umbrella

Asuriel sat in one of the cushioned chairs in Vaerion's room. She had dressed in comfortable clothes back at her place and grabbed a few necessities like a toothbrush and another set of underwear, but he rushed her along and said she should forget about day clothes; he would get her new ones.

Who was she to deny a billionaire CEO from buying her a few nice outfits that probably cost more than her apartment?

The CEO in question was pacing in the room, on the phone with his subordinates.

"Do not plead his case with me," the devil hissed. "It will grow back in a few years. He needed to learn his lesson."

Her eyebrows raised. She wanted to ask what he meant by 'it will grow back,' but figured it best she didn't know. He said he was punishing one of them, right? It was probably something involving that…

"If he wants to make it up to me, he can play as my new…" Vaerion glanced sideways at Asuriel and paused, speaking the next word emphatically, "Mistress' pet until I get rid of her."

"A pet? You don't have to make him do anything-" Asuriel started, but he cut her off.

"I'm not free to help you with anything the next few days, so if you need something while you and I are tending to my business, he can be your errand boy," he said shortly. "It's non-negotiable. He's fallen from my good graces and needs an easy task while he heals."

Asuriel wanted to argue, but Vaerion left no room for it in the conversation. He quickly continued what he was saying to the man on the other line.

"You heard me, Darion," he stated. "Bring Kaine to the penthouse in the morning and make him presentable – I don't need him scaring her. As for you… come now. When you arrive, I'll tell you what I want you to do."

Vaerion didn't wait for a response and ended the call.

Asuriel couldn't help but chuckle, "You really like to do that, don't you?"

"Do what?" his lips thinned into a line, and he looked at her distrustfully, still weary after the coffee incident.

"Getting the last word, ending conversations abruptly," she elaborated, "that kind of thing."

The devil rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his messy black hair. "There's no reason to prolong conversations. If I've gotten the message across, there's nothing left to say. It's a waste of breath to proceed with niceties."

"Amazing that someone with an infinite lifespan still believes there's such a thing as wasting time," Asuriel shook her head bemusedly. "Your selfishness is a phenomenon that scientists should study."

"Studying someone as perfect as me would be a gift that mortal scientists don't deserve," Vaerion shrugged, then tossed his phone onto the bed. He looked down his nose at her with a condescending smirk. "Now, you still reek of that damn incense. You need to shower before you even think about getting in my bed."

"Yeah, I needed to shower anyway," Asuriel agreed readily. She felt gross after such a busy and taxing day. She stood from her seat and looked at him, "Is the bathroom small enough that you can stand outside the door?"

"What, you don't want me to join you?" Vaerion crossed his arms, stepped closer, and looked down at her deviously. "I'm hurt; after we got so close earlier, you're acting chaste now?"

Asuriel heaved an exasperated sigh and teased, "We're going to sleep in the same bed. Are you so greedy as to invade my shower as well?"

Vaerion closed the remaining distance between them and gently grabbed her chin. He tilted her head up to look at him and served a seductive smirk, "Of course I am. I'm a devil, after all; I take what I want when I want it."

Asuriel's breath hitched. He was always handsome, yes – but up close… his otherwordly beauty shone through. It was impossible to push him away. Everything about him sucked Asuriel in, threatening to devour her whole.

Vaerion's hair danced in loose waves down to his broad shoulders; a few locks fell forward, framing and accenting his face. High cheekbones and a slender but strong chin complemented his sculpted nose, full lips, and bottomless golden eyes.

Unfortunately, he had put a shirt on, so Asuriel couldn't admire it, but his upper body was muscular and toned, but not to the point of being overwhelming. Smooth, dark, sunkissed skin just begging to be bitten…

Suddenly, he leaned down, and his lips touched her ear, "Unluckily, I have a few things to take care of, so I'll let you shower alone this time."

"How kind of you," she replied quietly, willing her heart to still. "So, you'll be able to stay outside?"

"Our bond keeps us within roughly 7-10 feet of each other," Vaerion said softly, pulling away slightly, "so it should be just enough for me to be on the other side of the door."

Asuriel hummed in understanding. She mischievously added, "Are you going to let me sleep in one of your shirts? It's part of my job description."

"Oh?" he laughed. Vaerion smirked and agreed, "I suppose you're right… it's only natural that my mistress should wear my clothes to bed."

He reached down, affectionately rubbed Asuriel's bottom lip with his thumb, and then turned to his closet to fetch a shirt. Vaerion grabbed a gray t-shirt and tossed it at her.

"That and panties should be more than enough," he stated, then motioned with his head for her to follow. He led her to a door in the corner of the room and stopped at the entrance, "This is the bathroom. You can use whatever you'd like."

"Mhm," Asuriel said with a smile, looking up at him from beneath hooded lashes. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

"I'll be waiting impatiently," Vaerion casually flipped the light switch on for her and leaned against the wall beside the door. Once she stepped in, he closed the door behind her.

Asuriel didn't bother to lock it.

She undressed herself and stepped into the standing shower. Fortunately, it was easy to understand how to use, so she turned on the water – nice and hot, just the way she liked.

"Oh, wow," Asuriel muttered when she looked at the shelves that housed Vaerion's hygiene products. There were so many!

She thought she was obsessed with her hair and skin, but this devil had her outdone. Asuriel's eyes scanned all the labels, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, scrubs… everything under the sun – all from luxury brands.

"Don't mind if I do," she chuckled, deciding to indulge in the most expensive products first.

—

Vaerion listened to the shower run and sighed. After the day's events, the devil was utterly vexed. He wasn't usually the kind to be so flirtatious and lustful – he was a devil, but he was born from war and blood… so he wasn't one with a sexual inclination.

…but something about the damn bartender got into his head – both heads.

The devil lifted his arm and looked at the runes. Almost every infernal being was born with a one-of-a-kind tattoo or marking, save for a percentage of half-bloods and lesser creatures. The intricacy of the markings was indicative of their power and identity. No two runes were the same.

When Vaerion saw that Asuriel's ink on her thigh and abdomen matched his runes, something inside him shifted. He felt both horrified and thrilled, angry and aroused.

Despite being unfamiliar with the nature of her magic, some innate knowledge awoke when he saw her. They were connected on a spiritual level; that much was clear.

What concerned him the most – even more so than the fact that she could give him commands he was forced to obey – was that Vaerion could feel Asuriel's heartbeat through his runes.

When he felt it for the first time, he knew deep inside himself, without the shadow of a doubt, that they were irrevocably and intricately connected.

Connected so profoundly that if she died, he would too.

He swore to himself to break the bond as soon as possible – he couldn't have his life tied to that of a fragile mortal. Even though she was not human, he still didn't know what she was either… and she was weak despite the power awakening in her body.

It was dangerous for his soul to be bound to something so ephemeral.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He called, "Finally. Come in, Darion."

The door opened to reveal one of his trusted aides. Long, silver hair flowed down his back in a loose, low ponytail, matching his observant gray eyes. He came to stand before Vaerion.

"Good evening, Master," Darion bowed his head in a respectful greeting. He kept his eyes down as he waited for Vaerion to speak.

Vaerion looked down at him with a somewhat gentle expression, "Relax. I'm not going to give you anything difficult to do. I know you are worried about Kaine and couldn't stand to be away too long."

Darion raised his head and looked at Vaerion with a relieved expression. "Thank you."

Vaerion waved his hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it. It's only natural I am considerate of you when I'm the one who did it to him. Anyway, I've called to ask you to purchase a few things for me."

"What do you need?" Darion asked.

"First, I would like you to buy a pair of house slippers, a bathrobe, and a plethora of hair products made for curled hair – all for women, of course," Vaerion listed the items as if it were normal.

Darion was perplexed. If it wasn't strange enough that Vaerion was keeping a woman around in the first place – the devil was catering to her needs! It was beyond the demon's imagination that his heartless boss would ask for such things.

Of course, he didn't voice his surprise because, unlike his twin, he valued his life – and his horns.

"Yes, Master, it will be done," the demon answered dutifully. "Anything else?"

"A purple umbrella," the devil answered thoughtfully.