My Decadent Demon (My Demon Trilogy, Book 1) (8 page)

CHAPTER 7

“Calgon, take me away.”

“Honey, we’re home,” Cole smirked as they arrived at his private abode. Concealed in a full-blown cloaking spell, it was the only place he felt confident keeping Sera until she recovered her memories. He chuckled as she wiggled out of his arms. “Sera, you’re going to remember who I am.”

She merely sniffed, lifting her chin while she tilted in visible vertigo. Cole shook his head, then collapsed onto the couch. His head still throbbed from all that angelic brain tampering. He rubbed his temples, groaning as he watched Sera stand there, her big, brown doe-eyes flashing irritably. “Don't give me that look. You’re better off here.”

Her glower grew darker, but she still made no move to speak. Or do anything for that matter. It was as if she wasn’t sure what how to react. Cole smirked, certain that as far as she was concerned, he was a male of
extremely questionable standings. After all, he did just abduct her against her will.

Her balance must have returned, because she abruptly turned to scan her surroundings. It didn’t take long, though, for her eyes to narrow back on Cole. “You have no right to keep me here. I am going home.” Shoulders squared, she marched to the door.

But Cole was quick on his fingers, one snap manifesting a bar across the exit. He shook his head. “No, you’re not.”

Sera scowled, crossing her arms. “You cannot stop me from leaving. You are merely prolonging the inevitable.”

Cole snorted. “There’s no way out of here, trust me. At least, not until a few of your brain cells shake loose inside that pretty little noggin of yours.” Her lips pursed. His eyes rolled. He needed a beer. Standing up, he made his way to the kitchen, her angry eyes on him palpable with every step he took. He smirked, confident that a part of her was enjoying the view.

He pulled open the refrigerator, searching fo
r something to shake the funk from his brain. Ah. Beer. He downed half of it in one up-tip. Rubbing the cold bottle across his forehead, he growled. Much better…

Abruptly he
frowned. Sera was being awfully quiet. He walked back into living room, but she was nowhere to be found. “Damn it, Sera,” he growled. “Where did you go now?” She couldn’t have breached his warded locks. She must be hiding. He caught a glimpse of her hair behind the sofa. For fuck’s sake, he was too old for this shit…

On hands and knees, Sera winced as she scurried across the floor. Hidden behind the couch, Cole was unable to pinpoint her location. She bit her lip as he walked her way, and scrambled around a recliner. Phew. That was close.

But then he growled, low and rumbly, and the sound was like chocolate liquor. Sweet, sultry sounds! Her moan nearly gave her away. She may not know this male, but that did not negate the fact that he was more handsome than any male she had ever seen, with a voice that tantalized her every last nerve ending. Good Lord…

The sound of Cole nearing yanked her back to awareness. Before she could stop, she let out a squeak, then quickly scampered u
nder an end table. Cole growled and Sera gasped, realizing her foot had been sticking out in clear view. Pulling it closer, she winced a second time. Had he seen it? She hoped not, she thought, remaining still as a hiding statue - even though she knew of no statues that hid.

The room went utterly silent. Wide eyes darted nervously as she held her breath. Just as she was about to take a peek, a strong hand yanked her by the an
kle from her hiding spot. “Aah!”

“Sera,” Cole groaned down at her, exasperation clear on his features. “I'm not going to hurt you, so stop hiding already.” He picked her up and guided her to the couch, promptly sitting down beside her. “You can’t hide from me, Luv, so don’t do that again.”

Cheeks heating, Sera suddenly felt rather silly. To hide her embarrassment, she erected a haughty front. Up went her chin. Perfect went her posture. “I will do whatever I please. I am a Seraph and we take orders from no mere mortal.” She hoped that was believable, because inside she was struggling desperately to get her mind off the way her ankle was still burning from his touch… and her ribs from where he had lifted her… and where his thigh was currently pressing against hers…

Cole was pure
temptation. She frowned. Was this all some kind of test to her will power? She crossed her arms, needing a fresh, non-sexy distraction. Her eyes locked onto Cole’s beer. “Tell me of this libation. Is it a type of wine?”

“No, it’s a type of barely and hops.” He handed her the bottle. “
Have a taste. You might like it.” With a smirk that made her wary, he leaned back to watch her drink.

She sniffed it cautiously. It had a peculiar scent. She turned to eye Cole eyeing her. Did he think her afraid of a beverage? Determined to keep face, she steeled her shoulders and tipped up the ice cold bottle. Her eyes snapped wide as her taste buds instantly revolted.

Cole moved fast, but not fast enough.

Beer spewed everywhere. “Ack!” she cried, coughing and choking wildly. Her hand flew over her mouth as watering eyes steamrolled Cole
angrily. “You wicked male! That was absolutely dreadful!”

Cole scowled, looking down at his wet shirt. But Sera wasn’t finished. Letting out an angry shriek, she grabbed a pillow from the sofa and hit him over the head. “Were you trying to poison me!?” Whap! Whap! “Or send me into shock?!” Whap! Whap! Whap!

Cole barked out a laugh, holding up his hands. “You know you wanted to try it.” He pitched to the side, dodging a hit to the face, then snatched the pillow away. With a smirk as cheeky as they come, he tossed it to the other end of the couch. “Next time say it, don't spray it.”

Sera glowered as Cole flashed a sardonic face.
His fingers lifted to unbutton his beer-soaked shirt. Her eyes went wide, staring in rapt captivation as he leisurely shrugged it off. She had no idea a male could possess so many mouth-watering muscles. And sweet sunshine, his chest was an expanse of the most glorious golden brown. She licked her lips.

Cole must have caught her watching because the next thing she knew, he was gracing her with quite a show. Flexing his muscles, he ran a hand through his thick hair. “Like what you see?”

Her lips twitched as she shamelessly ogled him. “You are not painful to look at, no.” She tilted her head thoughtfully, all ire forgotten. Perhaps she had misjudged his intensions with that beer. Perhaps he simply preferred beverages that tasted of harsh, sinister fluid. Mortals, after all, were peculiar like that.

With a self-appeased sigh, she resumed admiring his blessedly bare – and delectably damp- chest. To her delight, Cole seemed happy to accommodate her, his sculpted arms and torso alternating into the most entrancing of poses. Heavenly honeysuckles, he was magnificent.

Eventually she decided it would be polite to stop staring and reluctantly cleared her throat. “Will you not show me around these temporary accommodations?” Perhaps she could find a way out.

Cole stood up and held out his hand. “Come on. Let me show you where we’ll be staying until all that fuz
zy shit in your head is gone.” Her tiny hand settled tentatively in his as he took her to the kitchen. “This is where the food is.” He shook his finger at her. “But don’t touch anything that moves.” He grimaced, imagining how she would react in that scenario.

Next, he led her down the hallway, stopping without warning outside his bedroom. Sera yelped, running into him from behind. The unexpected contact had Cole sucking in a breath, her soft, supple heat way too distracting. Quickly, he pulled her into his side, draping his arm around her small shoulder. Low and sultry he purred, gesturing toward the bed, “This is where we’ll sleep.”

Sera froze against his frame. “Where
we
will sleep?” She laughed humorlessly. “Surely, you jest. I refuse to share a bed with my abductor.” Again, her chin cranked upward. “I will sleep here and you shall sleep…
there
.” She pointed at the floor. But when Cole merely rolled his eyes, dread visibly bloomed on her face. “Good Lord, you really believe we will lie together in that bed!”

Abruptly, she stepped away from him, her features noticeably pale. “We shall revisit this issue later,” she murmured. “P
lease. Let us not stray from our task. If you would be so kind as to continue with the tour, I would very much like to see the grounds outdoors.” She fidgeted with a lock of hair. “And then, perhaps you could show me where you keep your road maps.” She smiled up at him sweetly. “I do so love road maps.”

Cole shot her a droll look. “Do I look like I rolled off the turnip truck?” he drawled. “You’re going to stay indoors until either this urge to flee has fled or you remember who I am. Whichever comes first.”

He turned around and headed back to the living room, plopping down on a dry spot of couch. Tiredly, he sighed, a part of him genuinely discouraged that she wanted to leave. And that she didn’t want to share his bed. She joined him a few minutes later with a fresh glare on her face. He grinned, quirking his brow. “Don't look at me that way. And no, I'm not sleeping on any damn floor. So suck it up and deal.”

Her mouth dropped open, clearly appalled. “Despite the fact that I have no idea what a turnip truck is, I can assure you, there will be no-” she pointed back and forth between them, “you and me-” she pointed toward his bedroom, “in there!” Cole chuckled, amused by her kittenish ire, and casually shrugged his shoulders.

She bristled visibly, then turned and stalked into the kitchen, her fists clenched tight at her sides. He watched as she scanned the room and quickly spotted the cutting block. Yanking a knife free, she waved it around with a frown. “Why do you keep daggers where you eat?” She pointed it at the microwave. “And what is this, a receptacle of sorts? Perhaps I should hide your threatening weaponry in there.” She popped open the door and tossed the blade inside. Warily Cole eyed her eying the buttons. “I have no idea what popcorn or defrost means,” she huffed, “but I certainly intend to find out.” Her brows dipped low as her tongue peeked free, her fingertips working the touch screen with impressive speed and agility.

“Ah hell,” Cole muttered, materializing
to her side as a bright flash lit up the room. Yanking the plug from the wall, he grated, “Damn it Sera, that’s not a weapon.” He frowned at the plume of smoke wafting out of the microwave. “Don't touch it if you do not know how to work it,
capisce?” When she frowned and looked away, he took her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Behave, Sera.”

Her brows shot up. He
did not just speak to her like an inferior canine! Eyes narrowing, she jerked out of his hold. “You dare tell me to behave when you are the one who snuck into my realm like a thief in the night and kidnapped me from my home?” She poked his chest with her finger, punctuating every word. “I will touch what I want, when I want. If you cannot handle that, then perhaps you should return me.”

Eyebrow lifted and arms crossed, she waited for a response. An irritated growl was all she received. With an indignant sniff, she turned and yanked open his refrigerator. Bending over, she began handing him item after item as she rummaged through the contents. “What is ranch? What is mustard? What are pickles? What is sour cream?”

She paused to eyeball a jar of olives. “Oh! I know what these are!” She beamed at Cole, her ire completely forgotten. “May I eat them?”

Arms juggling a myriad of condiments, he sighed. “Eat whatever you want, Sera. Just put the shit back when you’re done.” She nodded happily as he shoved the rest of the containers back into the fridge. But t
he jar’s lid was stubborn. Under her breath she muttered while banging its lid on the counter, “Must you be so dreadfully uncooperative?”

She looked up to find Cole rolling his eyes. And then he took the jar. “Watch,” he grunted. With a quick twist, he pulled off the top, then promptly screwed it back on. “Now you try.” Sera reached for the jar, eager to try as he’d shown her. Her face lit up as the lid came easily off. “Sweet success!”

Cole chuckled as she wiggled her fingers into the jar. And then he sighed again. “I don’t want you hurting yourself, Sera.” He frowned, looking genuinely concerned. “So please let me show you how to operate things before you touch them.” She watched him gesture toward the microwave. “That, for example, is not a toy to be played with at your whimsy.”

She paused in mid- chew, and thoughtfully tilted her head. “So you will cook for me?” He blinked at her, as if confused by how she came to such a conclusion. His expression was adorably amusing. She bit back a laugh. “You will cook and I will watch. And you will always cook in this state.” She motioned at his torso. “With your shirt off. I think I would like that.”

Cole grinned, apparently not immune to flattery. “I can if you want me to, Sera.”

She smiled
at his swift acquiescence. After eating her fill, she returned the jar, then wandered back into the living room. Bright eyes regarded his wide screen TV, then his stereo system. Her attention diverted to the right. “This is edible, yes?” she asked, picking up a small potted plant. Her eyes twinkled as she took in its beauty. It wasn’t until she tore off a leaf, sniffed it, then opened her mouth that she noticed Cole approaching quickly.

With a curse, he grabbed
the sprig from her fingers. “Would you behave already,” he pleaded, exasperation distorting his features. Sera pouted briefly, then resumed her room to room perusal, a stream of questions flowing from her lips.Once every nook had been scrutinized, Cole took her arm and steered her back to the living room, snagging a remote as he sat her on the couch. Sera looked on as, like a speed demon, he flipped through the channels, ultimately settling for an old Scooby Doo rerun. “Here,” he grunted. “Watch this while I get cleaned up.” He turned to go, but paused to level a stern finger at her. “Don’t. Move.”