Page 75 of Devil's Delirium

I nodded, barely able to breathe, but I managed to choke out, “Why are you telling me this.”

“I don’t know, I probably shouldn’t. If you tell anyone, it’ll put me and my brothers in danger.”

“Lux is your brother?”

He shook his head. “Not by blood, but they are my brothers. We came here together when we had to leave Hell, and we’ve had each other’s backs for centuries now. We’d die for each other and almost have a few times.”

I gulped what was left of my wine and picked at the seam at the bottom of my sleeve. Maverick refilled my glass, a smile on his face like he hadn’t just hit me with a deadly secret when we barely knew each other. It was way too heavy for a first date and nothing like the kind of atmosphere I thought we needed, so I wracked my brain for something to lighten the mood. When it hit me, I gazed up at him, amused at myself.

“Going by that sexy twinkle in your eyes, I’m gonna like this,” Maverick remarked, leaning in.

“I was just thinking, since you’ve been around so long…”

He nodded, drifting closer as if magnetized.

“You have a lot of experience…”

“Plenty of talent and experience,” he affirmed, leaning in, practically purring into my ear.

“Maybe I should call you Grandpa.”

“Fuck no.” His voice boomed like a fist to the table as he jerked back and crossed his arms, laughing. “You’re gonna get it later. Wait and see.”

I laughed. “Awww, why not?” Catching his eye, I bit on my lower lip, letting it go slowly.

After a beat, his tongue flicked out as he watched me and then leaned in again, emitting the heat of smoldering iron, “I’ll show you why. Soon, monstre.”

I shuddered, not exactly regretting my jab nor his promise, but unsure how to meet his intensity. “Hmm… Why don’t you act like everyone’s grandfather if you’re so old?”

He scrunched up his face and sat back in his seat, sipping his wine and swirling it around, watching the liquid slosh in rhythmic circles. He took his time considering the question, and I wondered if he was going to change the subject on me. “I don’t suffer the same expectations, I’m not falling apart physically, and I’m not marching toward oblivion every day.”

I watched him, speechless, just blinking. It was a good point. I sipped my wine, and he did the same. We were quiet for a minute. He was so damn intense, but at the same time, totally chill. I didn’t know how he pulled off both at the same time, but he did. He was way toocool for me. Was that why he acted so crazy sometimes? “Why aren’t you bored to tears?”

He cocked his head. “What makes you think I’m not? I do what I can to keep myself entertained.”

I grimaced. “Oooof. Right now?”

He shook his head, chuckling. “No, you’re a very good distraction, Tess.”

So that’s what I was. A distraction from his endless, tedious existence. I could see how sex would be a solace for someone like him, and he was damn good at it. I couldn’t blame him at all.

Getting my freedom from Ivan and attention from Maverick all at once was a whirlwind for my poor, traumatized brain. I wouldn’t know how to stop it if I’d wanted to.

Despite how uneasy I felt about the inevitable heartbreak, as I sat before him here, I couldn’t deny I was more than willing to risk my already scorched heart for the thrills.

I knew how to show a man a good time, but so far, Maverick had always taken care of me, too. That was new to me, and I’d read enough women’s magazine articles online to know even women who were free to fuck who they wanted weren’t all used to it either.

So, after we finished our wine, I gratefully agreed to go back to his place ‘for dessert.’ He’d come to me for seconds, and I was not about to pass up the opportunity.

Chapter Forty-Three: Promise and Desire

Tess

We walked back tothe parking lot, the cool night air draped over us like a blanket. As soon as we were shrouded in darkness, he wrapped his arms around me. The sensation of being teleported was a disorienting, exhilarating rush, leaving me tingling and bouncy with anticipation.

I opened my eyes in the center of a huge, tile-floored kitchen. The tiles were polished, gleaming gray marble, reflecting the ambient lights from the moon outside, the various appliances, and recessed lighting under the cupboards. Sleek stainless steel appliances lined the wall, each one spotless and modern, their surfaces gleaming like mirrors.The countertops were rich, dark granite, contrasting beautifully with the open space.

I surveyed the place in awe, my eyes unbelieving. “This is your kitchen?”

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