Demon King (Claimed By Lucifer #1) - Elizabeth Briggs Page 0,18

up my end. I always did.

I shook my head. “If we get involved, we’ll only slow them down. Let them do what they’re trained to do. This isn’t Samael’s first time heading up a search and rescue, and the best thing we can do is go on about our lives. In fact, I have something planned for today that I think will keep your mind off of things.”

“Day? I thought we were only doing nights.” She blew out a long breath. “What’s today’s sin?”

“Greed.” I gestured toward her room. “There’s a fresh outfit hanging in your closet in a black garment bag. Please wear that today.” I tried to keep my smile subdued, but the idea of her wearing clothes I’d selected for her sent a possessive streak of lust through me. My woman. Mine. I hadn’t felt like that since… Well, since the last time.

“What are we doing?” There it was again, that suspicion threading through her tone. It was one of the reasons I liked her. She never did let me get away with anything.

“Shopping.” I deliberately kept my voice casual, and she lifted her chin in question. “We’ll be purchasing some new clothes for you.”

She groaned. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

I stared pointedly at her threadbare robe. “Everything.”

She crossed her arms. “Excuse me for not realizing I’d be playing the role of billionaire’s mistress this week.”

“Exactly. You need a wardrobe suiting your new position at my side.” I looked back down at my newspaper, effectively dismissing her. My feigned disinterest wasn’t because I was finished looking at her, but because if I continued to watch her, I’d want to touch her, to kiss her, to possess her, and she wasn’t ready for that…yet.

She huffed and then turned on her heel to head back to her room, hopefully to get ready. I glanced up and caught sight of her perfect ass and the swish of her long golden hair. She looked different from before, but there was no doubt of who she was. The tug inside me, the rapidity of my heartbeat, and the twitch in my cock… Every part of me knew exactly who she was.

She must have felt it too—the pull, the longing, the need. The unbreakable connection between us that stretched back for all eternity. But it must be buried deep this time.

It was an exquisite torture to know the truth about us, and to be the only one who remembered. I wanted to tell her, but I’d wait until she was ready to hear it. This was certainly a game for a patient man, and I’d bargained on a week.

Over the next few nights I would remind her who she really was—and why she belonged by my side as my queen.

6

Hannah

Another car whisked us out of The Celestial and down The Strip, but at least it wasn’t a limo this time. Not that the sleek, silver Aston Martin sports car was any less glamorous. Lucas drove with a casual hand on the wheel, and with his eyes focused on the road, it allowed me to study him without his intense gaze staring back at me. He was too handsome to be real, like something out of a dream, and every time I looked at him I wanted to touch him to prove to myself I wasn’t imagining it. He exuded a heady mix of sensual charm and dark, dangerous power that was impossible to resist. This time he wasn’t in a tux, thank goodness, but his black suit was perfectly tailored and no doubt cost a fortune.

My outfit probably did too, for that matter. In my closet I’d found white shorts with a label I didn't recognize, but no doubt couldn't afford, and a sleeveless button-up shirt in lavender. I looked like I was ready to head to the country club and eat stupidly small sandwiches or drink tea with my pinky outstretched while laughing at poor people like me.

And then there were the shoes, sparkly black flats with Miu Miu on them. I’d heard of that brand and had to stop myself from getting on my phone and searching for the price. I couldn’t stand the thought of walking the sidewalks of Las Vegas in shoes that cost more than my car. I chose to believe they weren’t that expensive. I couldn’t think about them any other way or I’d need to carry them and walk about barefoot. I was in so far over my head it wasn’t even funny, and my gut