Lure of a Demon

RAY

Knocking out a steady rhythm on the door, I could keep this up all night. Given the choice, I’d put my stamina to better use, but I was also very easily entertained, even knocking out a few tunes with both hands to break the monotony like the fucking genius maestro I am.

Tat tat tat, tat tat tat tat, tat tat, tat tat tat.

“I can do this allllll night,” I sang through the door. “In fact, I might add some singing to the mix since you’re enjoying my percussion so much. Here we go—”

As I sucked in a breath to belt out something I’m certain would’ve been, at the very least, as majestic as squawking can get, Ilsa opened the bathroom door.

Christ, if looks could kill, I’d fall dead where I stood.

Her expression was icy as she tightened the towel around her body. “What. Do. You. Want?” she pushed out through gritted teeth.

I couldn’t help it. I smiled. There was something so incredibly amusing about annoying her. I mean, I found it entertaining to bother most beings, humans and demons alike. But Ilsa, there was this delicious push and pull between us. A lingering attraction was right under the surface, and for her, the attraction was buried beneath a few layers of anger and denial.

Understandable.

I’ve never been around a human who knew what I was before, and there was something incredibly invigorating about it.

Besides, Ilsa had let me go more than once, then she had not turned me in when she could have, and actually helped and looked after me when I was injured. So whatever it was she was battling within herself, whatever lies she was telling herself to get through the days, she was fighting a losing battle. I wanted to keep pushing her buttons until she came apart, then maybe she’d talk to me properly.

“You need to let me clean your wounds,” I said.

“Ray, I’m not going to let you bathe me.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Please, just let me have a bath. Then I’ll come out, and you can annoy me all you want, okay?”

Pouting, I stepped back as she closed the door, thankful she at least didn’t slam it in my face but instead pushed it closed with a gentle, but all the same, final click. I’ll take it as a sign maybe she recognized there was care behind my offer to look after her, and it wasn’t fueled purely by my desire to have her naked.

It seemed only right with all she had done for me, considering she obviously wasn’t my biggest fan. I told her I knew the difference between right and wrong.

Perhaps I was a test of her morals, and it bothered her.

It wouldn’t be the first time I tested someone’s morals.

Striding across the room, I slumped onto the couch, unzipped my boots, and tossed them to the side followed by my socks, and wiggled my toes as I threw my feet on the coffee table.

Might as well make myself comfortable.

When Ilsa stepped out of the bathroom, I must admit she looked better. She was moving with a bit more ease, although I’m sure she was still in pain. I’d like to say she looked relaxed, but she walked with an edge to her posture, and when she sat on the opposite end of the couch, her back was stiff.

“What’s the plan?” she asked before holding up a finger when I went to answer. “Tomorrow. Whatever we’re doing, we’ll start tomorrow. I’m exhausted, and I just want to relax.”

“Yeah, you look real relaxed.” If at all possible, her spine straightened even more at my comment, and I smirked. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I know,” she said hastily before she took a deep breath, almost forcing herself to loosen her posture. Her body slumped, and she leaned back against the couch, muttering again, “I know.”

I waited a beat to see if she had anything else to say and cleared my throat before grinning. “I figure we find out who tried to kill me and had you beat up, then take them down.”

“That simple, huh?”

“I don’t see why not.”

She arched a dark eyebrow at me. “Because whoever they are, they’re obviously well-connected.” I’d have sworn for a moment there was a hint of amusement in her face, but it was gone as soon as I had seen it. “And you managed to piss them off. I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as walking in there and taking them down.”

“You want a plan?”