Page 23 of Flirting with Death

EMTs arrived and asked us questions about how this happened, all while loading my dad onto a stretcher and rolling him away. Raiden trailed after them, gathering the information we would need.

Lex held me, promising we would follow them soon.

Bellamy had disappeared with his father and the demons. I wasn't sure where they went or if he told me he was leaving. Cerberus leaned against my leg, giving me the only comfort he knew how to give. Alastor stood off to the side awkwardly. I could tell he wanted to close the distance between us, but he was unsure of his place.

Brook and her guys watched it all unfold. Once upon a time, she was the one I would run to for comfort. We used to be joined at the hip until she found out she belonged in Fairy. Except for my nightly adventures of demon hunting, which I had kept from her, she knew me as well as I knew myself.

I pulled away from Lex and met Alastor's intense gaze. He flicked his eyes up to Lex before he closed the distance, and I wrapped my arms around him, drawing in his calming smell. He smelled like sandalwood and slightly like the forest we had been in earlier. His suit jacket wrinkled beneath my grip, and I slid my hands under the material instead. He whispered words of comfort until I pulled myself together and straightened. I couldn't stand in the middle of the mall and breakdown.

My dad would be okay, he was in excellent hands. If I could take a break from the shit I had to do to keep the world safe, I would indulge in a really long cry and maybe some ice cream. But I didn't have that luxury so I buried it deep. Raiden had called my mom and brother to let them know already. We all knew that demon hunting was dangerous for loved ones. It's why I let no one claim my heart before, but it had never gotten this close to home before.

"What's next?" Brook asked. She matched my steps as we headed for the exit.

"Next?" I arched a brow at her. "You go home where you're safe."

"Try again." She shook her head. "You helped me, it is time for us to repay that."

"Brook, you don't owe me anything. You are my best friend, I would die for you."

"Let me reword it. You are my best friend, and I'm not going anywhere, bitch."

A surprised laugh burst from my throat at her swearing. It was so awkward and sounded like she had added it on at the last second.

"So what's next?" she repeated. "Or do I have to swear again?"

A grin pulled at my lips, and I dropped my arm around her, squeezing her in a side hug. "No more swearing from you. Apollo has tasked us with finding his missing muse."

"Apollo?" Her eyes went wide and trailed to Auberon. Lumi and Caspian laughed like a pair of frat boys at the glower on his face. It must be some kind of inside joke, because I did not get it. "Like the God?"

"That would be the one."

"When do we start?"

* * *

Lex convinced me I wasn't finding anyone if I fell over from exhaustion and forced me to rest. We ended up at the penthouse; it was large enough to fit our entire group and still have space. Alastor and Lex made me take a nap while we waited for the others to return. I could hear the group relaxing in the living room. All I could do was toss and turn restlessly. I was pretty sure this was going to end up more exhausting than not trying to sleep at all.

The door cracked open, Alastor peeked his head in to check on me.

"I'm not asleep. I don't think I can."

He crossed the room to the side of the bed. "You are going to fall over in the middle of a fight if you don't."

"I doubt that." I laughed. "Maybe if you lay next to me—" I trailed off.

His lips rolled between his teeth, and I watched the decision play out on his face. When he reached for his tie, I knew which direction had won. It was silent between us while he stripped down to his boxers. His body was toned and lean beneath his clothing. I lifted the comforter for him to climb into the bed with me. As he stretched out next to me, I waited until he tilted his head in my direction before I pressed into his side.

My soft tank top and tiny shorts weren't much of a barrier between us. My nipples had a mind of their own and pebbled beneath the material, but I told him I would try to rest, so I squeezed my eyes shut and pushed away the desire to climb on top of him and truly exhaust myself. Hell, if I did I might face rejection again, if you could call it that. A guy telling you he wanted all of you and not just your body was pretty fucking amazing, now that I would accept more.

The ball was in my court, really.

His fingers squeezed my shoulder, pulling me halfway over him. I slid my leg over his; the hair teased against my bare skin, and I could feel a semi growing in his boxers. The awareness that was shooting through my body was having the opposite effect, and I was positive there would be no sleep for me while having him pressed against me.

"Alastor?" I whispered into his flesh, my lips brushing his chest.

"Sleep, Samantha," he commanded.

I trailed my nails up his smooth stomach and along his ribcage. He stilled beneath my touch as he grew hard beneath my leg. It encouraged me, and I teased light kisses over his skin.

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