Page 37 of Hexes From Exes

Rick stopped responding to her messages, likely because she was prying about their deal. She knew he couldn’t tell her anything, but damn, she was going to try.

A big part of her wanted to invite him over. She could use a friend after Cooper. How could he be so cool, then suddenly…awful?

She’d headed to the shower the moment Cooper left and scrubbed every inch of her skin, feeling annoyed at herself about the entire night. She was sick of listening to other people’s advice about giving men the benefit of the doubt or ignoring little red flags. After 30 everyone has baggage. Yeah, well, it shouldn’t be so unheard of for her to expect that baggage not to hit her in the face like that!

She was in her robe, her hair drying down her back, when she heard the tentative knock on her condo door. She paused, considering not opening it, it was far too late at night for someone to just be coming over. To her surprise she saw Rick’s human form through the peep hole.

“Rick,” she said, opening the door.

His gaze roved over her robed form before snapping to her eyes, making her cheeks warm. “I hope you don’t mind, I…” he trailed off. Why was he so sheepish? Stephanie was suddenly aware of the fact she had on nothing under the robe.

“No, it’s nice to see a friendly face,” she admitted with a small smile, snapping him back to attention. She stepped back and waved him in.

He stepped through the threshold and glanced around. “So, Cooper’s gone, then?” he asked, his voice light. Too light.

“Yes,” Stephanie sighed, moving to the couch to collapse on it. “For good, I think,” she admitted.

Rick wandered to the opposite end of the couch and settled onto it, his bulk taking up most of the space. When he turned to her, his knee brushed hers, and neither of them pulled away.

“Hmm,” he said.

“Yes, hmm indeed,” she said, running her hand through her drying hair. It was in its natural form, a mass of waves and curls that differed depending on where they were on her head.

“I didn’t know you had curly hair,” Rick said, his gaze lingering on her hair. His fingers ticked, like he was trying to keep from reaching out to touch her hair.

“It’s from my father’s side of the family. They were Greek. My real last name is Persopoulos, I changed it when I started up the company. No one could pronounce it, and no one tried to be honest. I wanted a new start, so a new last name made the most sense.”

“I understand,” Rick said. “Rick isn’t my full name.”

“I figured,” Stephanie replied with a shrug. “The fact that you’re a demon from another realm with a human sounding name seemed a little off.”

“A demon’s name is sacred,” Rick said.

“How so?” Stephanie asked.

“With a demon’s name you can do a lot. You can summon them, you can even control them if you’re so inclined. It’s like a magic spell, a secret password,” he said.

Stephanie raised her eyebrows. “Wow! Does anyone know your real name?” she asked.

“Cass – my ex – did,” he said, shifting uncomfortably on the couch.

“Wow, and you know hers?” Stephanie asked.

Rick looked at the ceiling and she swear she saw a blush color his cheeks. “Well, no,” he admitted.

“Oh,” Stephanie said awkwardly. The silence stretched between them until Stephanie cleared her throat. Why did she suddenly feel awkward? Rick didn’t talk about Cass nearly as much as when they first met. At first their post-date nights were filled with rehashing details about previous relationships. Stephanie thought it would help prove to him that she wasn’t the problem. Well, not the only problem. She hadn’t heard Cass’s name in a while and it made her stomach churn.

“Cooper…well, we were hooking up and he….he left after he finished.” She gritted her teeth as she spoke, feeling her own embarrassment raise to the surface. It felt like the right time to bring it up - a confession for a confession. Normally a conversation like this about a date or an ex with Rick wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable. Talking to him was so natural, she often forgot he was a demon. Now? It felt strange, uncomfortable.

“Such a human man thing to do,” Rick said, his gaze still at the ceiling.

“What? Do demon men stay and cuddle all night?” Stephanie joked. To her surprise, Rick turned his gaze on her, and it was heated, any traces of his previous embarrassment gone.

“I cannot speak for all demon lovers, but yes. If I reach that level of intimacy with a partner, I do not just abandon them. I make sure all my partners are thoroughly satisfied, however long that may take.” His gaze was unwavering on her, his eyes refusing to back down from her own.

She wasn’t sure who moved first, or if it was mutual, but one moment he was watching her with that heated gaze, and the next moment his lips were on hers, her hands tangled in his hair. They both let out a collective groan at the sensation, his arms pulling her against him, their bodies flush. His lips were soft but insistent, pressed against hers with a need that matched her own. It felt so right, so perfect, she felt her breath hitch in her chest.

Rick’s hands went to the tie on her robe, untying it with deft fingers. His fingers slid inside her robe, his warm hands a welcome shock against her heated skin. She could feel herself already getting wet, even without foreplay, and that was something she’d never experienced before. Normally, it took a while to get her started and in the mood, and she wasn’t usually the one to initiate any sexual encounter. This, though? It felt like the last few weeks were all foreplay, like him sitting on the couch with her, the promise in that sentence, was all one a long attempt to warm her up for him.