The Grigori was happy for the demon who’d escaped Hell to live as a fugitive with his human witch lover by his side.
Dan rubbed his eyes. His life would never be normal, that was for sure.
“Thank you,” Lily said. “And thanks again for all your help. We appreciate it.”
Dan bid the couple farewell and went in search of his wife. His third and final—and most important—reason for dropping by tonight. Besides the art, of course.
Having just excused herself from her own conversation, Jacqui looked up as he approached. Instead of embracing her like he wanted, he stopped a couple feet away, and they looked at each other in silence for a moment.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi.”
“How do you like the show?”
“It’s impressive,” he replied. “The centerpiece is particularly engaging.”
“Almost conflicting with the rest of the collection.”
“Yet somehow, it blends seamlessly.”
Jacqui smiled. “My thoughts exactly.”
“You look beautiful.” Her dress fell to the floor, the ruby red fabric clinging to her curves in all the right places. Her hair was braided into an elaborate updo, and her gold jewelry complimented her skin tone.
“You look like you didn’t dress up at all,” she replied, “but somehow, you’re as handsome as ever.”
Was he... blushing? That was embarrassing.
“It was nice talking to you yesterday.” He’d called as he promised he would, and she’d answered. They’d ended up talking for hours, and it reminded him of when they first met.
Jacqui had been so damn young and him so damn old, and he’d felt like the biggest bastard, yet he hadn’t been able to stay away from her. They’d fallen in love fast and hard and had never fallen out of it. Not even now, after almost a year of living apart.
“Come home?” Jacqui asked.
He stilled. Surely she didn’t mean...
“I’m sick of being mad at you,” she said. “I’m sick of lying awake at night because I can’t sleep without you beside me. I’m sick of working every minute so I don’t notice how empty the house is. I’m sick of pretending I don’t love you more than I ever needed time apart.”
“Jacqui...” His throat constricted.
“I want to rebuild the trust we lost. Just promise you won’t keep secrets anymore, okay?”
“I swear it on Eva’s life. No more secrets.”
She nodded solemnly. It was a vow they both felt the weight of.
“And what about...” He glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “The vampire thing?”
Her lips curved. “I have a little time to decide, right? I’m still a woman in my prime.”
“You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, and it’s taking all my willpower not to take you home right now.”
Her eyes widened. “Can you do that?”
“It’s hard with two people, but I can manage with the right motivation.”
Their eyes met and an old passion burned between them, no less powerful for its familiarity.
