Chapter 12 Dex #2
Dex rubbed the back of his neck. “No, I’ve got to pack. The offers on my place are coming in fast.”
“That’s great. Want help packing? We could order in.”
“No, don’t worry. At least one of us deserves a fun night.”
Ollie looked like he wanted to argue, so Dex added, “Let’s see when Onyx wants to go out next. Maybe we can all do something tomorrow night, or later in the week.”
“Yeah, let’s do that. I’m sure Onyx can make time. There’s an art show at his gallery soon, too.”
“Awesome.” Dex tried to sound excited.
They said goodbye, and Dex turned toward home, his smile falling as soon as he was safely away from Ollie.
He dragged his feet.
A night alone in his condo was the last thing in the world he wanted.
He hadn’t even started packing, and shouldn’t have pushed Ollie away.
Avoiding his best friend shouldn’t feel like the safest option, but every time they talked, Ollie dropped yet another confusing, half-explained truth on him, and Dex needed a break.
Instead of going home, Dex detoured to Dorthy’s despite knowing Violet wouldn’t be working. He ordered a beer and found a stool at a high table in the back corner. Drinking alone wasn’t a great habit, and this wasn’t the first time he’d been here that week.
Oh well.
There was no point denying that he was doing worse than he’d been a few weeks ago.
Dex could have sworn he’d been on the right track, dealing with his issues, selling the condo, and making choices that promoted better mental health.
But the whole process of moving sucked, and finding out about the afterlife hadn’t helped as much as he’d have imagined.
Dex still had to get through life missing the people he’d loved most.
The beer disappeared, and Dex ordered another.
How had Ollie assumed it was okay to slip that he would live forever into their conversation? Dex focused on death way too much. He didn’t want Ollie to die. It terrified him. But knowing Ollie would never die scared him too. He’d never see Ollie in the afterlife. Eventually, he’d lose him.
It wasn’t fair.
The beer went down too easily, and the whole day looked stranger the longer Dex stewed.
How had Ollie guessed that he couldn’t get Luc out of his head? Why suddenly support hearing the Devil out? It was impossible to imagine what Luc had told Ollie and the others to change their minds.
Dex unlocked his phone. He had to figure this out, and if Ollie wouldn’t explain, that meant seeing Luc. He opened their chat and typed.
Dex:
I’m at Dorthy’s.
Maybe not the best opener, which was entirely the beer’s fault. He’d had three, or was it four? Five? Shit. The fact that he couldn’t pin down his beer count meant he’d passed three a while ago.
His phone buzzed.
Luc:
Hi, Dex. Did you mean to send this to me?
Dex:
Yes.
I want to know what’s going on.
Luc:
Would you like me to meet you? Is that why you told me where you are?
Dex:
Obviously.
Luc:
I’ll be there soon.
A tightness released from Dex’s chest. He didn’t see how Ollie could support this, but knowing Luc was on his way felt better than anything had in weeks.
Figuring out what was happening was one reason to see Luc. The easy reason. The other was harder to face.
Dex burned for the closeness he felt during their date. Something about their connection was calling out to him, even after all this time.
It was ridiculous. No matter what Ollie said, Dex shouldn’t want Luc like this.
He wouldn’t act on it. All he’d do was hear Luc out. Then leave. That way, he could move on from this and date literally anyone other than the Devil.
Mind made up, Ollie ordered another drink and emailed his realtor, saying he wanted to make an offer on the condo across the river. He wasn’t letting Luc ruin a good property for him.
“Dex, I’m so glad you messaged me.”
Dex whirled around at the sound of Luc’s melodic voice, and there he was in slacks and a dark-gray sweater that seemed unnecessarily cozy for a summer night. Maybe demons couldn’t feel the heat.
A flash of Luc with his horns and wings crossed Dex’s mind, and his heart skipped. He looked so normal now. Well, maybe not normal. Luc still looked like a model, and towered over Dex even more than he remembered.
“May I sit?” Luc gestured to the stool opposite him.
“No, stand there.” Dex had no idea why he said it. What an asshole move.
“All right.” Luc leaned an elbow against the high table, angling toward Dex. “Are you comfortable being around me without your friends?”
Dex swallowed, mouth dry, and had a long sip of his drink. He was comfortable. He couldn’t seem to help it, even if he shouldn’t be.
Eventually, he nodded, stifling a hiccup.
Luc’s gaze zeroed in on the beer. “Have you had a few?”
“Maybe,” Dex muttered, taking another sip out of spite. “Is the Devil going to judge me?”
“No, but your state of mind is important.”
Dex snorted and had another sip. “God forbid you take advantage.”
Luc pushed off the table and crowded Dex’s personal space. “I’d never take advantage of you.”
“No? You’d only kiss me, knowing you almost killed my best friend.” Fuck. Dex’s vision blurred. Maybe he was too drunk for this. He should have had dinner or at least some water.
“I didn’t realize Ollie was your best friend. I’d have done everything differently if I’d known.” Luc’s voice was low and harsh, his gaze intense. Dex swore he caught a flicker of red within his brown irises.
“Why does Ollie suddenly believe you? He said you weren’t going to hurt me, but the other day, he was terrified. I don’t understand.” Dex turned away and finished his drink as if that might help.
It didn’t.
Luc was too close, and Dex didn’t hate it.
Luc took the empty glass and set it aside.
“There’s a great deal of history to fill you in on before any of this will make sense.
Dante, Ash, and Onyx’s belief that I wouldn’t hurt you is rooted in our shared past and a new understanding of how I acted over the years, something their mates understand. ”
“Can everyone shut the fuck up about mates?” Dex jabbed a finger at Luc’s chest. “That’s another thing that makes no sense. Explain it to me. Now.”
Luc grabbed Dex’s hand, surprisingly gentle. “We can’t do this here.”
Dex glanced around, suddenly aware of how loud he’d been. “Take me back to your place then. I hate being home. Anywhere would be better, even if you have some sort of creepy evil lair.”
Luc’s gaze remained stern, but his lips twitched. “I don’t have an evil lair. Sorry to disappoint.”
Damn him, Dex almost smiled. He hopped off his stool and swayed. Shiiiit. Luc caught him with an arm around his waist, and Dex grabbed onto Luc’s sweater.
“Steady there.”
Dex’s head spun, and he tangled his fingers in the fabric. So soft. He buried his face against Luc’s chest, rubbing his cheek over what had to be a cloud.
The spinning sensation ceased. Luc smelled like a campfire on a cold, clear night.
Rich, smoky, and bright. Goosebumps broke out on Dex’s skin as memories of childhood trips to the woods with his parents overwhelmed him.
He could almost taste roasted marshmallows and feel the heat of the fire.
His chest expanded as the sweet sting of happiness filled him.
Dex breathed Luc in, and the sting faded to something as soft as Luc’s sweater. Comfort. Like Dex was living in his memory. Transported to a place he longed to be more than any other.
A hand came to rest on the back of his head. “Dex,” Luc murmured.
He didn’t want to go. He was home. “I need you,” he said into Luc’s chest.
Luc’s breath caught, and the hand teasing Dex’s hair stilled. “We should talk. I’ll get you something to eat, and we can go to my place. All right?”
Dex disentangled from the sweater, realizing he had both arms wrapped around Luc’s waist in a vice grip.
“Come on.” Luc pulled one of Dex’s arms out so he could slip his around him, guiding him away from the table.
The bar blurred around Dex. “I want to wear your sweater. It’s soft.”
Luc chuckled. “You can borrow it.”
He led Dex outside, pausing to say something as they headed out the door. Dex didn’t catch it, but he didn’t think Luc was talking to him. A moment later, Luc said, “You aren’t going to be walking far, are you?”
“No, carry me.” Dex buried his face in Luc’s chest once more.
That last drink had hit hard, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Everything was easy right now. Luc was here, and he didn’t have to worry. Ollie told him it was okay.
Luc’s hand returned to the top of Dex’s head. “I can carry you, or we can get a car.”
“Can’t you decide? Can’t you just…” Dex couldn’t find the words.
The pause stretched, and Luc’s arms seemed to tighten around him. “I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry. But answer one thing for me. Would you like me to fly you to my place, or will that scare you?”
Dex considered lifting his head, but rejected the idea. He breathed in more of Luc’s smoky scent. “Fly me.”
“Okay. Come on. A little farther.”
Luc guided Dex away from Dorthy’s, and he didn’t bother paying attention to where they were going. He felt safe in Luc’s arms, which had to be due to the alcohol.
This man had almost killed Ollie. He was the Devil. Not to be trusted. Dex might not understand everything happening with the demons and Ollie’s cryptic encouragement, but he didn’t need to. He was being reckless and didn’t care.
Something cold pressed against Dex’s back, and he yelped, opening his eyes. When had he closed them?
He and Luc were in an alleyway, and Luc had him pressed against a wall.
Luc pulled his sweater over his head, and Dex’s thoughts ground to a halt. Luc loomed over him, bare-chested, his hair disheveled, and Dex’s insides melted.
A shiver wound down Dex’s spine. “Are you going to fuck me?”
“No.” Luc’s red lips twisted into a smile, and he handed Dex the sweater. “Put this on. You wanted to borrow it.”
“Oh.” Dex tried not to pout. Not very hard. He’d rather Luc fuck him than dress him.