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Annoyance rushes through me. “Fuck off, the both of you. You’re fucking demonic shitheads and have no room for giving me mortal dating advice. Joel wasn’t always bad—”
“Yes, he fucking was,” Dante says, hissing under his voice. “It’s time you accept it, get off your sexy bubble-butt, and get naked before I climb in that bath and enjoy all the hard work Kase put forth in an attempt to make you feel better.”
“If it means getting away from you, then fine.” I shift my legs and manage to get off the couch without touching either of them.
My mind whirls as I snatch some clothes from the corner and head to the bathroom. A part of me wishes they were lying about Joel, but they don’t seem like they would, despite the Hell thing. If what they say is true...fuck. I never in a million years ever expected that two demonic bastards would save me from a man I trusted. One I had planned to marry until he showed his true self. Now I can’t help wondering if I was somehow set up. What are the probabilities that I would lose my job, have to return to Joel to avoid being homeless, and then have Kase and Dante intervene? It’s not divine intervention, but maybe something wilder. Fate? I don’t know.
I push the thoughts away upon the sight of the steamy bubble bath that smells as if someone bottled up a delectable dessert to pour in, knowing my love of gourmand scents. I peek over my shoulder at Kase and Dante sitting on the couch. They both smile and wave, way too proud of themselves for getting me to move my ass. Clicking the door closed, I lock it and drop the crusty robe to the floor along with the rest of my grimy clothes. I dunk my hand in the water, groaning at the heat, already dying to get in.
“Need some help, pretty soul?” Dante asks, knocking on the door.
I rush to climb in, splashing water over the side. “No, I—”
The door swings open, and Dante stands in the frame with his hand over his eyes. How did I know he could just come in despite me turning the lock? Or how did I know one of them would barge in?
“Dante, what the fuck? Get out,” I snap, flinging soapy water in his direction.
He steps forward. “Aw, come on. I’m not going to look at you unless you let me.”
“Seriously?” I chuck a bottle of shampoo at him.
Catching it with his free hand, he shakes the bottle. The fucker. I want to yell at him and chuck another bottle, but I already know it won’t stop him. It’ll give him an excuse to drop his hand from his gaze.
“You guys talked about rules, but I think you need to follow some of mine if you want to survive another day with me.” I sink lower in the tub. “I thought I made it clear I wanted some space. I can’t think when I’m around you.”
Dante sighs and continues on his mission to close the distance to me. “Would you believe me if I told you I hate the fucking space you want over me? You’ve had days of space. I just want a couple minutes of your time.”
“For what? To make poor attempts at seducing me? Telling me I have awful taste in men? Or that you’re my big bad boss and you can’t wait for me to fail so you get to keep my soul for all eternity?” I close my eyes, hearing Dante set down the shampoo bottle.
“You make me sound like a monster,” he quips, his voice lowering. He’s close. Too close. “All I wanted was to check on you. Wash your hair, if you’d allow it.”
Well, if this isn’t the weirdest fucking thing.
“If I let you do that, will you then leave me alone?” I ask, sitting up. Bubbles shield my breasts, but I still feel incredibly exposed.
“For an hour,” he says, squirting shampoo into his palm. “Maybe two.”
I tip my head back and peer at him from upside down. “How can I get three?”
A smirk pulls at the corner of his lips. “Let me shave your legs.”
I blink. “Are you for real?”
“You’re the one who wants to make a deal. Take it or leave it, Raven. You may never get this sort of arrangement again.” Dante sticks out his tongue, flicking it.
I can’t stop staring at how it’s split in half like a fork with silver barbells on each side. Like my finger takes on a mind of its own, I reach out and touch it. Dante’s eyes spark with fire, and his tongue wraps around my finger as he pulls it into his mouth. The sensation surprises the hell out of me. I jerk my hand away and dunk it underwater.
“Our next deal will be even more fun, though,” he teases, rubbing his hands together. Gathering my wet hair, he begins to lather in the shampoo. “You’ll cave eventually. Shit gets boring. And with you...I can be my true self.”
His words dig into me as he soaps up my hair, gently scratching his fingers into my scalp. I inhale and exhale slowly. I will never admit it out loud, but it feels fucking amazing. I haven’t been able to go to a salon in so long that I almost forgot what it’s like to have someone else do it for me.
“What? No snarky comment about my true self being a monstrous beast?” he asks, filling my silence.
I shift and peek over my shoulder at him. “I thought it was a given. Now, stop talking. Our deal only included you washing my hair.”
“And shaving your legs,” he says, wagging his eyebrows.
My cheeks flush, thinking about how weird his desire is. “If I let you talk, will you give me four hours? You have to keep Kase away too.”
