“Har har. Let’s go.”
This time, she couldn’t hold back her grin. “There’s the Raum I know.”
He really hoped she didn’t know how much power that look had over him or he was doomed.
* * *
Sunshine didn’t takethem to China. In fact, her hellgate dropped them right where she’d intended it to: in the living room of her rental suite, at the very gate they’d used to enter Hell in the first place. It was night in Montreal, the city lighting up the overcast sky with a hazy glow, and she was glad she’d left a lamp on.
Back again only a few days later…and no closer to getting the book. They were further, in fact, since Murmur now knew they were trying to sneak into his territory. Worse, she’d used both amulets trying to find Raum.
The first had started wearing off after she’d fled Murmur’s tower, and she’d had no choice but to use the second. Something about the succubus queen they’d met made her think she wasn’t likely to help them out a second time.
But Sunshine wasn’t thinking about any of that right now. She was tired of thinking about it, and presently, she was more concerned with the very stoned, shirtless demon who stumbled out of the gate and would have fallen on his face had she not caught and steadied him.
He gave her a lopsided smile, and that right there was concerning enough. Raum didn’t smile. Well, he rarely did. And each instance where he offered a smile was precious and to be savored. The way he was throwing them around now was almost disturbing. It seemed against the natural order.
Her hand was still on his arm, and she couldn’t help but feel his hard strength and the softness of his skin. Why did Murmur have to take his shirt? It was making everything more difficult.
“Let me heal your head wound,” she said, reaching up to his temple and sending healing energy into him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t do anything for his state of intoxication. Angel healing only worked for superficial wounds like lacerations and broken bones. Toxins in the bloodstream had to be treated the normal way.
She watched as his skin knit back together and exhaled in relief, glad to have her abilities back now that they were out of Hell. She hated the helpless feeling when they were blocked.
Raum looked into her eyes the whole time, and she squirmed under the intensity of his attention. She dropped her hand when she finished and tried to pretend she was unaffected by their proximity.
“You’re so pretty, Sunshine,” he slurred. He was in her personal space, but it didn’t feel like an invasion. His eyes were too bright from the venom’s effects, and she tried to remind herself he wouldn’t have said such things under normal circumstances.
It didn’t work. In fact, her cheeks warmed from the compliment, and her body swayed into him as if it had a mind of its own. “And you’re still very intoxicated.”
She turned away and set about removing her cloak and weapons just to give her something to do besides look at him.
“You like me,” he said. “I can tell.”
When she glanced up, he was still giving her that priceless gem of a smile, but it didn’t feel like it counted as much as it would’ve had he been sober. She clung to that conviction as the last tether of resistance.
“You need to sleep off the venom in your system.” Finished with her weapons and cloak, she unlaced her boots and toed them off.
“Not sleeping until I shower. I stink like Hell.”
They both did, in fact. Now that they were back on Earth, she could discern the sulfuric scent emanating from them.
She approached Raum and hefted one heavy arm over her shoulder. “Let’s get you into the shower then.”
He obviously hadn’t figured out yet that she hadn’t retrieved the book—the venom probably made it hard for him to reason clearly. When he did, she knew they were in for an awkward conversation.
She flicked the light on as they entered, and she grimaced when she caught her reflection. Her hair was atrocious, and her face was stained with flecks of demon blood. She guided Raum to slump against the wall and then reached into the shower stall to turn on the water.
“You gonna join me?” The lopsided grin was back.
“Absolutely not. That would be inappropriate.” She swallowed around a throat that had suddenly gone dry.
He wasn’t listening, because he was already halfway through unfastening his pants. When he shoved them down the next second, she gasped and spun around.
“Raum!” Her face was so hot, she feared she might faint. “That is definitely not appropriate!”
She heard him moving around behind her and prayed he was steady enough to get his clothes off on his own. She didn’t know if she would survive it if she had to help him.
“Do they teach you in angel school how not to have fun?” His voice came from inside the shower, echoing around the tile, and she breathed a sigh of relief. And disappointment.No.Relief.
