Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(80)

Not in front of Nic.

With a shimmy of her hips, she turned around and sashayed down the hall, the silk robe dancing against her legs.

“I’ll be back.” The seductive tone floated to his ears. Blasted vixen knew what she was doing. “Have fun, boys.” With that, the door snicked shut.

Dominic rubbed his hand along his jaw, his gaze narrowing. “Tell me everything.”

“What of my sister?”

“Something tells me this might be a tad bit more important.” With a flourish, Dominic whipped off his coat and flung himself onto the futon. His face scrunched into a wince. “Does your succubus enjoy a little torture too?”

“My succubus?”

His friend threw his head back in laughter. “Don’t try and hide it. I saw the way you look at each other. That, and the scent of sex clings to the air.”

He lifted his head and sniffed around the room. “Damn good sex, too.”

Bloody hell. Nic and his over-sensitive nostrils. He could smell brimstone a mile away. An impressive skill to possess, when needed. And Rafael didn’t need it now. “It was only sex.”

“Whatever you want to tell yourself,” Dominic said with a roll of his eyes. “So tell me why she’s so powerful?”

Rubbing his temples, Rafael took a seat in Lucy’s dilapidated easy chair. This time, he’d forego reclining. But he couldn’t forego the truth. “Her father is a powerful incubus.”

His friend’s eyes narrowed, and his brow creased. “Just how powerful?”

Rafael couldn’t beat around the bush with Dominic. “Her father is the king.”

His friend’s eyes widened. “Lilu?”

“Is there anyone else?”

His friend raked his fingers through his hair. “No wonder Lamia and her minion were lurking about.” He blew out an aggravated breath. “I should’ve known there was a reason Kalli wasn’t forthcoming.”

“Kalli doesn’t know. Yet.” Rafael narrowed his gaze at his friend. “Spying, I see?”

“I prefer ‘keeping tabs.’” The elder demon’s lips curved into a wry smile. “For your protection, of course.”

“I don’t need protection.”

Dominic clenched his fists. “I promised Coby that I’d keep you safe.”

He winced at his friend’s strangled words. “I know you have feelings for her.”

Dominic sucked in a breath as he adjusted his large frame on Lucy’s futon. “Is it that obvious?”

“As obvious as a bump on a log.” Since they’d already broached the topic of his sister, Rafael was ready to hear more. “So what about my sister?”

Drumming his fingers on the wrought iron arm of the futon, Dominic nodded. “Coby’s alive, in Belial’s palace. She seems unharmed.” An anguished breath wrenched from his mouth. “Too unharmed.”

He leaned in, his eyes sparking. “I’ll rescue her, if I have to storm the hellhole myself.”

Rafael steepled his fingers and nodded. He’d known Dominic long enough. He spoke the truth. “Thank you, Nic. Coby and I are lucky to have you as a friend.”

“And I you,” he replied with a friendly pat on the back. His gaze shifted down the hall. “How long does it take your princess to shower?”

“I haven’t any idea. How long do humans usually shower?”

“It depends on how dirty they are,” his friend replied with a punch to his arm. “Doesn’t she know demons don’t need to shower?”

“There are many things she needs to learn.” And he wanted to be the one who taught her. He owed it to her.

“And you plan to instruct her, don’t you?”

“If it will benefit the mission, and the Fore-Demons allow it, yes.”

Dominic nodded. “They have.” He leaned in, lowering his voice a few notches. “I know you care for more than just the mission, but I won’t hold that against you. She’s quite a magnificent creature.”

She was more than a creature. She was Lucia Gregory, sassy hairstylist that just happened to be a sex demon. She was fascinating and he wanted her more than ever.

Blast Nic for being so astute.

He ground his teeth into his lower lip. As insane as it seemed, he more than wanted her. He needed her. More than any other woman. Ever. The intensity should worry him, yet he felt comfortable. Alive. With a quick swipe of a wayward strand of hair, he turned his gaze to Dominic. Did he feel the same way for his sister? More than likely. Even though they both tried to deny it.

“So you’re protective, aren’t you?”

“I was given orders.”

Chuckling, Dominic shook his head. “True, but your protection goes deeper, does it not? Like you’d do anything for her?”

“How would you know?”

His friend let out a long whoosh of air. “Because it’s how I feel for your sister, you fool.”

Curse him. Always making a valid point. A point he couldn’t afford to agree with right now. Maybe later, after he skewered Belial and sent the chest back to Limbo.

***

Flicking her hair back, Lucy allowed the cascading water to lick and caress her skin, wishing it were Rafe instead. Unfortunately, the pleasure would have to wait, thanks to the other demon who had made an unexpected visit. Did these guys have to take lessons in looking sexy? Dominic, tall and ripped, had a cocky smile, wavy sandy brown hair, and a golden tan. Sexy in his own right, but he didn’t hold a candle to Rafe. Maybe she could set him up with Serah. She had a thing for the Matthew McConaughey types.