My Decadent Demon (My Demon Trilogy, Book 1) (3 page)

CHAPTER 2

“Phew! Spying can wear an angel out!”

A week had passed since that strange sleepy-time encounter with Sera, and Cole was once again up to his usual antics. This time he was hiding out in a motel room, evading his most recent score of women hounding him for his attention. Truth be told, he really hoped he could get some fucking sleep.

With his arm slung over his eyes, he groaned. He was so tired. The sleep of the dead just wouldn't come to him. He wondered if he’d see Sera again if he did fall into slumber. A slow smirk formed on his lips. Deep down he knew she wouldn't be able to resist him for long. Not with the longing he’d seen in her eyes. But it still didn’t explain why she suddenly wanted anything to do with his ass.

Long moments later, despite
his unsettled thoughts, sleep finally took him, his body going soft above a tangle of sheets.

Sera sat at her vanity, one knee pulled to her chest, fingers splayed absently atop her desk.  Intently she gazed into her beloved and cherished looking-glass, watching the image playing out before her. Her demon had fallen into unconsciousness again.

She chewed on her lip as her nails began anxiously tapping. Should she? She rubbed her other hand up and down her shin. Would he be angry if she did? Perhaps, if she were to just stayed out of view this time... With a wince, she leaned forward and pressed her hand to the glass.

Eyes opening, Cole found himself standing in what felt like another person’s dream. “Might as well get comfortable,” he drawled, conjuring up a bed. He was so damn tired o
f his sleep being interrupted. In only a pair of PJ bottoms, he sprawled out on the mattress.

Up into the black foggy void, he stared,
suddenly sensing someone watching. “Take a damn picture,” he smirked, “it'll last longer.” With an air of indifference, he slid his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles, waiting for that ‘special someone’ to show, or attack, or do whatever the hell they planned on doing

.

Just a few yards behind Cole, Sera's lips twitched. His dry sense of humor always tickled her soul. As she watched him get comfortable, her feet inched closer, like a cat carefully advancing on its prey. She didn’t want to make the same mistake she had before. He could not be allowed to see her. After all, he needed rest. His fatigue was tangible. Her wings fluttered as she delighted in his presence. He was just so deliriously beautiful!

At the sound of rustling feathers, Cole closed his eyes. Shit, now he was in for it. Despite his accelerating heartbeat, he forced himself to stay relaxed. But still, his body began to heat, simply from the thought of her watching him. 

Eventually, he spoke up, drawling through a smirk, “I can give you a camera
if that’d make things easier. Hell, I'll even get naked if you want.”

She paused in her approach. Clearly his detection abilities had improved over the years. Damn it to hell. Well, at least she was better prepared for what else he was capable of. She wouldn’t let him force her into her physical form this time. He’d be able to sense her, but that would be the extent of it.

With a mischievous smile, she resumed her advance, reveling in his magnificence every step of the way. Once beside his bed, she reached out, unable to resist the urge to touch his bare chest. A shiver raced
visibly through him. Absently she licked her lips, moved her fingers lower.

But abruptly he grabbed her hand, catching her off guard as he halted her trek to
ward his stomach. With a powerful tug, he sent her spilling atop him, her body instantly appearing against its will.

Smili
ng smugly, Cole raised a brow. “Couldn't resist, could you, Sera? I see some things haven’t changed.”

He had effortlessly bypassed her s
piritual safeguard once again! With a frustrated, kittenish growl, she smacked his chest, still floundering against his body. “Cole, you irritating male! I was trying to- I didn't want you to- you weren't supposed to-” She stopped abruptly, spotting amusement in his gaze. Eyes narrowing, she hissed. “You have grown rather skilled -and smug- in your old age. Yet, I see that the ability to refrain from scorning a love-sick seraph has still managed to elude you.” 

With a shrug, he released her, casually brushing the hair from her face. “I have many skills,” he murmured, skimming his fingertips along her cheek, “learned many things through the years.” A lock of her hair he wound ‘round his finger, but just as quickly he released it, letting it fall back to her shoulder. “As I'm sure you have, too.” He cupped her face, and Sera inst
inctively nuzzled into his touch, her eyes sliding closed with a sigh.

A humorless laugh slipped from her lips. “You assume incorrectly, beautiful demon. I live in a realm where many skills are not even needed.” Her gaze
dropped down to where her thumb absently stroked his pectoral. Memories of their intimacy surfaced in her mind. But she didn’t smile. Instead, she looked sadly back up at him. “You, however, I do not doubt have mastered countless new talents.” 

Another small growl sounded as a newfound ire arose. “Truthfully, the thought of
you learning such abilities with another spurns anger within my heart.” She pulled away, her image beginning to flicker. “I had not intended to converse with you this day. I merely wanted to-” her eyes grew weary, “enjoy you from afar. The male I want but cannot have.”

Cole frowned, as if her words, her retreat had somehow caused him pain. But then quickly he put u
p a front, his all-too-familiar mask of indifference. “Well by all means, look your fill then.” He returned his hands to beneath his head. “Because you know I’ve been doing the same.” A toothy grin spread across his features as he shot her a parting gesture. “Next time you come around though? Be sure to make it worth my while.” 

And then he was gone.

Sera sprung from her small, cushioned chair, an unholy curse hissing from her lips. Instantly she began to pace, chewing insistently on her thumbnail as her heart pounded wildly. “How did he detect me so easily?” She pivoted on her heal, stalking in the other direction. “I have practiced and practiced my cloaking ability!” Another hard turn, more angry marching. “I must either stop these visits or find another way to go unnoticed. Think Seraphina, think.”

She headed to the window to focus on her favorite star. “If I cannot hide my presence, then perhaps I can alter my identity so he will not recognize me.” Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, she sighed heavily. “No. He would easily sense my deception.” A small smirk curved her lips. “And the evil in such a deed would surely excite him. It would be wrong for me to encourage him so
,” she mused absently. “Mmm. But I do so love the way he-” she shoved both hands into her hair and groaned. “Oh, for Heaven's sake. What is wrong with me? I cannot continue this behavior.”

Flopping down on her bed, she stared up
at the ceiling. And whimpered. “But he is just so amazingly wonderful!”

Cole glowered, stewing where he sat in one of the city’s seedier night clubs. After all that had been happening, to say his life was in the crapper would be an understatement. The woman he’d decided to make time for tonight wasn’t Sera.

He growled in frustration, slamming back his drink. Damn angel. He needed something, anything, to make him forget those big, brown eyes and those long, dark, soft-as-silk waves of hair.

For some reason, he swore he could feel her eyes on him, watching him from her perch high up in the clouds. Ever since he caught her spying on him, he knew in his gut that she wasn’t going to stop.

A finger snapped irritably in his face, pulling him out of his musing. Cole blinked at the sultry, stacked-like-a-brick-house red head. Her mouth was moving but he sure as hell wasn't hearing a word she said. Just an annoying noise that sounded way too much like the adults from that old-school kids’ cartoon; “Wa, wa wa, wa wa.”  No, she didn’t have the soft lilting voice that Sera did. Which happened to be music to his ears.

Cole cursed, angry at himself for dwelling on the one thing he couldn't have. He didn’t need this shit, and he didn’t need her. With a smirk solidly in place, he stood, catching his ginger companion by surprise as he yanked her out on the dance floor. He refused to waste another minute thinking about the unattainable. Tonight he was going be exactly what he was: a demon on the prowl. And if this redhead was lucky -and shut the hell up- she might just end up in his bed before the night was through.

The days since her last encounter with Cole felt like an eternity. Could one become addicted after two meager tastes? Surely after so long, it would take more substantial samplings to render her dependent. Sera sniffed dismissively, eyeing her looking glass. 

Just one peek
.

Her thumbnail slipped between her teeth, eyes sp
arkling with innocent curiosity as her other hand reached for the mirror…

She froze as her fingers met the glass, a deep frown forming on her face. An unexpected vision of Cole. Her heart squeezed uncomfortably in her chest. He was sharing his company with another female… in some questionable establishment … with loud music and … sweaty bodies.  She pulled her hand away and lifted her chin, sniffing indignantly as she wiped at a tear.

Abruptly she stood, deserting her vanity to walk laps around her room. She deserved to feel this way. After all, it was her fault that things were the way they were. She should never have gone looking for Cole all those years ago. And she should never have fallen in love. She should never have left him in such a cruel manner and she certainly should not be spying on him now.

She slid down on the floor beside her bed and hid her face in her hands. Behind closed lids, the woman Cole had been with looked back at her. Would this stranger be Sera’s ruin? What was it was about her that won Cole's attention?  She swiped at more tears as they began to flow freely. What if she loses him forever to this comely, mortal girl? She grabbed a pillow and covered her head. What a stupid question. She had already lost him years ago. A distrau
ght mewl curled up her throat. It was foolish to continue pinning after him so. Her only hope was to one day find another male to take his place in her heart. A male, of course, that was just like Cole…

A few more days had passed since Sera’s not-so-pleasant peek into Cole’s nightlife indulgences, yet she still seemed to need a distraction. She was not in the mood for other Seraphim company, nor was she interested in reading. Changing into her favorite silk pants and camisole, she padded barefoot over to her chamber’s music system. She did so love the songs of humans. The Gregorian Chants of her realm were ridiculously over-played.

With a sigh, she activated the console. The sound of acoustic guitar
s immediately filled her room. The melody was beautiful and the ensuing vocals sad. Sad just like her. Her eyes slid closed as her body began to sway. In her mind, she pretended she was with the one she loved...

Cole’s warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as they swayed to the music. Her arms, in turn, draped happily around his neck. With their feet barely moving, their bodies moved as one. One heart. One soul. One love.

His palm pressed her head to his shoulder,
allowing him to breathe her in. Sera’s heart leapt. She could feel his heat, his hard body. And his scent, Dear God, it was incredible, just as she remembered it; midnight and wild fires and sinful seduction. She pressed herself closer and murmured against his warmth. “I miss you so much.”

Into her ear, he
sighed, “As I do you, Sera.”

In perfect unison, their bodies moved, turning in lazy circles as the melody flowed around them, the soft rustle of clothing whispering against their skin. Sera smiled, her eyes ever closed as she relished in the vision she’d created. Her hands slid into his hair as she nuzzled her face in his neck, savoring him on every glorious level.

“Did I ever tell you that I saw you in my destiny?” she murmured.

“Did you now,” he whispered, his smiling lips skimming the shell of her ear. A soft chuckle left him when she sheepishly nodded. And then he took her hand and began to kiss her knuckles, intertwining their fingers to hold over his heart.

Abruptly, he swung her around, then dipped her, bringing her up slowly against his large frame. Sera laughed, her skin beginning to glow. “Yes. It was my very first vision. Even now I rarely have them.” Nestling back into his arms, she smiled. “I was young, and the sight of you took my breath away.” Dreamily, she sighed. “Quite literally. For after that, not searching for you was like trying not to breathe.” She peered up into his hazel eyes. “Somehow, I knew that you were mine.”

Cole looked down at her, a tender expression on his face. “You take my breath away every time I see y
ou.” The music washed over them as he held her tighter. “I will always be yours, Sera.” 

As he nuzzled her neck, the song’s bitter-sweet lyrics penetrated h
er mind, making her ache anew. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder, whispering as much to herself as to the imaginary lover in her arms. “There has to be a way. And I am going to find it, even if it takes me a thousand years to do so. I left you once, Cole Asteroth. Like a foolish little cherub. If you ever give me another chance, I will not make the same mistake twice.”