SIX

Elodie

I open my eyes, then with a groan, I shut them again just as fast. Of course, that doesn't make the pounding in my temples go away.

I pull my pillow over my head, but that doesn't work either.

What happened last night?

It feels simultaneously like I've done the hardest boot camp at the gym ever, plus beat my own head against a brick wall for at least four hours straight.

The mattress dips and a soft, deep, familiar voice says, "Take this."

"Mhmm." I'm still dreaming. That voice sounds like my boss, Mr. Azeroth.

Only, if I'm dreaming, why do I hurt so much?

"Elodie, you need to sit up and take this."

Yeah, that's definitely Mr. Azeroth. But if I'm not dreaming...

Shoving the pillow off my face, I stare into the handsome horned face of my billionaire demon boss. I let out a highly undignified squawk of horror and try to tug the covers up to my chin.

Unfortunately, Azeroth is sitting on the bed and the covers are trapped underneath him.

His eyes flick to my chest where I just know my nipples are visibly hard beneath the thin tank top I have on. Is he going to fire me for sexual harassment?

Wait, he's in my bedroom.

Why is my boss in my bedroom?

A hazy vision of me spraying gin around my kitchen and dancing in my underwear makes heat bloom in my cheeks.

Mr. Azeroth sighs. "Try not to—"

I sit and scooch away from him until my back hits the headboard. My head spins and I whimper in pain. Nausea wells up and I forget the pain while I concentrate harder than I've ever concentrated in my life on not spewing on my boss's lap.

"—move." His brows furrow. He reaches out.

I try to warn him. He should be moving away from me, not closer. I'm going to—

His warm fingertips press to my temple. Immediately, the nausea subsides, then the pain.

I stare at him in wonder.

"Better?"

I nod and almost sob in relief when that doesn't make my head ache or spin.

"That won't hold it off forever. So drink." He pushes a fizzing cup of liquid into my hands. A vitamin drink. I didn't even know I had any in my cupboard. To be honest, I don't know what I've got in the house. I haven't gone shopping this week. Or last.

I grunt. "What time is it?"

"About eight a.m."

God, did he spend all night here? Where did he sleep? I have so many questions. "Did I really summon you last night?" A sip of the vitamin drink stays down, so I take another.

"Would I be here otherwise?"

Ouch. Blunt, but fair. Am I going to lose my job for this? "Sorry."

He sighs. "What do you remember?"

I screw up my face and think. "Too much gin."

He chuckles. It makes tiny crinkles appear beside his eyes and blue flames dance in their bright depths. It also makes me a lot less tense. He can't be that mad if he's laughing. Can he?

Then I remember. "The club." I groan. Pain returns momentarily when I picture tall blonde and bitchy rubbing up against Dustin. "His fiance." I want to spit, rid my mouth of the taste of that word. Instead, I swallow another mouthful of vitamin drink.

The nausea is coming back now.

Azeroth takes the glass and sets it on my nightstand. There's a tenderness in his expression that confuses me. "He hurt you pretty bad, huh?"

This whole situation confuses me. I still don't really want to cry in front of him again, so I swallow down my emotions and dodge the question. "Were you really here all night?"

He lifts a brow and gestures to himself. He's still wearing only silky pajama bottoms. His bare chest is rippled with muscle and looks good even when he's sitting. Toned and defined and trim in all the right places. There are spiky ridges on his shoulders and elbows that I've never noticed before. I've never seen him without a shirt on before either.

My mouth is suddenly dry.

"Does it look like I went anywhere?"

"Why? I mean why didn't you? I mean it's very kind of you to be here to nurse my hangover..."

He scoffs. "I didn't get a choice. Once summoned I can't leave your side."

"Oh. Until...?"

His tail thuds against the side of the bed. "Until you're... satisfied."

Oh, that word sends a shiver all the way through me. I'm sure he didn't mean it that way.

I stumble over my next words. "S-satisfied?"

"Until the bargain has been fulfilled. The summoning."

"Right." The summoning. Of course. I clear my throat. And wonder if you can summon a demon for that sort of thing as well.

Not that I would.

Would I?

Stop it, Elodie, your boss is not a good choice for a rebound fling.

Only, he is, isn't he? He's a gorgeous billionaire. What better rebound guy to make me feel better about myself?

Clearly, I'm getting confused because he's sitting in my bedroom half naked. My boss is not going to touch me. In fact, he looks like he's about to fire me any moment and report me to HR. Yeah, that's definitely not a good nostril flare.

"OK, well, I guess we'd better get started so you can um..." I wave a hand in his general direction. "Get on with your day or something. How does this work?"

Rather than looking pleased, he says, "Let's not be too hasty," and the furrow between his brows deepens.

"Why not?"

"There are certain conditions. Things I can and can't do."

"Oh." Suddenly I deflate. I didn't expect summoning a demon to come with fine print. It figures.

"I can inflict pain, suffering, and misfortune, but I can't change anyone's feelings. If this is about getting him back, I can't do that."

"I don't want him back!" I don't exactly shout, but it comes out pretty forcefully.

Azeroth's expression stays flat. "Just thought we should get that straight."

I open my mouth to ask him if we can shrivel Dustin's testicles, but he stops me again.

"One more thing."

I blink.

"Be very, very sure about what you ask for. Once it's done, it's... much, much harder to undo." He shifts uncomfortably.

That gives me pause. As much as I like the thought of doing some permanent physical damage, that's a pretty low act, even after what Dustin did. It might be funny to think about shrinking his balls to the size of raisins or giving him a permanently floppy dick, but I'm not sure I can live with that on my conscience forever. Not if we can't undo it after he's suffered a bit. "Oh. That kind of changes things."

Shit. I'm the most pathetic demon summoner ever. I can't even carry through with it.

I stare into my lap.

"Mmm." Azeroth sits with me patiently. I rack my brain to think of something.

"What about having his new fiance cheat on him?"

"Can't change feelings, remember."

"Right." Another pause. "Well I guess I need to think about this for a while."

Azeroth grunts. "Maybe you should shower. You smell like a dank bar."

I groan and inhale. My nose wrinkles. He's right. I stink. God, this might be the lowest low so far.

I drag myself out of bed. Refusing to think about the fact I'm in a sweatshirt and panties only, I go clean myself up. Hopefully, it will unscramble my brain a little, too.

How do I complete the deal without pissing off my boss or leaving a stain on my conscience?