Lucifer (Brimstone Heat Book 1) (7 page)

“I can manage,” said Angie. She waved him away from her.

“I’ll be in there. If you need anything, call me.”

Angie nodded. She could tell by the tone of his voice, he wasn’t happy about leaving her alone. She took a deep breath and let it slowly out. She turned on the water. Once it was hot, she slipped off the gown and tossed it into the far corner of the room. She turned her attention to the shower and stepped under the spray.

She moaned as the hot water cascaded over her body. This was exactly what she needed.

Working with just one arm, it took her a little longer than normal wash her hair and her body. She rinsed off the soap and then turned off the water. Slowly she grabbed one of the towels hanging on the towel rack next to the shower and dried off.

Angie unzipped the bag and rummaged through it. She pulled out underwear, jogging pants, and a long t-shirt. “Thank you, Gracie.” The panties and jogging pants were not too difficult for her to put on.

The bra was a different story. She got it half way on when she realize there was no way she was going to be able to do this by herself. It didn’t help that her shoulder was starting to ache. She thought about going without the blasted thing, but her breasts were just too large to go braless in public.

“Is everything okay?” asked Lucifer as he tapped on the door.

“Yes.” Angie sighed. She needed two hands to fasten the bra. There was no way around it. Lucifer was her lifemate. She was going to have to get used to him looking at her body. “No, everything’s not okay.” She picked up the t-shirt and held it in front her. “I need help with fastening the bra.” There! She said it.

“I’m coming in.” The door slowly opened. Lucifer walked in and found Angie staring at him. He features softened. “Turn around and we will get everything fastened like it’s supposed to be.” He gentle turned her around and went to work. Once he had it fastened, he moved the strap on her left side so that it didn’t lie on top of the bandage. “This is unacceptable. I should have ignored the call and stayed. If I had done that, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“You don’t know that. The gunman could have been waiting for you to leave. Besides, you had to go back to work,” whispered Angie. “I’m alive.”

Lucifer slowly turned her around and took the shirt she was using to shield herself. He helped her put it on, taking extra care not to jar her injured shoulder. “What do you want to do with your hair?” he asked.

“I’m just going to comb it and let it air dry. That’s the good thing about it being short,” she said. Her energy was fading fast. It wasn’t really surprising when she thought about it. The shower was the most exercise she had done all week.

Before she could search the bag for a hairbrush or comb, Lucifer opened a side pocket and pulled out a comb. “I’ve got this,” he said when she held out her hand for the comb.

Angie nodded.

He quickly combed her hair, tossed the comb back into the bag, and closed it. He grabbed the bag it and puts his other arm around Angie. Gently, he led her back into the other room, stopping at the bed. “Hold on to my shoulder with your good arm,” he said about three seconds before he lifted her up onto the bed. He set the bag down next to her and pulled out a pair of socks and a pair of sneakers.

“I can do that,” she said and held out her hands.

Lucifer shook his head. “You need to learn to let others help you, especially when it’s me who is trying to help you,” he said as he knelt down in front of her. He finished tying the second shoe as a male orderly pushed a wheelchair into the room.

“Miss Gunner, your chariot has arrived,” said the orderly with a smile.

Lucifer snorted at the man’s joke. He helped Angie off the bed and into the wheelchair.

Angie didn’t care what jokes the orderly cracked. All she cared about was that she was finally getting out of the hospital.

About a mile out of town, Lucifer turned the SUV into the drive way of a small house. He stopped the vehicle where the driveway met the sidewalk leading to the front porch.

Angie stared at the house. The house was light blue with white trim. The front porch had a swing on one side and a small bistro table with two chairs on the other. She could see herself sitting out there in the evenings sipping ice tea and reading or just watching the fireflies. Pecan and oak trees surrounded the house on three sides, providing shade and cover. The landscape of the front yard was actually minimal and more rustic compared to most houses in the area, but it suited the surround area.

“What do you think?” asked Lucifer.

Angie looked at him. “Not exactly where I pictured you living.”

“And where did you picture me living?”

She lifted her uninjured shoulder in a half shrug. “Maybe an apartment or a condo. Something that had more of a playboy image. I don’t know. This place is beautiful.”

“Contrary to popular beliefs, I’m not a playboy. Yes, I’ve been with my share of women, but not one of them meant anything to me. I know it sounds crude, but they were just brief interlude.” He picked up her hand. “You are the first and only woman who has been to my home, and you will be the last woman to cross my doorsteps.” He brought her hand up to his lips. “And you are the first and last woman who will ever sleep in my bed. I don’t want anyone else.”

The touch of his lips on her skin sent ripples of warmth through her body. Yeah, she was a goner.

Lucifer got out and went around the vehicle and opened her door. Gently, he helped her out of the SUV. He started to pick her up, but Angie put a hand on his arm and shook her head.

“I want to walk. I’ve been cooped up in that hospital bed for too long.”

He nodded. Taking her arm into his, he led her up the sidewalk and to the front porch. “Let me know if you get too tired.” He could see the fatigue in her eyes, and wanted to scoop her up in his arms. But he knew she was stubborn and had to do thi herself.

At the front door, they stopped. Lucifer unlocked the door and opened it. He turned to Angie and waited for her to make the next move.

She looks from him to the door and then back at him. “Do I need a special invitation in order to go inside? The last time I checked I didn’t have fangs and I didn’t have a taste for blood.”

Lucifer chuckled. “I’m just giving you the choice as to whether you go inside or not.”

“Really?” Angie raised an eyebrow. “You insisted I go home with you, and now you’re letting me decide if I want to go in or not. It’s kind of late for that choice, don’t you think?”

“You have to understand. You are my lifemate. When you walk into my home, there will be no going back. It is you and me for the rest of eternity.”

Angie heard the seriousness in his voice, but she also heard the fear that she would walk away from him. Could she walk away from him, knowing he was her lifemate? Knowing that they belonged together? In her heart she knew she couldn’t leave, but that didn’t mean she was going to make it easy for him.

“I promise not to bite, unless you just want me to.” He grinned at her and wiggled his eyebrows.

Angie snorted. “That’s really comforting to know.” She poked his chest with her finger. “Maybe you should be more worried about me biting you instead.”

His eyes darkened. “I might like you biting me,” he said in a low voice that made her shiver with desire.

“We still need to talk, before we do anything else,” she said.

“And we will.”

Angie nodded her head. She made her decision and walked into Lucifer’s house. She looked around. The house was simply furnished, but there were no personal touches anywhere.

“You can change anything you don’t like.” Lucifer closed and locked the door.

Angie realized there was no going back, but she didn’t want to go back. “I’ve just walked in and already you’re giving me permission to change the décor?”

“You are going to live here too. I want you to be comfortable.”

Angie shook her head in disbelief. Most men would have a fit at the slightest suggestion of a female wanting to make changes in their home. “You’re serious?” she asked as she looked at the open concept living room and kitchen. It was large and roomy with only an island as a division between the two spaces.

“Very.”

Angie nodded. She saw only two doors to her right. One was from to the kitchen to the bathroom, and the other she assumed was to the bedroom. “There’s only one bedroom?”

“Just the one,” he said.

“I take it, I’m sleeping in there.”

“That’s where you normally sleep, among other things.”

“If I’m sleeping in there, then where are you going to sleep?”

“In the bedroom with you.”

“You’re assuming a lot. Maybe, I don’t want to sleep with you.” Angie blinked her eyes innocently at him.

He puffed out his chest. “I don’t have to assume. I know you want me just as much as I want you. It’s been building between us ever since the day we met.” He stepped closer to her.

Angie’s heart thumped in her chest. She licked her lips. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Lucifer growled. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his body. He cupped the back of her head and captured her lips with his.

Her body suddenly came to life as desire rushed through her veins. Angie slowly kisses him back.

Both of them were breathing hard when Lucifer ended the kiss. “Can you still deny that you want me?”

“No, I don’t deny it, but we have something we need to talk about before we go any farther.” Angie rested her check against his chest. For the first time in a long time, she felt protected and loved. She felt she was where she was supposed to be. She leaned back to look up at him and gasped. The movement jarred her injury, causing it to send pain shooting through her body.

“Enough of this pain you are feeling.” Lucifer growled. He picked Angie up and carried her to the bedroom and gently sat her down on the bed. “We need to take off your shirt.”

Angie looked up at him with pain glazed eyes. “No we don’t. We are not having sex right now.”

“You’re right. We are not having sex right this minute. But we will. You can count on that.” He knelt down in front of her. ”Right now, I’m going to do something about your injury. I don’t want to see you hurting anymore. If I had been there, I could have prevented this from happening.”

“The only thing you can do is give me a couple of painkillers and let time heal this.” Angie closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Lucifer’s. “If you had been there, you could have been shot or even killed. Yes, I’m in pain, but I am alive.”

Lucifer touched her cheek and kissed her forehead. “I can do something about the pain and the wound. Do you trust me?”

Angie swallowed. She was tired and she hurt. “I trust you.”

“Let’s get your shirt off.”

Angie nodded.

Lucifer lifted up the hem of the t-shirt. “Pull out your uninjured arm,” he told her. Once Angie had her out of the shirt, he maneuvered the shirt over her head and off of her injured shoulder and arm. He tossed the shirt aside.

“What are you going to do?” asked Angie.

“I’m going to remove the bandage so the skin can move.” Lucifer was already peeling up a corner of the bandage.

Angie wondered if they should be removing the bandage, but she didn’t voice her concerns. She had to trust that Lucifer knew what he was doing.

“This is going to hurt,” said Lucifer.

“It can’t hurt any worse than it already does. Just do what you have to do.” Angie gritted her teeth. Tears filled her eyes as Lucifer pulled off the plastic bandage covering her entire shoulder.

Once he had it off, he kissed her lips. “That was the worst part. In a few minutes the pain will be gone and your injuries will be healed.” He placed his hands over the wound and began speaking in an ancient language.

Warmth spread throughout her shoulder. Slowly, it grew hotter until Angie wasn’t sure if she would be able to stand it anymore. But then the heat receded, and Lucifer stopped speaking in the ancient language.

“How is your shoulder?” asked Lucifer.

Angie slowly lifted her arm. It didn’t hurt. She looked at her shoulder. The exit wound and the spot where the doctors had operated were gone. Not even a scar was left. She looked up at Lucifer. Her eyes were wide. “How was that even possible?” she whispered.

Lucifer watched her, waiting for fear to overwhelm her, and cause her to run away.

Angie blinked. “You were speaking a different language, weren’t you?”

“It is the language of my parents and their parents, and so on. It is older than any language found here on earth because it is not of earth. Only a few still speak it and know the power it can wield.”

A chill ran through Angie. She took a deep breath and let it out. “If it is a language from another planet, how is it I know you just ordered my flesh to mend itself? How is it that I understood exactly what you said even though I can’t say any of the words?” She looked up at Lucifer. She wasn’t afraid of him, but she was terrified of this new ability.

“You understood what I said?” Lucifer stared at her. He had never met a human who could comprehend anything about the ancient language he knew.

She nodded. She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes.

Lucifer sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay. We will figure out what it means,” he whispered against her head.

Angie leaned against him, seeking more of his touch. Her body desperately ached for it. She opened her eyes. “I know about shapeshifters.”

It didn’t surprise him. “I can assume Gracie told you,” said Lucifer.

Angie shook her head. “Nope. I learned about shapeshifters from my roommate at college.”

“Shapeshifters don’t normally tell humans.”

“I know, and I don’t tell people what I know about shapeshifters and the paranormal world that exists alongside the human world.” Angie sighed. “There’s no easy way to say this. I don’t know what you are, but I know you are not human.” She waited for the fallout.

“How do you know this? Did you overhear someone say something?” He kept his arms wrapped around her. He was afraid Angie would try to leave him, especially when she found out what he was.

“I didn’t overhear anything. I can see people’s auras. I can tell if they are human or not. I may not know what the ‘or nots’ are, but I know they are not human.” She put her hands on his chest and pushed.

Reluctantly, Lucifer let her go.

Angie scooted back. His touch was driving her crazy with desire. “Do you remember when I said that I don’t date cops.”

“Very clearly. It’s what has kept us apart, though I am wearing you down.” He winked at her.

Angie’s bottom lip quivered.

Lucifer frowned. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “The reason I don’t date anyone in law enforcement is because police officers and the ones they love get killed.”

“Not all police officers are killed in the line of duty.” Lucifer reached for Angie’s hands.

“I know,” said Angie. “But a lot do.” Tears roll down her cheeks. “But sometimes the bad guys follow the police officers home.” She rubbed her nose and sniffed.

Lucifer went to the bathroom. When he returned, he handed her some tissues.

Angie gave him a grateful smile as she accepted them. She blew her nose. Balling up the used tissue, she stared at the bedspread as memories flooded back.

Lucifer watched the emotions dancing across Angie’s face. He thought about what she said. His eyes widened. “Your father was a police officer, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah, he was.” Her voice was soft. She slowly looked at Lucifer. “He was a patrol officer in Dallas.”

Lucifer saw the courage and strength in his lifemate’s eyes. He sat down on the bed and pulled her into his lap. “What happened?”

Angie was ridged at first. Slowly her muscles relaxed and she snuggled against him. “I was ten years old when my parents were murdered.” She started trembling.

“I’ve got you. You’re safe.” Lucifer hugged her tighter to him.

“I remember something woke me up. There were strange noises coming from downstairs, and then I heard my mom scream. I was so scared. I wanted to run downstairs to find them, but I didn’t.”

“You were just a child. You couldn’t have helped them.” He kissed the top of her head.

Angie nodded. “I went and hid in the back of the closet like we had practiced.”

“What do you mean?” asked Lucifer.

“Something had dad really scared. We had always practice what to do in case there was a fire, but he started having me practice how and where to hide. He told me if I ever heard screams or shoots or strange noises, I was to hide and stay hidden until he or mom came for me. I thought it was kind of silly because he was a police officer, but I practiced like he said.”

“He knew something was going to happen.”