7. Bree

"Mommy?" The sound of my son's sleep-riddled voice woke me from my deep slumber. "Your phone's ringing." My brain was not focusing the way it should. I could hear the ringing, which was actually my alarm for the day, going off but my body was so heavy. And I was so hot. Sweating actually. Weird since I keep my apartment on 67 degrees at all times.

Rellick is tucked in front of me, his body curled against mine. His body heat is high but not enough for me to sweat. I pull him closer to me anyway.

My comforter is not heavy. Am I having paralysis? "Turn it off, Snow." My eyes fly open at the deep voice that isn't supposed to be in my apartment. No. No no no nooooooooo! NO!

That was a dream. That wasn't real. I was NOT in a throne room full of demon kings in HELL! I did NOT ride a pink furry Rougarou in full view of a bunch of creatures. I DID NOT LEAVE MY SON ALONE IN MY APARTMENT!

I can feel my blood pressure start to rise. Even since Rellick was born, I've had stress-induced hypertension. This is a very stressful situation! I was dreaming. I had to be!

"Breathe, Snow." A thick pale arm wraps around both me and my son. "You're okay." His voice is soothing, and my mind can't tell whether it wants to follow his orders or continue to have a meltdown.

Rellick's small arms wrap around my neck and his head curls under my chin. "I love you, Mommy." The whispered words force me to finally let go of the tension.

"I love you, too, Sweet Boy." He kisses my nose, and I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face. A hug from my son can cure my mind of anything that's plaguing it. Sloth's arm is still holding us tight against him, like we're his.

"Can we turn off the phone now?" In my panic attack, I forgot about my alarm. I lift his heavy arm off me, reaching over to the nightstand to turn it off. The alarm had been going off for over ten minutes meaning that Rellick and I were going to be late to the daycare.

Blatantly ignoring the Demon King of Sloth lying in my bed, I lift Rellick and carry him to the bathroom. "Time to brush our hair and teeth." I get everything set up, handing him his toothbrush.

With our daily routine started, it's easy to forget about the sexy giant in my bed. With Rellick ready and dressed, I can now focus on myself. I grab him a pop-tart and sit him at the table. "I'll be right back, okay?" He ignores me to watch Miraculous on our living room television. I walk into my bedroom, past the bed, and open the closet door.

I need to feel normal today. Like my life hasn't completely blown up with information. I don't want to process whatever happened last night. My mind is acting on autopilot as I grab my blue scrubs from the closet, then my underwear and bra from my dresser next to the closet. I don't even attempt to grab anything sexy. One: because attractive underwear my size (18) is unnecessarily expensive, and this girl is broke. Two: because I'm in a rush and completely ignoring my surroundings.

I keep telling myself everything is fine while I lift the plain black underwear into place, followed by the pants. Turning my back to the bed, I lift my shirt over my head and put on my bra. The shirt is across my chest when I look up and notice myself in the full-length mirror hanging from my door.

What the fuck is that?A quarter sized bruise is dark blue above my belly button. How did I get that? I know I'm not the most coordinated person, but a bruise on a random part of my stomach? Not normal.

Sloth comes to stand behind me, his navy eyes meeting mine in the mirror. There is no reason he should be that gorgeous. Or that tall! He has to be at least two feet taller than me. I barely pass five feet which makes him close to, if not exactly seven feet. Figures.

He placed his hand on the fleshy part of my lower stomach, his thumb covering the bruise. Did I get it last night?

Actually, it doesn't matter. I need to leave, and he needs to go back to Hell. "Come back to bed with me. We can spend the day together." Sleepy lowers his head, brushing his mouth against my neck."You can get some well needed rest. I can take care of you and the kid. Don't leave, Snow." With each word, my body goes lax. Rest sounds amazing. I could totally catch up on sleep. I work long hours followed by taking care of an overactive toddler. I deserve a break.

"Mommy! I finished my pop-tart!" Rellick's voice yells out across the apartment causing me to jump out of Sloth's arms. Our bodies are no longer touching and all the chaotic thoughts I was having are back.

Was he using his power to sap my energy? To make me lose my motivation to go to work today? He's not wrong. I could use rest. But I also need the money.

Rellick and the money win out. I put my shirt on over my head and finger comb my hair. Turning to face him, I try my hardest to give him a real smile, knowing that it's awkward at best. "I'm sorry, Sleepy." Using his new nickname to try and soften the blow is such a bitch thing to do but I need a day to wrap my mind around everything. I can't do that if he's around. "I really can't afford to miss a day of work."

"You're lying." Sloth's voice never changes inflection. He's aggravated. I can tell by the look in his hypnotizing blue eyes, but his voice stays even, soothing, relaxed.

"I'm not lying. I can't afford to miss a day of work." There's no use in lying. He can tell, but also, because if I think about last night, I will remember how much I wanted him. Not just his body but the way he comforted me. The way he included my son. Rellick is the quickest way to my heart. And it could possibly have room for the King of Sloth if I let it. If I want a chance for a relationship with him, saying the truth is what he will need. What I will need. "It's also because I just need the day. A lot happened last night, and I need to catch my breath. I need to wrap my mind around it."

I place my hand against his heart. "Please, just give me space for today."

Sleepy's large hand engulfs mine as he brings it to his lips, kissing my palm. "I understand, Snow. I will come back for you."

"Mommy!"

His eyes never stray as he adds, "For you both." He must really want a place in my heart because I think part of it just melted. A kiss is brushed against my lips, a barely there whisper of touch. "Go to work, Brianna. Stay safe until you come back to me."

It takes everything I have to leave him in my room. I don't want to go to work. I want to stay here with him and Rellick. I want to be a family. Do I want a family with him? Or am I just so desperate for love and affection that I will take it from a demon king of Hell? This is why I needed a day to gather my thoughts.

Grabbing Rellick's bag in one hand and his arm in the other, we walked to the door. Sloth is behind us, following us to the threshold, where he holds it open for us to pass. "How will I get in contact with you when I'm ready to talk? Do you have a phone or something?"

His eyes dropped to my stomach for a moment; so quickly I think I imagined it. "Just say my name and I will come to you."

"Sleepy?" I know he is Sloth, but I don't actually know his name. or if he even has one.

"Belphegor." Well, that's a mouthful. I repeat it back to him so that I know I can say it, then I give him a quick kiss goodbye.

After loading Rellick into the car, I'm buckling myself in when my son's voice gives me pause. "Where's my daddy?"

It's very rare for Rellick to ask of his father. He's almost four years old and he sees other men pick up their children from the daycare. Rellick has only ever known me. I make it a point to not bring men around him. I don't know who I can trust, and I don't want random men getting his hopes up. "Oh, Baby. He's not your daddy. He's my friend."

"I like his blue hair." Rellick returns to playing with his cars in the backseat as I drive to the daycare, thinking of his father along the way.

Rafe was a gorgeous man, with bleach blond hair, almost white in the light. Tanned skin with defined muscles, the body of a fighter. His eyes were a beautiful light brown. They sparkled gold in the light of the bar. While his looks were jaw-dropping, it was the way he spoke to me that had me falling into bed with him. The way he saw things I didn't want to see about myself.

When he asked what would heal me, I responded with "for someone to love me." And he did a spectacular job showing me love that night. He was slow and gentle and patient as he made love to me. We didn't fuck. It was nothing so crass. I felt as though I had known him my whole life.

A few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. Rafe had healed me by giving me what I asked for. At the time, I thought it was the sex. The night I felt loved.

I was wrong.

He gave me Rellick, and I will forever be in his debt.

I tried to keep Sloth out of my thoughts during the day, but it was so hard. Every time I thought of his human form that was gorgeous and big and loving, I also thought of his demon form. Thinking of the Demon King of Sloth brought up thoughts of the other six Sins. While I did have a connection with Sloth, I also felt a small connection with Wrath when I sat on his lap. The way he spoke to me was caring and with affection. Did I have a connection with Lust, too? Or was I blinded by his power?

Lucifer; stupid fucking Pride; called me a whore… was he right?

No!I'm not a whore! So, what if I like getting a little male attention?! Is it considered male? Not the point… I get a few orgasms from a couple different creatures and now I'm a whore? What even makes a whore? I like dick. And that makes it a problem? Who cares if the dick I get belongs to different people? I haven't had real dick since before my son was born! I'm entitled to however much dick I want!

Am I really arguing with myself about liking dick?

The timer on my phone goes off, letting me know that the chicken nuggets in the oven are done. I leave my room, taking a quick look into Rellick's room to check on him, before heading to the kitchen. He's playing blocks on his Spider-man carpet, watching Number Blocks on Netflix on his TV. My little boy is content as he sings along to the songs and builds what I think is a tower. I walk to the kitchen, taking out the chicken nuggets, separating them onto plates for Rellick and I.

Placing the plates down on the table I yell for Rellick to come eat. "Can my friend come, too?"

"What friend, sweet boy?" I walk back to the kitchen and grab the ketchup from the fridge.

"Bubby!" The sound of heavy footsteps; too heavy to be my three-year-old son; cause me to spin too fast. A scream rips through my throat at the random man standing behind my son.