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Easing the cat off his lap, he stands. “She’s a good cat and once I fed her, she was charmed.” He closes the space between us and wraps his arms around me. “I went out and picked up some bagels and made coffee.”
I breathe in the warm manly scent of him. “You’re my hero.”
He stiffens. “I’m no hero, sweetheart. I’m a demon.” He points to the wreckage on the television screen. “That’s because I didn’t find and stop Jorge.”
My gut twists. I could almost forget that my new man isn’t a man at all in the aftermath of a perfect night together. “Are you going to find him now?”
He kisses my hair. “I promised I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye, so I waited for you to wake up, but I have to go.”
Pushing on his chest, I step back. I don’t know why I’m surprised or even disappointed that he’s leaving. It was just sex. People have it all the time and it doesn’t mean anything. “You better go then.” I wrap my arms around my waist.
Grabbing his shirt, he pulls it over his head. He’s anxious, as if he can’t wait to get out of my house. “I may be gone a few days.”
“Sure.” It feels as if this may be the last time I’ll see him. I hold back my disappointment and hurt. If I never see him again, I don’t want him to think it matters. One thing I learned from my mother is that being needy never keeps a man. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep my emotions down. I already let him see me cry last night, I’m not going to be a mess this morning.
He tips my chin up. “I have to find Jorge and stop him, but I’d like to see you as soon as I finish this job.”
“I understand.” It’s a lie. I don’t really know what this Jorge person has to do with the accident on the news. Things like that happen all the time. He told me he would tell me what the voice meant, but now he’s leaving. “Thanks for breakfast and for staying until I woke up.”
Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes. When he opens them, the intensity has diminished. He takes one of my hands and unwraps it from my waist. “Talk to me.”
“It’s fine. You have to go.” I try to pull my hand from his, but he holds it firmly and pulls me close.
Cupping my cheek, he presses his lips to mine. With his forehead pressed to mine, he says, “I’ve made you upset this morning and that’s the last thing I wanted. Tell me how to fix it.”
“You said we’d talk this morning. I want to know about the voice you heard and what it meant.” A tear escapes as my emotions bubble to the surface.
With a kiss, he brushes away my tear. “I don’t want to ever make you cry, yet it seems I keep doing exactly that.”
“Maybe I just need some coffee. You should go.” I turn and walk into the kitchen. Keeping my back to him, I wait for the front door to open and close. When it doesn’t, I bite my lip and pour my coffee. Without looking back, I add cream and sugar. Every moment, I expect him to leave, but when I finally turn, Mantus is leaning against the post that stands between my kitchen and dining room.
“Come sit with me and drink your coffee.” He offers his hand.
Helpless to resist him, I thread my fingers through his and follow him to the couch.
Pumpkin creeps onto his lap and stretches one paw to touch my leg.
I scratch the cat’s ear. “My father left my mother when I was three. I guess I just expect men to leave.”
He kisses my hand. “Felicity, I’m not leaving you. Even though you deserve a much better man, I can’t give you up.”
“Why not?”
He presses my hand flat between both of his. “The voice I heard was ancient. In fact, it’s older than time. I’ve heard stories about demons hearing the voice call to them when they find the person who is meant for them. I never believed those stories until last night.”
“So, you won’t leave me because we’re meant to be together, like fate?” I don’t believe in fate or destiny. I’m in control of my life. I made something of myself.
“You don’t believe me. I can see it on your face.” He traces a path around my fingers where they lay on his palm.
“I believe in free will.” I take my hand away and cradle my coffee.
His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Yes. You have free will, sweetheart. Your life was created by you.” He draws a long breath. “My life is a different story. I’m a demon. I have things I must do. I have no choice but to find Jorge and send him back where he belongs. Each time a purgatorian flees, I have to hunt them. It’s not my choice. Until a demon finds his true mate, he must continue on the path of keeping a balance between good and evil.”
“And you think I’m your true mate?” My heart is lodged in my throat.
“I believe you and I are meant to be together, and yet I know I don’t deserve you.” He sighs. “Even so, you can send me away.”
“Why would I do that?” As much as I don’t want to feel as if forces beyond my control are manipulating me, I’m drawn to Mantus.
