“You were saying?” was her smug reply.

“I’m saying it’s time I started going commando again. Let the boys roam free. Be the sexy demon you first met.” He swung his hips.

She rolled her eyes. “That move has never been, and never will be, sexy.”

“Worked on you.”

“Actually, your saving grace is that tongue. Who knew forked could make such a difference?” She winked.

Lucifer would have dropped to his knees to worship her if not for a knock at his door—and the damned children. Forget the olden days where he fucked her anywhere he could, even if there was an audience. Now he had to wait until they could be private. It did make the fast romps in closets and hidden spots more exciting.

“Are you going to answer that?” she asked as someone rapped again.

“Me?” he exclaimed. “The devil is not a servant. Opening doors is Polkie’s job.”

“Actually, no it’s not. We have a new butler.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Given Polkie is getting up there in millennia, I’ve hired him some help,” Gaia stated as if this was okay.

“An apprentice! I didn’t approve this.” He glowered.

“You told me to run the household as I see fit and to not bother you with annoying questions.”

“I meant those fucking paint chips, and you know it. One hundred shades of cream you made me look at.” And look as he might, he couldn’t see the differences as she went on and on and on about the varying hues.

“Forgive me for thinking you’d want a say in the décor for our bedroom.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck about the colors of the walls or the thread count in the sheets so long as you’re naked in bed with those delicious toes up around my ears.” His leer had dropped countless panties in his lifetime.

Gaia was the one woman who didn’t succumb. She came to him on her terms.

It was so damned sexy. And annoying.

“Your intent doesn’t count, only your words.” She snapped her fingers and suddenly wore reading glasses on the tip of her nose. She held up a sheet of paper. “Here’s the conversation in question. Would you like me to read it to you?”

“It’s as if you are trying to goad me into a fight.” Meaning she wanted sex. Makeup sex. The best kind after sweet, and then there was impromptu and languorous…

“According to the transcript—”

He interrupted. “Yada. Yada. Fine. I said it. You want to hire people. Go ahead. But don’t come crying to me when you hurt Polkie’s feelings and shit starts going wrong.” There were few people he dared piss off. Polkie being one of them. That guy knew how to make his life miserable without getting caught doing it.