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Ben rose and patted him on the back. “When next you have her home, Cruise, let me know. I can come by and work with herthere when there’s a break. I can’t with the demon riding her like this, though. She simply has to get her out.”
Simply?I laughed, sounding hysterical to my own ears.
Nathan shook his head. “Not better.”
“Stop touching me,” I shrieked and yanked my hand back.
“Okay.” Nathan nodded. “You say touching or no touching.” He looked over at Ryker. They were obviously constantly talking about me, about how fucked up I was. Even if they weren’t talking, they weretalking.
Cruise nodded. “Plan to be over in two hours. She’ll be there.”
Oh hell no you won’t be.
“Because first, we’re going to go rob a liquor store.” Cruise stormed from the room. “We’ll make the demon happy.”
We are going to what?
I awokein Cruise’s basement. Danvers held my head in his lap. “Did we rob a liquor store?” I asked him.
“You did. Well, you and I did. We robbed the store. It was very dramatic.” He shook his head. “I know how to do it because I did it so frequently with my demon. Afterward, we got back in the car and sped away. Cruise’s sister went in and paid the guy. So, no harm no foul. It won’t work again but it got us through today.” He smiled down at me. “I’m so sorry she hurt you so badly after you saved me. I want to do what Ryker is going to do but I’m going to wait. I don’t think I should leave you right now.”
I stared up at him. Years ago, it would have been a dream. This man wanting me? I never would’ve believed it. But he didn’t want me like a man wanted a woman. He was drawn to me because we’d been possessed together and because I saved him.
I sat up. “You’re so handsome, Danvers. Now that you’re free, you have a whole life ahead of you. A big life. Stay away from your family, but other than that, you can do whatever you want to do. Please don’t waste time trying to save me. I’m so far gone, there is no coming back.”
He smoothed a finger over my lower lip. “I hear that they’re lining up to date you when this is over. Whatever that means. Ryker. Nathan. Cruise wants to ask.” He smiled down at me. “So can I put myself on that list? Will you let me take you somewhere on a date? I might actually have some money, because I’m getting to work.”
I bit on the edge of his thumb, and he smiled broader. “Sure. Why not? I…Danvers, I’m not going to be here to date, you know that, right? The idea of the so-called dates…it’s just for my fantasy. I don’t want to lie, and I think you understand.”
He put my hand on my heart. “You felt my demon right here and you pulled it out. Can you feel your own?”
I tried. I closed my eyes again to try to do so, but there was nothing. No demon for me to tug. Just nothing. “I think…I think maybe I’m just all demon now.”
“Not even close.” He shook his head. I noticed the IV in his arm. I must have made a face, because he shrugged. “I’m really low on some things. They’re trying to get me healthy.”
The door opened and closed, revealing Cruise and Ben. “Oh good,” the former said. “She’s up. Off his lap. Come over here.”
Danvers groaned. “You’re just jealous.”
“Maybe.” Cruise took my hand and pulled me up and against him. He smelled good, and I tried not to sigh into the feel of him. “You okay? Dizzy? Hungry?”
They fed me a lot in the hospital. More consistently than I’d eaten in years. “I’m not hungry. Thanks.”
“Good.” He smiled at me. “Ben is here to talk to you about an option that we have. You’ll have to decide if you want it, now ornever. She doesn’t want it, and I threatened her with this once before. If she had any idea Ben was the guy who could do it? There is no way you’d be here tonight. Go ahead, Ben.”
How was I supposed to pay attention to Ben with Cruise’s body against mine? His warmth was so close, so safe… “Maybe I could just hug you? Would that be okay?”
Ben made a tsk noise. “I know it’s hard. I remember it quite well myself. Exhausting. And you so need to be held.”
Cruise’s arms slid around me, tugging me close. “How about if you hold onto me and listen to Ben?”
I lifted my gaze, sighing again. “I’m sorry, Ben. That was rude of me. Please, tell me what I should hear. You’ve come all this way just for me, after all.”
He laughed. “I live where your friend Ryker is going to study. I teach there, actually, about a two-hour drive from here. I’m not too far out of my way, but it is nice to see you behave the way they all keep describing you. It’s not surprising, of course. The angel blood is most apparent in those most deserving. What if I told you, if you can’t exorcise her, you could contain her instead?”
I let go of Cruise, shock stiffening my body. “What?”
“I have a demon in me, but you would never know it. I found a way to cage it. He doesn’t affect me anymore. Every once in a while, I get a headache, and I blame him for it, but otherwise, I’ve been able to get my life back. I help people. I teach. I’m married. I have teenagers in the house. You can do it, too, if you want. If you can exorcise people without being cleared yourself, you’re really strong, so I know you can do this. I’m going to show you how.”
