Raphael sauntered out of the salon. “That it comes before a fall.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
The knock at her door surprised Bianca. Narcissa had set her up with everything she could possibly need, including a change of clothes once she was done wallowing in the opulent marble tub.
Between the elegant bedroom and the palatial bathroom, she would have been dead set on lobbying for them spending the night if it hadn’t been for Leona.
The lily scent from the fragrant salts Narcissa had tossed in her bath lingered on her skin. Slipping on a black silk bathrobe, she answered the door. “Lucifer?”
One arm raised against the doorjamb he opened his mouth and shut it again. His frown vanished as his gaze meandered to her toes and back again.
A flush followed the path his eyes had taken. She tamped it down because he still hadn’t agreed to honor his promise to her, and they had to settle the business between them first.
First? Oh no, she had no business getting flushed and flustered by a being who defined bad idea. Finding her best bad ass tone, she said, “Can I help you?”
“Hmm.” He caressed his bottom lip with his thumb. “I came here to argue, but I seem to have lost the urge.”
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Not. Nope. No way. He couldn’t show up at her bedroom door, pulling the classic door lean and looking delicious enough to devour, and make her melt. He probably practiced that hot and heavy smolder in the mirror.
Peeling herself away from the door, she marched into the room and folded her arms. She meant business, and he needed to get that through his arrogant skull. “So, let’s argue.” She added a foot tap. “But you owe me, so I don’t see how you expect to win.”
“Oh, haglette.” He sauntered after her, his black gaze taking great big bites of her. “I always win.”
“Stop that.” They had vital stuff to settle, and him giving her the bedroom eyes wasn’t going to work. “Stop looking at me like that.”
He smirked. “Fire your first shot.”
“What?” Her brain had taken a side trip into shutdown.
“You want to argue.” He stopped with his shoes nudging her bare toes. “Give me your first verbal volley.”
Her robe was way too thin for this encounter, and she was way too naked beneath it. She needed a metal breastplate to conceal her interested nipples. “You owe me.”
“Really?” he drawled. That deep rasp didn’t sound like they were on the same page. Not even reading the same book.
“You promised me and Emma you would find Leona.”
“You’re right.” He picked up the tie to her robe and held it between his thumb and forefinger “And I intend to keep that promise.”
“But—” Wait! He’d agreed with her. Bianca didn’t have to fight, and she lowered her guard slightly. “Well. That’s good then.”
“However.” He tugged gently on the tie. “I will be doing so on my own.”
She slapped his fingers away. “You need me and the crystal to find her.”
“No, I don’t.” He curled a tendril of hair that had escaped from her messy bun around his forefinger. “I told you when we first met that I work alone.”
“That’s bullshit.” She jerked her head away from his hand. “You’ve been looking for Ashe for months and found nothing. The closest you got was with me and the crystals.”
Some of the slumberous warmth fled his expression. “I could have new information.”
“Do you?” She’d never considered that.
“Not yet.” He shoved that dangerous, distracting hand in his pocket. “But Zeb and Levi will have intelligence for me any day now. And they will give me exactly what I need.”
“In other words, you’ve got nothing.” Bianca tightened the robe tie. Leona’s life hung by a thread while Lucifer sulked. “The crystal and a more powerful tracking spell are still your best bet. And I am your way of using both. You’re too proud to admit it.”
He raised his eyebrow. “I am pride.”
“You’re an asshole.” Coming here had been a waste of time Leona didn’t have. “I should have listened to Raphael. He didn’t want to bring me.”
“Yes, you should have.” He shifted closer, one shoe sliding between her feet. “Which begs the question as to why you did come here.”
The ego on Lucifer was staggering. “I came here to remind you that we had a deal.” She tried to put distance between them.
“No.” He cupped her nape. “You came here because of me.”
His hand was warm and firm against the bare skin of her neck. “Don’t be so conceited.”
“You came because whatever is between us has not played itself out.” His thigh slid between hers. The wool of his trousers slightly rough against her naked legs.
She resisted the need to press into the heat of his body. Hurt leaked into her words as she said, “You left.”
“I was angry.” His other hand slid between her clavicle and the robe. He spread his fingers over her skin.
He had been so cold and furious when she’d arrived. “You said we were done.”
