Page 95 of Bent Out of Shade
“Why aren’t you Hulk raging right now? I just asked you to open a portal to Gehenna so I could steal the Ascendant back. But I want to help the Leviathan, and then I’ll destroy the artifact once and for all. It’s the only way I see out of this madness.”
“Yes, I heard both sides of your argument,” he said, chuckling. “Did you ever consider a career in law?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’ll help?”
“I will and if you ask me why, I’ll be insulted.”
I mimed zipping my lips. Then cracked two seconds later. “Why?”
He flexed his biceps. “Because I am a paragon among men.”
I lowered his arm. Laurent had deviated from his expected part in a huge way, but then again, I had as well. I wasn’t scared anymore, the woman keeping all her secrets close. “You are, aren’t you?”
“Oui. You’re very fortunate to have me.”
“Do I have you?” I toyed with my old engagement ring. “I’m guessing you haven’t been in a relationship with anyone since Delphine, and if you want to go slowly or see other people, then tell me.”
Because I may need to excuse myself very quickly afterward.
“Mitzi, I wanted to take you on a date because you deserve fancy nights out, not because I need to go slow.”
“Oh.” I glanced up in case hearts were dancing around in the air.
He placed his hands behind his head, regarding me with a cocky grin. “That ship sailed when you barreled into my life and wormed your way under my skin before I knew what had hit me.”
“I’ll hit you again if you like,” I said sweetly.
“Non, I cannot take that much foreplay after painting your house. I am only one man. Better than others, yet still human.” He stood up, steadying me on my feet as he did.
“So, we’re officially in a relationship now?” I threaded my fingers through his.
He brushed his lips over mine. “Yes. A fact we’ll celebrate when your child is not around.”
“Does that mean you’ll help me move something tomorrow?” I checked the time. It was after midnight. “Or, rather, later today.”
“Like a dresser?” He walked out of the office. “Depends when. It’s a supermoon tomorrow evening.”
I hopped down the stairs behind him. “It would be at nine in the morning. Take Sabrina to Blood Alley.”
His shoulders tensed briefly, stemming from his dislike of Zev, not fear.
“You’re a veritable paragon,” I said. “And Rodrigo is meeting you. I’m not sure that even ancient vamps are awake that early.”
He shoved his feet into the sneakers by the door, then speared me with a wicked look. “You’re going to owe me. The second all this is over, we’re having our next better date.”
“Even if it’s the middle of the afternoon?” I teased.
His lips quirked. “Did you not realize adults could date during daylight hours?”
I lightly punched him in the arm. “I was going to demonstrate how grateful I was for all your help, but—”
“But are you thong and corset grateful?” Laurent retrieved his leather jacket and motorcycle helmet from the closet.
“Possibly even thigh-high stockings and heels grateful,” I said in a sultry tone.
He pulled me to him for a brief, hard kiss that left me mindwhacked and clutching his shirt.
Neither of us moved for a moment. This was real. Holy hell was it real. The Laurent I’d first met would have been a disaster in a relationship, but I would have as well. I’d had to find my feet in this magic world first, find myself. We’d changed each other, but more importantly, we’d chosen to change ourselves.
I shook my head sharply to clear it. “We also have to plan the Ascendant heist.”
“Non. Go back to the corset.” Laurent shrugged into his jacket, rustling the leather.
“And be on the lookout for Vincenzo.”
He squashed his curls under his helmet. “Never a dull moment.”
