He picks at something on the table, averting my eyes. “You already know the answer to that, love.”
“Was anything he said to me true?” I wish I could take the question back, so as to not sound so pathetic. Seeking validation from the devil is a recipe for disaster, and I’m feeding right into it.
He blows out an exasperated breath. “You’ll have to ask him. Though why you’d bother is the greater question. He’s God’s pawn, Victoria. I doubt you’ll get the full truth.”
“I’m sorry I asked.”
“The truth is hard to hear. He stole your innocence and sold you to God as a prisoner of war.”
“Unreal, Luke. Why would you even need to bring that up?”
“Why not? It’s true. He deflowered something that wasn’t meant for him.”
“Yuck. Why don’t you just pee on me now?”
He raises a brow, smirking. “That sounds devilish.”
“One more word and deal or no, I’ll break this arrangement and take my chances in Hell.”
“You know that’s not exactly a threat. I want you in Hell.”
I groan, snapping my attention back to the people swaying to the music.
A cover band plays on stage, the current song something new by MGK. It feels appropriate, considering Luke has dubbed tonight Valentine’s Day. I chuckle at the words, so very freaking fitting.
“Dance with me,” he says, standing and holding out his hand.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Like I said, I can’t.”
“My night. My rules. Up,” he commands.
I glower back at the devil but concede, knowing that if I don’t, he’ll find some loophole to extend my sentence.
Luke slips right into the fray, bouncing around like every other twenty-something in the joint. He looks like he fits, his youthful features making him look no older than twenty-five. I savor the way his black tee showcases every exquisite muscle underneath.Stop!
He bumps his shoulder into me, the universal sign forget your ass moving. I roll my eyes and decide to just let go. This is his night, and I’ll play the game. The atmosphere is charged, and with the low lighting and deep bass pumping below our feet, it’s easy to throw caution to the wind and get lost in the fun.
It has been years since I’ve allowed myself to get caught up in human traditions. It seems ridiculous, considering the alleys right outside are crawling with demons. My hands come up above my head and my hips sway in time to the beat.
I have to admit it is liberating in ways not much else is. Letting go and drowning in the lyrics and bass created by the instruments is euphoric. The space is so tight that Luke takes liberties he shouldn’t, constantly touching some part of me. I know I should set boundaries, but I need this night. I’m the queen of doing things for the wrong reasons, and perhaps tonight has everything to do with my need for validation. Zeke’s betrayal marred a part of me that felt secure. Luke’s mending those scars with every brush and every glance my way. Wrong? Probably. But I’m not going to think too much about that.
The music slows and Luke grabs both my hands in his, pulling me in and pushing me out to the beat. My eyes catch on his lips as he mouths the words to me. My stomach flips over itself, the moment so intense. So intimate. My chest swells, feeling like it could burst any moment.
The air shifts, and everything around us seems to go on. People jump around, pumping their arms in the air and bellowing the words, but in our small bubble, time freezes as if we are in a time warp and nobody else notices. We stare each other down, two starved people looking for their salvation in the other. Our bodies inch closer of their own accord, my hands coming to his chest. I lean in, closing my eyes. As if by divine intervention, the music ends and the moment is broken.
Suspended a measly inch from Luke’s lips, I pull back as if he’s burned me. His face pinches in something akin to pain before he takes a large step back, putting needed distance between us.
“All right guys, we’re going to get karaoke started,” a busty blonde on the stage calls out, signaling a changeup. “Let’s give Rebel Dogs a huge round of applause for knocking us on our asses for the past hour.”
Hoots and hollers rise up to levels that are uncomfortable for my celestial ears to handle. Apparently, Rebel Dogs is a favorite of everyone in the place. I have to admit, they affected me.
No. Luke affected me. Too much.
“Okay,” I call out above the noise to Luke. “We’ve had enough of pretending to be young.”
“And human,” Luke smirks.
“Yeah, that too.”
