Page 77 of A Chip on Her Shoulder

“I can give you money.”

“But then I didn’t earn the money that bought the ring, and it’s the effort that matters, not the price tag. I will earn your ring properly.”

“I find myself strongly disliking the morals your parents instilled in you at an early age right now. You earning the ring equals a delay in acquiring the ring, and I wish to fully count your spots.”

“Patience is a virtue for a reason. And anyway, mugging the asshole who tried to poison me counts as earning the money to acquire the ring. If he hadn’t hurt my brother and poisoned me, you would not be in the situation where you must exercise your newfound patience, so that’s a bonus.”

“I’m conflicted. Am I supposed to use a filthy word in regards to this fucking asshole or not?”

“You can say your filthy words to his aquarium while I admire my trophy, and you can have your fun with him after I’ve grown bored with him as a trophy.”

“That could take all eternity,” he muttered.

“Well, you’ll just have to be patient, then.”

“You’re using really filthy words again.”

“I need to get changed into real clothes so you can take me out to dinner. We can discuss my use of really filthy words later.”

“In bed?” the Devil asked in a hopeful tone.

Hell yes, but I wasn’t going to let him think he’d won already. “We’ll see,” I lied.

“You’re a terrible liar, Darlene.”

I shrugged. “He who is still fully clothed doesn’t get to say I’m a liar about resisting your advances.”

“The instant I take my shirt off, it’s game over for you, woman.”

“And?”

Laughing, he guided me back to his sitting room with its herd of unconscious succubi. Phenexia waited, sitting on the Devil’s desk, and she held up a bag of cough drops. “I got these for you if you need them later, Darlene. I also picked up a purse and put your things in it along with a bottle of water. Consider it my welcoming gift so you can get used to your home. I also acquired you a blanket, as I’ve noticed you felines do very much enjoy having soft, warm blankets on hand. Your dress for this evening is Carmella’s contribution. It’s waiting for you, out on your bed.”

My kittens, who’d quietly followed me around, bounded to the bedroom, probably to leave a contribution of fur all over the dress. Oh, well. As it was something I would do, I would smile and wear their fur. “Carmella?”

The Devil chuckled, a rather wicked sound. “Carmella is one of the devils of greed and temptation, but rather than sexual temptation, she tends to favor other forms of sin. Theft is more her speed than lust, and she likes encouraging unsavory mortals to indulge in their greed in complicated schemes. She particularly loves when she can turn the greedy against the greedy. Planning the downfall of the greedy through temptation is her specialty.”

I could think of a few people I’d enjoy pointing Carmella at. “I like her already. I hope this dress helps with the downfall of Gallo and his gang of fucking assholes.”

“She’s probably planning my downfall, as I’m exceptionally greedy,” the Devil muttered.

Smiling at that thought, I claimed my second coffee from him and headed for the bedroom, careful to keep from stepping on the sleeping succubi. “Thank you, Phenexia.”

“You’re welcome.”

The Devil grunted his displeasure over our use of filthy words, and I laughed.

Chapter Fourteen

Sometimes, I was not a nice person.

Carmella had selected a black, floor-length gown for me, one with a startling conservative neckline, which was low enough I could wear the cross collar I’d pilfered from the Devil’s dresser without making a scandalous statement. All in all, with a little work on my hair, I passed as pretty enough, and I wouldn’t bring much shame to Lucifer when out in public with him.

He outclassed me, but I refused to care.

I’d seen his fury, and I understood its source. Maybe he outclassed me. Maybe I’d never meet his expectations. Maybe we’d be a lot like gasoline meeting fire down the road. Maybe I’d try to put his ass in my new fish tanks for annoying me. Maybe a lot of things might happen, but I understood a simple truth. For that one moment, he’d been consumed by passion for my sake.

I shivered at the memory and did my best to forget the moment he’d become blinded by his rage over what someone else had wanted to do.