Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
LUCIFER
Ialways knew it was only a matter of time before sweet Merri found me out.
What I hadn’t counted on was being on the precipice of greatness, shall we say, when it happened.
I was all for delayed gratification, a little edging, a moment of denial before the reward, but not when I was the receiving party.
Merri stared at me with fury blazing in her bright blue eyes, hatred clear on her face.
That was fine. I could handle hatred. It was only a breath away from love, after all.
Two sides of the same coin. Not that I required Merri’s love, but a little passion would make the fathering of my antichrist far more pleasant for all parties involved.
“What did you do to Cole?” she asked, voice shaking.
I snorted a laugh. “I killed him, of course. Buried him under that tree right next to the family mutt.”
“How did you know about him?”
“Know about him? Darling, who did you think you’ve been talking to this whole time?
I found him lurking online, talking to dozens of cam-girls just like you.
He wasn’t a good man like you thought. Cole was a pathetic creature, cyberstalking five other women so badly they banned him from their sites.
One even had a restraining order. You should really be thanking me.
I did you a favor when I intercepted him before your first session really got going. ”
The little furrow between her brows deepened. I could tell my words were getting to her, but the mistrust in her eyes was only growing stronger. She didn’t know what to believe. Who can blame her, I guess. I did have a bit of a reputation when it came to my handling of the truth.
“What reason do I have to lie to you now? You’ve found me out. All my cards are on the table. It doesn’t serve me or my needs to alienate you further. You’re far too precious to me.”
“Because all you do is lie. Everything you’ve done and said has been based on a lie. It’s who you are. Literally.”
She tightened the robe’s sash around her waist and stormed toward the bedroom door, but now that I didn’t need to hide my true self, I slammed the wood shut with a flare of my power.
“Ah, ah, ah, no escaping right now. Not until we talk about the predicament you’re in.”
She snorted, but there was no humor in her expression. No, she was all fire and brimstone, and I swear my dick gave a happy twitch. We did so love to play with fire.
“I can’t believe how stupid I was. I should have known Cole was too good to be true.”
“Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself, love. You found yourself in a pickle and needed an escape. I knew it was only a matter of time before those four buffoons mucked things up. So I played the long game. If Luc couldn’t win you over in your dreams, Cole would be there waiting for you with open arms.”
“You couldn’t seduce me without pretending to be someone else. That must’ve really hit you where you live.”
“Nah. The first time I seduced a woman, I was a snake. It’s pretty much my MO at this point.”
Standing, I adjusted myself in my tailored trousers, thankful I could stop wearing Cole’s insultingly low-effort sweats and T-shirt combinations. Honestly, would it have killed the man to up his wardrobe game?
“What are you doing?” Merri asked, backing away as I approached.
“You don’t need to fear me, my sweet. Give me what I want, and I’ll make you a very happy woman. You have my word.”
“No,” she spat.
A sneer twisted my lips. “I could just take what I want, you know. I don’t need your consent.”
Something flickered across Merri’s face too fast for me to name it. She straightened her spine, determination radiating from her stance. “But you won’t. Because you might not need my consent, but you want it.”
I raised a brow. “An expert on me now, are you?”
“I’ve gotten pretty good at reading people. And this whole time, in every iteration you’ve taken, you’ve always tried to win me over. You want me to choose you.”
I covered the distance between us in three long strides, moving forward until she was pressed against the door and our faces were inches apart. Anger and frustration burned inside me because she was right. Slamming one palm on the wood next to her pretty face, I released a snarl.
“And why shouldn’t you? I’m God’s favorite. The most beautiful angel ever created. Powerful beyond measure. A king in my own right. You would be so lucky to be my consort.”
“Would I?” she whispered through gritted teeth. “Or would I be your whore?”
“Technically you’d be my baby mama, though I personally hate that phrase. It lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. Consort sounds far more classy. Has the proper gravitas for the position. Though I suppose if titles really matter to you, we could go with . . . wife.”
Merri bared her teeth. “Fuck you.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying. Finally, we’re on the same page.”
I must’ve gotten soft in my old age, because I absolutely didn’t see her slap coming.
The crack of her palm across my cheek filled the room a moment before the sting registered.
Eyes wide, I took her in. Oh, she was beautiful in her rage.
Cheeks flushed, eyes bright, lips just a little swollen, as she shook from the adrenaline of our play.
“Was that supposed to put me off you? Because joke’s on you. I like it rough.” My words were a sensual hiss against her lips.
She brought her hand up again, but I was ready this time. I easily caught her wrist and let out a disappointed sigh. “Merri, Merri, Merri. The sooner you accept your situation, the more pleasurable it will be for all of us.”
Without waiting for a reply, I scooped her up into my arms. She struggled like the delicious little wildcat she was.
“Put me down,” she insisted as I strode into the bathroom.
“My pleasure.” I deposited her in the shower, once again using my power to turn on the cold water and douse her.
“What are you doing, asshole?” she screeched. “It’s freezing!”
“You should have thought about that before you got so heated. Actions have consequences, darling. I know that better than anyone. Perhaps it's time you learned the lesson.” I spun on my heel, prepared to let her . . . cool off.
“You’re leaving? Just like that?”
I paused in the doorway and looked over my shoulder at her dripping wet and shivering in the shower. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like you have anywhere else you can go.”
And with that, I tossed her a wink and left, locking the door to her bedroom behind me. It wouldn’t stop her for long, but it would make a point.
Merri was mine, and now that I had her, I would never let her go.