Page 21 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

“I’ve distracted you,” Judge said, pointedly nodding towards my dinner.

“Shoot, shoot, shoot,” I hissed, cursing at the stove, at the saucepan, and even at my own inability to stay on task. I dropped some of the pasta mixture into bowls and danced my way across the apartment to the floor, where I curled up at the edge, putting the bowl on the ground and sucking on the thumb that had gotten overly hot during my transfer from stove to bowl.

“Let me see,” Judge said, coming to knee in front of me.

I almost flinched as he loomed over me. His hands immediately wrapped around mine, and my pulse leaped at the firm way that he gripped my wrist. When I instinctively jerked away, he tightened his hold, amber eyes hot on me.

“Please,” Judge said. “Let me.”

I froze, watching as his mouth got closer to my reddened thumb. Then, just before it was touching his lips, he retreated a little and then blew out a breath over my skin. Instead of the warmth that I had felt when he stood against me, it was icy cold, bloating over my meager burn and turning it dull and back to a soft throb.

“Uh, wow. Thank you.”

“No apology needed, little thief.” Then he rose, moving back to the window in a flash of white hair and dark clothes.

I ate my dinner quietly, casting the occasional glance his way as he wandered the small apartment, appearing to be content to explore the space on his own.

“So what are you going to do while you’re here?” I asked him as I munched on my dinner. Each bite was still hot, and I spent half the time blowing on it, the other half attempting to not stare at the demon in my apartment.

“Keep you safe, clearly.”

I halted mid-blow, frowning. “I don't need protection at night.”

Judge raised a brow. “You also didn't need protection during dinner, and look what happened.”

“You are equating a very small burn with life-and-death moments.”

“And yet they all happened within hours of each other.” Judge looked at me, curiosity making his forehead wrinkle. “Unless you are meaning to test me.”

“No.” I rubbed my eyes. “No, Judge, I'm not trying to test you. Unlike you, I’m not exactly sure how this whole deal thing works.”

“I’ve already explained.”

“Explain again, maybe? I had a boatload of adrenaline coursing through my body at the time.”

Judge crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall with a soft thud. I flinched, afraid the wall behind him might give way under the weight of his body. But I didn't say anything. He was tense now, more so than before, and I hadn’t gotten as far as I had without realizing when you should leave something alone.

Or someone.

“You agreed that you would give me something, and in return I would…how did you say it…bail you out of trouble?”

“That’s it? Even I remember that part.” I twirled my fork in the air for a moment then dived in for another bite, when a pair of black boots appeared in my vision. Again, he squatted in front of me, his jaw so tight I could see the muscles in his cheeks leap.

“It means,” Judge said, his hand gripping my face with a hot-skinned palm and turning my face up to his, “that until we complete the protection portion of the deal, I will be right here, surely busy keeping you out of trouble.”

I couldn’t stop the cheeky response. “Seems like a bad deal for you.”

“Maybe, maybe not. You never know when I might have a need for a short-tempered human thief.”

“I am not…” I paused, glaring. “Short-tempered.”

His brow rose sardonically, and I huffed out a short breath, pushing away my empty bowl. “Fine. I’m getting dressed for bed. I have no idea what demons do at night, but you are welcome to do whatever you want.”

Judge’s lips quivered, but he released my now cool finger. “Thank you for your permission, my lady.”

“Ugh. You really are awful.” Dropping my bowl by the sink, I marched the short distance across the floor and slammed the bathroom door. Once safely hidden, I dragged a brush through my hair as I raved about smug, irritating demons who didn't know when to stop. Pinning my mop of red locks on top of my head, I double checked the lock on the door, after which I admonished myself thoroughly because I’d just seen the demon stop time.

I didn’t think a lock on a door was going to stop him from seeing me naked if he wanted to. But other than the touchy moments earlier, the demon had made zero effort to show me any kind of interest in me.