Erika


    I scramble away from the bathtub with my heart in my throat. The kitten I was carrying for has turned ck tousled hair, all soapy, and blood-red eyes. I keep assessing the stranger with heat finding my fa He has broad shoulders and a massive scarred body that looks like he has been fighting his entire life "Hello there, beautiful mate." A yful smirk spread over his handsome face. He is a looker, for sure. Yet, I won''t let his appearance fool me into false security. I can sense powering off this man in wa Yes.


    This man is dangerous.


    "W-Who are you?" I dare to ask, and miraculously enough, I don''t sound half as scared as I feel. The man replies in a deep, amused voice. "A demon."


    "I can see that," I squint my eyes at him. "I''m asking what demon you are. State your name and busine "Lucifer Morningstar," his smilees back into action. "Former king of hell, and now I''m in your bath I size him up with growing suspicion. "Former king?"


    He tilts his head. It''s a small gesture that makes my heart gallop inside my chest. The mate-bond is m There is even one hanging from his n****e. Part of me wants to remove it, maybe identally squeeze No.


    Bad, Erika!


    "Mhm, I used to be the strongest demon of hell," Lucifer''s eyes turn more severe, less yful. "But the I blink repeatedly. "Wait... Levi defeated you?"


    Why hasn''t Levi told me that? It seems essential, considering our current mission is to defeat his brot "Indeed," Lucifer''s smilees back. It''s sharp, especially since he has the canine teeth of a vampire. My mood darkens. "No, my mate has not..."


    "s**t," heughs. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to bring that up to create any drama between the two of you."


    hunk of a man. I can''t peel my eyes off him.


    th, porcin skin is draped over his muscles, and there are horns on his head. Curly, like the ones belonging to a ram. st beautiful person I''ve ever seen. He is even more attractive than Levi.


    om what I''m able to tell, his aura seems darker than the one belonging to Levi.


    t damn near impossible not to check out the frothy bubbles clinging to his godlike body.


    CS.


    ght Asmodeus... William... In his dreams. After that, I was exhausted enough for Leviathan toe and defeat me in a duel."


    ell, more than that. We have to end them to ensure they don''te back.


    mate is the current king of hell. Hasn''t he told you that?"


    "I''m sure you didn''t," I keep my gaze narrowed, unwilling to budge even a tiny bit. I don''t trust Lucifer. "You''re a demon-I bet creat ing drama is one of your greatest pleasures."


    Anotherugh. "You''re right... I do enjoy drama, but," his eyes soften somewhat. It''s odd. I didn''t think he could look less severe. "You''re my mate, and I don''t want to create unnecessary suffering for you."


    "I''m not sure if I believe you," I''m trying my hardest to ignore his charm and chiseled face. Pretty men on the TV are way easier to stomach than the real kind. "You might be my mate, but..." "But?"


    "I''m already marked by Levi."


    "Oh, and you don''t want another?"


    "I-I..." I hesitate. "I don''t know... I don''t think Levi would ept a second mate into the rtionship, especially not his brother. Because that''s what you are, right?" "We are brothers, but we aren''t rted."


    "Oh?" I stand up and try to ignore Lucifer standing naked in the bathtub. He climbs out, and I hand him a towel. "I have no idea how demons are born... Or made."


    "We are all created, and since we can''t die, we are always reborn in hell sooner orter," he shrugs while wrapping the towel around his tapered waist. He is ripped. "If I die in the human world, I will be reborn as a lesser demon without my memories..." "Ah, so that''s how it works..." I wrinkle my nose. "Do you think mates stay the same even after you''re reborn?"


    He shrugs. "I don''t know," a chuckle leaves his lips. "Wait. You just met me, and you''re already nning on killing me?"


    I hold up my hands in a wild panic. "No, that''s not what I meant at all! Trust me, I won''t kill you!"


    "Uh-huh..." Lucifer smiles while assessing me with a smirk, and I notice he hase closer. It''s dizzying, probably because he is so sexy and darkly alluring. "Anyway, I get to stay here since you adopted me, right? I don''t really have anywhere else to go..." "Eh... I''m not sure if that is a great idea..."


    "Why?"


    "Because..." I swallow. "Because I have a boyfriend, and Levi probably wouldn''t like it if you stayed over."


    "Oh," he tilts his head. "Are you insinuating that I''m a threat to his position of being your boyfriend?"


    My cheeks re. "No, I''m just..."


    I look him up and down. I''m at eye level with his perky n*****s, and my throat goes dry when his lips curve up. Lucifer knows I''m looking and seems pleased to know I find him attractive. Smug bastard.


    "I''m just messing with you, Erika," Lucifer says, beaming at me with faked innocence. "Anyway, do you have clothes I could borrow?"


    "I doubt my clothes would fit you. You''re like, what? Seven feet tall or something? So yeah, I think you have to summon your own clothes. Levi has no problem doing that."


    Lucifer grimaces. "My magic is still recovering... But..." he takes another step closer and ces his hand on my shoulder. His touch feels electric. "I seem to recover much faster when I touch you. Perhaps I even grow stronger than Levi? I would have no problem taking over the human realm then."


    "Taking over the human realm is your n?!" I withdraw from Lucifer and re up into his shocked eyes. He seems surprised by my disdain, which angers me even further. "You can''t do that!"


    He arches an amused eyebrow. "Why not?"


    "Because... Because you can''t!" I growl. It further amuses Lucifer, and I roar even louder. "Don''tugh! This isn''t funny! I won''t ept that my mate is some evil mastermind! If you wish to take over the human world, I will have to reject you by default!" This catches his interest. "So if I don''t try to take over..." Lucifer runs his fingers through my blonde split ends. "Then you will consider epting me?"


    I narrow my eyes. "Are you ckmailing me?"


    His lips quirk into a smile. "Maybe?"