

I wouldn’t put it past them, the conniving bastards. Backstabbing tactics were totally in their wheelhouse.

“That’s what you think?” His expression hardened as he returned my glare.

“Why else would you be this kind to me? It damn sure isn’t because we’re friends.”

Phoenix stepped closer. He was about two inches shorter than me, but he had a powerful presence. Or maybe it was only powerful because of how my soul soothed when around him.

“Can you think of no other reason?” he asked, his hand coming to rest at my bare side. His touch sent a rush of heat through my veins.

“Get your filthy hands off me, demon.”

He leaned in closer, bringing his scent of woodsmoke and spice with him as he whispered in my ear, “Make me.”

His breath on my neck gave me goose bumps. I hated how much I wanted him. I hated fate for giving me a mate I could never have. One I shouldn’t have.

“Touch,”Lust whined.“Kiss.”

I was so close to surrendering to that desire. Too close. It was a soul-quaking need to collide with him, to claim his lips while I claimed his body. I fought that urge with everything I had in me.

“You’re cocky now because I’m in these cuffs,” I murmured, turning my face to where our cheeks pressed together. The days-old stubble on my jaw slid against his clean-shaven skin. “But I’ll bring you to your knees someday.”

“There you go teasing me again.” Phoenix trailed his hands up my sides. His fingertips kissed my flesh like a flickering flame, a flame held far enough away to let me feel the tingling heat but not close enough to feel the pain of the burn.