Page 70 of Spit

Busters in the Gluttony district was precisely what I expected, but also completely off the wall at the same time. It didn’t take us long to walk one block over from the store. Busters sported a sign advertising their wings, nachos, and ‘bottomless beer’—which I suspect appealed vastly to people that subscribed to gluttony as their sin (aka me).

While I checked out, Trey had sweet-talked the retail assistant into allowing him to use the staff bathroom. I was happy enough with my new jeans and oversized ACDC t-shirt—though I hoped that no one asked me to name any of their songs aside from Highway to Hell. Trey had snuck a dress or two into the pile of clothes when I wasn’t looking, but I wasn’t about to argue when he was paying.

I wasn’t even going to taint my relief at having wearable clothes with the notion of demonic sugar daddies. I decided it was kindness, and I would run with it, even if the Sloth demon had given me an orgasm that I would dream about when I was alone for years to come.

I couldn’t find it in me to be embarrassed at what had happened between us in such a public place. However, I did catch myself watching Trey as we walked—looking for any sign that he had been afflicted by my curse in the same way that Dylan had been.

I shuddered as my mind conjured up Dylan’s name. My first kiss hadn’t gone how I had planned, but what came after was much worse. My shadow was the only reason I wasn’t dead in a ditch.

As if sensing my thoughts, Shadow saluted me.You’re welcome.

I was startled, looking over my shoulder. I could have sworn I heard a voice.

I often had one-sided conversations with my shadow, but they never answered. What had changed? The only thing I could think of was the sheer amount of magic they had consumed. I was usually so careful about what I fed shadow. I didn’t allow him to feed on people I knew. It was infrequent that I felt my life was under threat enough that the use of shadow’s type of force was warranted.

Had I loosened the leash too much?

Trey placed his hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” He asked, his head cocked to the side. “You seemed pretty deep into your thoughts.”

I took a moment to study his features, finding concern in his buttery eyes. My lips turned up in a small smile. “I’m fine,” I told Trey. “Just thinking.”

“I hope you’re not thinking too deeply about what happened back at the store.” Trey blinked.

My brow arched. “Why? Because you’re worried I would demand an engagement ring because you tarnished my virtue?”

Trey spluttered a laugh. “No.Death and darkness, no.” He waved away my comment. “I meant; I hope you aren’t lambasting yourself for allowing me to touch you. I know you’ve been under the black cloud of Beezlebub’s curse, but I haven’t been addled by it. I see you as I did before. I want you to know that. I haven’t gone mad with desire and have no plans to pounce on you.” He paused. “At this second. Maybe if I can get you alone.” Trey conceded.

I exhaled a breath. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I am, aren’t I?” He slanted a grin my way as he held open the door to the bar. As I walked in, I ducked my head under his arm, greeted by the smell of bar food and cheap beer.

Red leather booths lined the walls, with circular tables in the middle. The bar took up most of the space, spanning the length of the building. There must have been at least twenty bar stools, each one occupied. The floor was mirrored, as was the ceiling, though the walls were black.

“I’m glad I’m not wearing a dress,” I grimaced as a waitress walked past. The mirrored floor allowed me to see what sat under her skirt. She wasn’t wearing underwear, and she also had a tail. The waitress shot me a wink as she caught my eye. Her eyes were golden, as was the rest of her. I suspected she was part succubus, but I wasn’t sure.

Trey nudged me. “Legion is over by the bar.”

I nodded, following his gaze until I spotted the Pride demon in the corner.

Dressed in one of his impeccable suits, with nary a hair out of place, Legion appeared to be drinking a glass of red wine.

Katalina was by his side.

I let out a low groan. Trey snickered. “You don’t get on with Kat?” He asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Witches don’t like me because they can’t access their magic around me.”

“You could try and be nice.” Trey’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Just because you’re had your hand between my thighs doesn’t mean you get to rehabilitate my bitchy ways. I reserve the right to be a bitch.”

Trey hummed, but I didn’t know what he meant by the sound. We walked towards Legion, who seemed more interested in our approach than whatever Katalina was talking about—as she waved her hands and gestured, immersed in her one-way conversation.

Legion’s eyes darted between us. “You both look like you’ve been having fun.” He said dryly; his bottomless irises gave away no hint of what he was thinking.

Trey shot him a smirk before he wrapped an arm around my waist and gave it a squeeze. “You want a drink at the bar?”

I licked my lips, and his eyes followed my tongue's movement with a dangerous hunger that I couldn’t afford to play with. “Whatever’s on tap,” I said, my voice raspy with nerves.

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