“Good enough, I suppose,” I say, trying to get my racing heartbeat to slow. I check my phone. The pic is a good one. You can even see a bit of tongue. “Bay will love this.”
Damon chuckles. “You’re so bad.”
“I can be when I have to be.”
“What about when you want to be?”
“Then to,” I tell him as I send the pic to Bay.
“You two need to get a room,” Orchid calls, “and not this one!”
Damon and I burst out laughing.
“FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, YOU TWO ARE DATING!” Bay sends me.
“I told you,” I text back.
“Double date. Two nights from now. Zoth’s place. Eight. Don’t be late!”
“We’ll be there.”
I tuck my phone away and smile up at Damon. “Are you ready?”
“To be your boyfriend? Yes.”
“To pretend to be my boyfriend?”
“If I must.”
“For now at least, you must pretend. Don’t ask me for more. Not now. Not until after.”
“I understand.” He brushes my hair back. “I even understand why you might have feelings for that Sage guy.”
“He’s not so bad, huh?”
“Maybe not. Now, we need to talk.”
“About?”
“Your sister is going to want to know all of the juicy details about how we finally got together, what sexy act of mine got you to agree to be with me. Important stuff.”
“Fine. Let’s get our stories straight, but I get veto power.”
“When will you learn, Rosemary, that sometimes power isn’t everything?” he murmurs.
“You prefer the thrill of the chase?” I ask, suddenly cold.
“Not at all. I just think that give and take is the way to go, that no one person should hold all of the power at every second. Now, if you want me to cuff you to the bed and have my way with you, then yes, I will gladly accept all of the power there. But if you want to cuff me, I would give you that power in return. Give and take.”
Just the image of Damon naked and cuffed to a bed has me swallowing hard. I can't help looking at his tented pants and recalling the swallow or spit question Cosmo asked me.
I have a feeling that I might find out the answer to that question very soon.
That is, if this double date can help us land a killer.
The only question to be answered then would be whose would I swallow or spit?
Chapter 27
Two nights later, Damon can't stop staring. I'm wearing a low-cut black dress. The crescent moon pendant is nestled just above my cleavage, drawing the eye there. Purple wisteria flowers are entwined in my hair, braided like a crown encircling my head with a few strands pulled loose in the front to frame my face.
“You look amazing,” he says, his gaze roving over my body.
I take a moment to stare at him and drink in the sight of Damon wearing a white suit. It looks positively delicious on him, the contrast of dark and light not lost on me in the slightest.
With a smile, I work one of the flowers free and place it in his pocket.
“There, now we’re ready,” I say, spreading my hands on his shirt to get rid of an imaginary wrinkle.
Damon winks at me and holds out his arm. I loop mine through, and off we fly to Zoth’s.
The entire way, we laugh and joke around. It helps to settle my nerves, and I am so glad I’m not doing this along.
When we arrive, Damon pulls me close. He just stares into my eyes, and I swear I know what he’s thinking.
That he would die to protect me.
I pat his cheek and roll my eyes, grinning all the while.
It won’t come to that.
The door opens.
“Aw, you two look so good together!” Bay beams, and she ushers us inside, acting as if we never ever fought.
She directs us to the dining room, where Zoth is already sitting at the table. He barely looks at me, which suits me just fine.
“Zoth, Rosemary and Damon are here,” Bay says, flying over to the demon.
He glances up at her and yanks her to him, kissing her fiercely, possessively. It’s uncomfortable to watch.
Damon snorts and wraps an arm around my waist. He makes no move to kiss me, but if it’s necessary, I’ll let him.
I look up at him. He nods, but his gaze remains focused on the other couple.
Finally, Bay pulls back. Her lips are swollen, and she pats her hair. She's wearing a bra and a miniskirt, and a black lace material covers her abdomen. Her hair is loose around her shoulders, wavy and luscious.
“Let’s sit and eat,” she says. “Then maybe we can play a game or watch a movie or whatever you two want.”
I grin. “That sounds wonderful.”
Throughout the meal, which features a bunch of tremendously spicy dishes like nothing I've ever had before, which makes me wonder if they're demonic dinner options, Bay talks and talks. Damon and I converse with her, but Zoth says next to nothing, which isn't like him.
He’s suspicious.
He’s wary and watchful.
He’s onto us.
That doesn’t stop me, though. Damon and I have a plan, and I have to follow through.
Telepathy.
I need to get into Zoth's mind without him realizing it.
The only issue? I haven’t been able to at all. His mind is like a solid brick wall. There’s no penetrating it.
Finally, I heave a sigh and place a hand on Damon’s wrist. “Maybe it’s time to start a movie now?”
He glances at me, searching my face, and then shakes his head. “I have a better idea.”
What? No. We figured before we came that Bay might suggest a movie. That was code for I can’t get a read on him. If I suggested we leave, that would’ve meant I found something. We’re in danger! Finally, if I made some kind of joke about Sage, it would’ve meant I found something. He’s not the killer.
“What’s your idea?” I ask, hoping I don’t sound pained.
Damon winks at me and then Bay. “How about some fae nectar?”
I gape at him, not at all amused. In fact, I’m
