Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(68)

“I’ve heard from some of the Sexubi that it feels tingly, like tiny pin pricks on your cheeks.”

“Guess it worked then.”

Rubbing his jaw, Rafe frowned. What the hell? Wasn’t he proud of her? “Wonderful,” he mumbled as he turned his gaze to the window.

She wrinkled her nose. Snow whipped and blew, stronger than she’d ever seen, swirling like a freezing tornado outside her house, blocking the view of the neighbor’s house across the street. Silently, she thanked Squeaky for the forethought to light a fire. At least it was warm and toasty inside. Her naughty side reared her not so quiet head. Mmm, Rafe and her beside the fire. Yummy.

So where was the section on getting one hot, hard, and sexy demon in bed? Enough with the hormones already! Her naughty self would have to wait. She had some training to do, much to Miss Naughty’s chagrin.

Rafe’s expression remained stark, his silver eyes swirling. Frustration, maybe? Was he angry? What on Earth had she done wrong now? “I thought you’d be happy for me.”

“I am.” He sucked in a deep breath, averting her gaze like she had the plague. What a great way to show excitement. Something wasn’t right. And she’d be damned if she didn’t do something about it.

With a shove, she sent the heavy book off her lap and onto the cushion beside her. Grabbing the collar of his leather jacket, she turned him to face her, their lips centimeters apart. His eyes swirled and glistened, beckoning her to fall into their mesmerizing depths. She sucked in a breath and composed her thoughts. “What is wrong?”

“It didn’t work.”

Huh? Her eyes narrowed as confusion flooded her body. Her grip remained steady. “What didn’t work?”

“The block of your succubus charm.”

With a scratch of her head, she sighed. “How do you know? I felt the tingles like you said I would.”

Rafe’s gaze burned, sending a flame of desire down her spine and into her toes. Her heart thudded and her mind buzzed. Her fingers brushed a path across a strand of hair and down his cheek.

“I still feel the same,” he said, his breath catching. “You’ve enraptured me. I’m doomed.” Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her hand away.

“Maybe I’m the one who’s enraptured.” The exotic spices teased her senses, drawing her nearer, beckoning her to reach out and touch him. She wanted him… more than she had wanted any man in her life. Weird, yet strangely exhilarating. If he was doomed, she wasn’t far behind. She had to touch him. “May I?” she asked, flashing him an attempt at a sultry gaze. She drew her finger millimeters from his skin. Better safe than sorry, right?

With a slow, reluctant nod, Rafe guided her hand to his cheek, stubbly beneath her soft fingers. Energy rippled between them, filling her with desire. Even though raging pheromones wafted in the air, he remained cool and completely composed.

The awkward silence was killing her. “So why are you so hard on yourself?” Despite her cravings, she knew he needed someone to talk to, to confide in. “From what I’ve seen, you’re crazy brave. Braver than anyone else I know.”

“My history isn’t that glorious, Lucy.”

That, of course, was a matter of opinion. And she didn’t think much of his opinion on this matter. The man had managed to fascinate her, utterly and completely. A feat not often accomplished. She loved his drive, his intensity, and his devotion to his sister. “It’s glorious to me.”

Rafe’s eyes sparked, the silver like two flashing daggers. “You don’t understand. I am a Paladin. Failure isn’t an option.”

Perfection wasn’t a virtue. “I know a hell of a lot more than you realize. Look at my shop. It’s my baby, you know. There’ll always be problems no matter how hard I try. Be it a shiitake perm or a bad waxing accident. Nobody’s perfect.”

“It’s different for the Paladins.”

Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes. “Perfect people, demons included, suck. The world would be boring without imperfections or failures.” The only imperfections Lucy could see in this man were his stubbornness and self-doubt. Who knew those traits could go hand and hand?

“I’ve failed too many large missions,” he said, crossing his arms. “The Fore-Demons will demote me. I have no other option.”

Would she ever break through? “But you’ve had many small victories. Five small victories are better than one major one. Surely they understand that?”

“I appreciate your encouragement,” Rafe said, taking her hand in his. “But I’ve dealt with this ever since Amanda died. It was horrible seeing her…” His breath caught and his eyes sparked.

“What happened wasn’t your fault. You were an innocent bystander.” Offering a tender stroke to his hand, she moved in closer. “And don’t even think about taking responsibility for your sister. From what I’ve heard, she made her own decisions, whether you agreed to them or not.”

“She’s a stubborn woman.” He flashed a halfhearted smile. “Just like you.”

Stubborn? Me? What on Earth was he talking about? Who was she fooling? She could be as mulish as the best of them when it came to something important. “I guess that’s a compliment.”

“Yes, it was.”

She breathed an inward sigh of relief. They were making progress. “Tell me about her.”