Omens (The Dark in You #6) - Suzanne Wright Page 0,48
to him,” Raini reminded her.
“And it may in fact be true, but I don’t believe he’s all that happy about it.” Khloé sipped her drink, relishing the burst of sweetness on her tongue. “If he could make whatever he feels for me vanish, he totally would.” Which didn’t hurt. Nope. Not even a little.
“I’d like to disagree with that, but I can’t.” Raini dipped her hand into the complimentary bowl of nuts that she’d swiped from the long bar. “I’ve always gotten the feeling that he doesn’t want to care for you. I don’t think he wants to care for anyone. He never seems to keep a woman around long enough for him to develop any feelings for her.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” It made Khloé wonder why exactly that was, but she’d never ask him such a personal question. Unlike him, she didn’t pry. Most of the time.
She let her gaze sweep their surroundings. The Xpress bar was as busy as always. She and Raini had headed there straight after work a couple of hours ago. They didn’t intend to get drunk. They just wanted to wind down and get a little buzz going. Harper and Devon would have come if they hadn’t already had plans.
After Khloé and Raini had settled at a VIP table and ordered some drinks, Khloé had finally told her all about her conversation with Keenan the evening before.
“I figured the pushy incubus would try involving himself in all this,” said Raini.
“If he could kill Enoch, I’d be all for it—I want the motherfucker dead. But Keenan doesn’t have the power to end him. He can’t help our lair better than anyone else can.”
“What we need is that blade he mentioned. Do you know if Larkin has had any luck finding one on the black market?”
“She told Grams that she found one, but that it’s up for auction. A seven-day-long auction. Larkin said not to worry, though, she’d make sure we were the highest bidder.”
“Well, that’s good news, at least.” Raini drank some of her cosmo. “Although I like that Keenan’s worried for you and wants you protected, it’s unfair of him to try involving himself in your problems. He can’t pick and choose how he’s there for you. He’s either a part of your life or he’s not.”
Khloé nodded. “I made a similar point to him. He dances around the edge of my life, but he’s not part of it. He’s never crossed that line.”
“Other than when he slept with you.”
“That was just sex. He fucks women all the time without stepping a foot into their lives.”
“True. Why are you only telling me this now? Why didn’t you mention any of this in front of Harper and Devon?”
“Because they’ll most likely tell me I should accept whatever help and protection I can get. You know what it’s like to have someone messing in your life, trying to have the best of both worlds.” Maddox wouldn’t leave Raini alone but nor would he claim her as his anchor.
The succubus sighed again. “Yes, I do.”
“Devon had a similar struggle with Tanner before they got together when he was intent on helping track whoever put the bounty on her head, but he was clear to her that he’d give her a relationship if he could. He wasn’t just being a meddler. Keenan would never offer me anything. Like you said, he can’t pick and choose how he’s there for me.”
“He clearly thinks he can, though. God, male demons can be so annoying. Especially ones in positions of power, like Primes and sentinels. They tend to forget that their authority only extends so far.”
They both looked up as two cute male demons approached their table.
“Ladies,” greeted the taller of the two. “We were hoping we might be able to join you.”
“Sure,” Raini replied, gesturing at the empty seats.
Khloé wasn’t really in the mood, but as they began to talk, she quickly discovered that they were … nice. Funny. Confident of their own allure, but not cocky or sleazy.
The one on her left, Deke, was quite the charmer, and he turned those charms on her. Her prickly demon wasn’t interested in being wooed, so it aimed a sullen glare his way. But he managed to wrench a few smiles out of Khloé as he talked.
He teased her, didn’t take himself too seriously, made her laugh. He was also flirty without touching her, which she liked. Far too many male demons tried shoving their way into a woman’s personal space.