it at the end. Maybe Lucifer was somehow controlling or manipulating her.” She plucked at the blankets, averting her gaze. “It doesn’t really matter. The girl I knew was gone.”
It was so tempting to believe her.
“Maybe Kayley could have been saved, but I’m realistic enough to know better.” She closed her eyes and sighed. Before he could panic, she opened them again. “You were trying to hit Lucifer, not my sister.”
He nodded, still waiting for her to sling accusations at him, to call him a murderer.
“How long have I been out?”
“Three days.” An eternity.
“So long.” Lowering the blanket, she pressed her fingers where the wound had been. “There’s no sign at all.”
He wished she’d cover up. Seeing her bare breasts made him want to climb on top of her and fuck her until she screamed his name in pleasure. His cock surged to life, the organ having been silent these past few days.
She was alive and awake, and he wanted her.
But she was still recovering. A bastard he might be, but not even he was bad enough to push her when she was recovering from near death. He shifted position on the bed, hoping she didn’t notice his erection.
“It’s been quiet?”
“Too quiet. They’re waiting to see if you die.”
“How am I still alive?” The question was tentative.
“You just are.” And he was damn grateful for it. “You want a shower?”
“God, yes.” Her fervent answer almost made him smile. He yanked back the covers and lifted her into his arms, still not quite able to believe she’d forgiven him so easily. She’d given up her very soul for her sister. Was this just a ploy? Something to lull him into complacency so she could strike?
He was past caring.
Once they were in the bathroom, he gathered some towels while she used the facilities in relative privacy. Then he stripped off his clothes and helped her shower and brush her teeth.
By the time she was clean, he was sporting an erection that was hard enough to drive nails, although he’d rather pound into her much sweeter and softer flesh.
He carried her back to the bed. “I’ll get you something to wear.” Better for both of them if she covered up.
“Stay.” She reached out and wrapped her fingers around his wrist, or at least as far as they could go. Her hands were strong, callused from wielding weapons and fighting.
Something had been bothering him for quite some time. “You didn’t know your father?”
The change of subject startled her, and she pulled the covers over her before replying. Unconcerned about his own nudity, he sat beside her.
“I told you—he left after my mom got pregnant with me.”
“But he came back,” he reminded her. “And got pregnant with Kayley.”
“What are you getting at?”
“You know why you could become a demon hunter, don’t you?”
“Because I signed over my soul for a specified amount of time to Lucifer.” Her brow furrowed, and her lips turned down in a frown.
She honestly had no idea. It was too late to backtrack now. Best to just get it done. “Only humans with demon blood can become demon hunters. Only they can be trained in Hell and then come back to live in the human realm and not go crazy eventually. That’s the reason demons have limited time on Earth. If they’re here too long, they get power hungry and go on killing sprees, which isn’t good for anyone.”
She shook her head, her mouth open, jaw slack. “No. That’s impossible.”
He pressed his hands on the mattress to keep from touching her. If he did, he wouldn’t be responsible for what happened. Best not to test his resolve.
“Your father was a demon. It’s why he left and then came back. He would have been on leave from Hell with a limited amount of time. Some demons are drawn to a particular human, and the urge to procreate is overwhelming.”
She was still shaking her head. “No. I won’t believe it. I’m