O.M.G. Look at that, an update!

Chapter 3

I opened the door of my office for Jesse and aware of who was listening converted to all formalities. "I'll find out that information and get back to you, Mr. Zeklos. Have a pleasant rest of your work day."

"Thank you, Miss Hathaway. It's always a pleasure to do business with you. I know you won't disappoint me." He was laying the emphasis on the double meaning a little too thick for my liking, but then again, Jesse was always kind of dull-minded but thankfully not as bad as his partner Ralf. I waved him off and turned back to gather my purse, rolling my eyes at the typical maleness of his statements.

My whole group of demon friends was waiting for me at our usual table. "'Sup, guys," I said, pushing Adrian further into the round booth. The imp's arm settled over my shoulders, his normal advances not phasing me the slightest as my eyes settled on the newcomer across from me. "Ah, I see someone had the senses to invite you," I quipped at Dimitri.

"Yes, it was extremely thoughtful of Lissa," he countered. It already felt as if his bottomless eyes were cutting into me, digging up my every secret. It made me want to jump him.

"Your very gracious. I can see how that adds to the successfulness you have in taking your victims." He cocked an eyebrow at me, the corners of his mouth twitching as he asked the silent question. "I mean, just look at you! What self respecting woman wouldn't want that?"

He smiled at me. "You compliments are very flattering, especially considering that this is my original form."

"What a coincidence, me too." His eyes took me in like a caress.

"Ah, Rose, always so modest," Adrian said from beside me. I couldn't help but elbow him in the side.

"Anyway…" I drawled, returning my full attention to Dimitri. "How long have you been an incubus?"

"I'm sure its not very long compared to you, but just over a century."

"Really… I took you for being older. There weren't many young incubi in the early nineteen-hundreds, especially polite ones."

He looked away slightly embarrassed. "Yes, well. I grew up in a commune. Even though I was raised to be gentlemanly, growing up around places that could only really be described as exotic brothels took its toll. I did some things in my late teens that I'm not proud of."

I looked at him, seeing that vulnerable side for the first time. It wasn't a side often seen from anyone in service to hell. "We all did things that we aren't proud of in our mortal years. That's how we all ended up here. I look at all this as a second chance, even if it comes with an irrefutable penance." His gaze softened, though a mask slid into place. I changed the topic. "So, did you want me to show you the clubs tonight?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not?

"That is, unless you'd rather go chicken wrangling with Christian? He claims that he harvests their blood for something, but I think he just likes to run around like the ugly duckling that he is." I heard plenty of exclamations from Christian, but the opportunity was just too great to pass up the chance to make fun of Christian and his odd practices.

Dimitri cocked an eyebrow. "Chicken wrangling? Do they even have chickens near here?"

I leaned across the table and whispered as if it was the biggest piece of gossip in the world, "He keeps them in his basement...along with his stuffed victims." This made the whole table laugh. I waved them off and continued with the previous conversation. "When would you like me to pick you up?"

"Around eight," he replied after pondering it for a moment.

"Where are you staying at anyways?"

"I'm staying at the the Fairmont on University Street. Room 356." Nice. "Hell's putting me up there until I find an apartment. Apparently they need an incubus around here that badly. I'm sure they want me off of their bill by the end of the week though."

"Sounds just like hell. So that gives you what, two days to get an apartment?" He nodded. "Good luck with that."

"Rose," Lissa scolded. "Dimitri, I know a good realtor. I'll set up an appointment with her later."

Dimitri turned to her surprised. "Oh, you don't have to-"

"Nonsense," Lissa cut him off. "Helping you find a place to live is the least I can do. Now that you're here, I won't have Rose stolen from me every time we try to get time to ourselves for Stan to chew her out about not taking purer conquests."

Adrian laughed. "He only does that because she lets her morals get in the way of her job which created a chain of heartless soul boy-toys." I couldn't believe it! Well, Adrian I could believe, but they were intentionally embracing me in front of the new incubus!

"So what if I prefer to revisit the already blackened than to take more light from the pure? Energy is energy and most of the men I take are right in between the two extremes so I get plenty of a fix," I rebuked. I glanced at my watch and hastily scrawled my cell number on a paper napkin before putting some money down on the table for my lunch. "I have to get back to work though, so I'll see you all later," I said rising from my seat. Then I handed the napkin to Dimitri and said, "Here's my number. See you at eight."

Just before I stalked off down the street, I heard the door open behind me and a warm, large hand grasp my wrist. I turned back to face Dimitri, raising my eyebrows expectantly. "Don't worry about what they said in there," he said, surprising me. "It's nice to know that there's another demon in the world who still respects mortal life like that." His lips quirked into a small smile. "I'll see you at eight."

TADA! I'm over my snag! You guys just might be getting another update soon if my imagination stays somewhat on track :)

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