Page 266 of Castings & Curses

I can feel the heat surrounding us, and I know I should leave. I should just get up and walk away and leave her here.

But I’m a demon, and I’m weak.

So, fucking sue me.

I slide my hand up her sun-kissed thigh, ever golden from the long-term exposure to the light from the lava pits and rocky embers down here. I dip my thumb just below the hem of her dress, feeling the soft lace between the pad of my thumb and my forefinger.

So delicate, and yet…

A deep sigh escapes my lips as I let it go and instead, wrap my arm around her hips and pull her a few inches farther away from the stack of papers.

She must take that as a “please proceed,” and slides her hand over the top of mine before angling herself in front of me, blocking my view from the entrance of my doorway.

I stand face to face with her, putting my face right in front of her sweet smelling pussy, and my body seems like it has a mind of its own. I slide my hand down from her hips, palm settling on her ass. And right before I fall into the depths of what I know will be a terrible decision, a soft squeak draws both of our attention.

“Oh my God! I’m sooo sorry!” a sweet voice says hurriedly.

The moment is all I need to regain my clarity and I push Roche aside. She grumbles something unintelligible, and I set my gaze on a short, five-foot-four brunette with big brown eyes, and a look of utter confusion and slight embarrassment on her face.

Roche turns, adjusting her dress, crossing her arms angrily. “And you are?” she bites out.

“I, uh… I’m Mercedes,” she says as she swallows nervously. Her eyes dance between Roche and me, and her cheeks redden when she looks back at me.

“B-but most people just call me Mercy,” she says.

Roche rolls her eyes. “What are you doing here? HAD is closed for the day.”

I don’t miss the frustration in Roche’s voice, and suddenly I’m acutely aware of that fact. She’s right. Roche only comes by after everyone has gone because I’m the only person crazy enough to stay past the end of the day. She always comes by when everyone else has gone, which I know she enjoys.

“Oh! I, uh… I have paperwork, I—” She starts digging around in a messenger bag I hadn’t noticed she was wearing until this very moment.

Roche pushes off the desk, casting a glare at me, her entire demeanor shifting back into the person I know better than the one who was just trying to reel me in for dinner.

“Take care of her, Endor, and then see to it you close up shop, yeah?” She stalks out of the room, not even bothering to look back at me.

I sigh, and Mercedes—Mercy—stumbles over something, knocking right into my desk, upending the stack of papers all over the floor.

Great.

Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any worse.

CHAPTER4

Valory

I shovemy book into my purse, bringing out my iPod and placing the earbuds in my ears.

I have to admit, when I first came to Heaven, the last thing I was expecting was access to pretty much every song ever made. It’s one of the coolest perks, I think. I’ve loved listening to all the different eras of music, really dissecting them.

Then again, currency up here is a lot different than on Earth, and things like music don’t cost anything. Music, movies, even books—all forms of entertainment—are readily available to us, free of charge. All we have to do is apply for an “Ace” Card—an AAV card—or more specifically, Angelic Audiovisual Card. The thing’s better than any earthbound library card, I swear.

Mr. Sandman, the original, fills my ears, and I let out a sigh. It’s almost dinner time and I’m starving.

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I reach over and shut off the computer, straightening up my desk before I turn around and head for the door. Not looking where I’m going, I run right into a solid mass, the force knocking my earbuds out, and I jump back.

“Matthew, I—” I never finish my words as I find myself staring face to face with a short brunette. She holds onto her chambray messenger bag, little pins and buttons decorated all over it, chewing her lip. Her brown eyes look up at me, filled with anxiety.

My heart sinks as I realize this girl can’t be more than sixteen or seventeen. Technically, the place is closed but… I can’t just leave her here until morning. She must have come through APD at the last minute.

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