Chapter 10 Dex #2
Onyx ran a hand through his hair, his congenial expression cracking. “Sorry. I’m freaking you out. Revealing all this to a human is actually quite involved.” A furrow appeared on his brow. “I should have cut Dante more slack.”
Dex didn’t bother asking. “What do you mean immortal?”
“Exactly what you think: demons live forever unless we’re permanently destroyed.”
“How do you destroy a demon?”
Onyx raised a brow. “Planning on becoming a hunter?”
Heat flooded Dex’s body. “No. Definitely not. Shit. Sorry. And sorry for swearing.”
“It’s all right. Relax. You can’t out-swear me. And I was teasing about hunting. There’s no way you could do anything to a demon that we wouldn’t bounce back from.”
Dex had another sip of wine.
Onyx’s expression sobered. “I’m sorry about yesterday. Dante and Ash said you were on a date with Luc when Ollie ran into you.”
Dex’s stomach sank so rapidly, it nearly fled his body. He scrubbed a hand over his face as it grew hot with shame. “I can’t believe I let him fool me like that.”
Onyx gently tugged Dex’s lingering hand away and met his eyes. “Don’t beat yourself up. No one thinks you did anything wrong.”
“I betrayed Ollie.” Shit, he’d admitted it out loud. Forget this being any kind of art-related networking opportunity. Dex was coming apart at the seams.
Onyx’s grip tightened on Dex’s hand. “You didn’t betray Ollie. He doesn’t think that, and neither does anyone else.”
But Dex had betrayed Ollie. Going on a date with Luc and kissing him wasn’t the half of it. His attraction to Luc lingered. Dex hated Luc, but his hate was incomplete. Part of him regretted walking away from Luc without hearing him out.
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t guilt yourself,” Onyx continued. “Everything to do with my brother is complicated. Give yourself a chance to process. Talk to Ollie. Talk to me if you want. It’ll all work out in time.”
Heat faded from Dex’s face. Onyx sounded so sure, but then, maybe everything worked out when you lived forever and time didn’t end.
“I can’t get rid of the feelings I had when I first met him,” Dex whispered before he could stop himself. There was no point trying to be professional, and he feared he’d explode if he didn’t admit it to someone.
Onyx squeezed his hand again before releasing it with a soft little smile. “That’s okay.”
But it wasn’t okay. How was Onyx not shocked by Dex’s feelings for his best friend’s would-be murderer? That was so far from okay, it wasn’t even funny. Dex’s stomach cramped, and he hated himself.
He desperately wanted to believe the Luc he’d met at Dorthy’s was the real Luc. Not the man who’d hurt Ollie and Harper. But he was wrong. It was a foolish, selfish thing to hold onto. He was a terrible person.
“Hey, sorry we’re late.” Harper pulled out the chair next to Onyx.
Onyx looked him up and down. “The wait was worth it. Look at you.”
Harper beamed. He looked stunning in tight pants and a flowy, vintage pastel blouse with pearl buttons. He even had glasses to match. “I kept ruining my eyeliner and had to use magic in the end.”
Onyx laughed.
Ollie sat next to Dex, giving him a one-armed hug. “How was work?”
“Good, but I’m going to crash after dinner.”
Ollie’s smile was replaced with a sympathetic frown. “What—”
“Oh, Satan, your nipples are pierced!”
Dex couldn’t have been more thankful for Harper’s shriek, which stole Ollie’s attention. Ollie gaped at Onyx. Dex hadn’t even noticed the piercings.
The demon rolled his eyes. “Yes, little mates. There are many things you don’t know about me.”
“It’s hot.” Harper cleared his throat. “Sorry, I’m staring.” He quickly grabbed a menu and averted his eyes.
Onyx grinned. “Don’t apologize for complimenting me. You think I didn’t see this reaction coming when I put on a sheer top?”
“True.” Harper shared Onyx’s smile, turning to Ollie and Dex. “Maybe I should get a piercing or two. Not my nipples, but maybe my ears. I could have bought earrings to go with this outfit. What a missed opportunity.”
“Give yourself time,” Ollie said to Harper as Onyx poured their wine. “There’s no rush to try everything at once.”
“You’re right. I’m lucky time’s on my side. Pole dancing is next level difficult. It’s going to take me ages to get any good.” Harper pouted.
Dex hadn’t realized Harper was into pole dancing. Good for him.
Onyx handed Harper a glass of wine. “Isn’t that the best part? Think how much fun you’ll have practicing.”
“I already know how much fun I’m going to have. Ash said… Never mind. What are we eating tonight?”
Onyx opened his menu. “The five-course tasting is a must. Unless you want to go for eight.”
“Eight courses?” Dex’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “How much will that cost?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m paying for you little m—I mean, young men.”
Harper snorted. “You can’t call us little mates now that Dex is here.”
“Maybe not, but I reserve the right to call you young, given I’m more than a hundred times older than you.”
Ollie choked on his wine. “When you put it that way, you sound ancient.”
Onyx put his nose in the air. “I am ancient.”
Should Dex bother asking about mates? Maybe it would come up enough that he’d finally get what the big deal was. “You don’t have to pay for me,” he told Onyx.
“Nonsense.” Onyx glared, his smile fittingly demonic. “I want to pay. This was my idea. I like sharing meals with these two, and I’m glad we can include you now.”
“But—” Dex began.
Onyx showed no sign of having heard him. “You wouldn’t prevent an old man from spending money on his friends when it makes him happy, would you?”
“I guess not.” But why did Onyx seem excited to include him? He wasn’t a demon’s mate. He’d tagged along because of Ollie.
Dex wasn’t really part of this group. His heart clenched, and he swallowed the unexpected lump forming in his throat.
Luckily, Harper asked Onyx something about the menu, distracting him.
Dex turned to Ollie. “Onyx told me demons live forever. You forgot to mention that.”
Ollie blinked. “Oh. Yeah. I was getting there, I swear.”
“Isn’t it weird being with a guy who’s ancient and will never age?” How was Ollie so relaxed? He’d been wary of relationships for years, and suddenly, he was all in with this wild shit. Dex had to be missing a boatload of details.
“It’s not weird at all.” Ollie shifted in his seat.
“It’s like dating anyone else. We game, get coffee, and—well, I can’t say sex with Dante is like anything I’ve ever done before because it’s not.
Um.” Ollie’s cheeks bloomed with color, and he cleared his throat.
“You should join Dante and me online. This is why I wanted to tell you. So we could all get to know each other for real. You’ll see. ”
Dex wasn’t sure he would. He agreed anyway. It was better than focusing on his own confused feelings.
Would he ever look at Ollie and not feel guilty for the lingering pull Luc seemed to have on him?