Part Two

As the wings arrived, their spicy aroma hit me like a punch to the gut. Delicious. I grabbed one, biting in without hesitation. The heat exploded on my tongue, a familiar warmth that reminded me of home. 

Elias, on the other hand, was putting on quite the show. His face contorted in a series of increasingly amusing expressions as he fought against the sauce's intensity. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes watered.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Too much for you, big guy?"

He coughed, reaching for his drink. "Jesus Christ, what is this, lava?" 

"Aw, come on," I teased, licking sauce off my fingers. "It's not that bad. Maybe you're just out of practice."

Elias glared at me, but there was no real heat behind it. Well, except for the kind turning his face an alarming shade of red. "How are you not dying right now?"

I shrugged, grabbing another wing. "What can I say? I like it hot."

As Elias struggled through the plate, I found myself oddly charmed by his determination. There was something endearing about watching this powerful shifter brought low by a bit of hot sauce.

"Alright," he gasped, finally admitting defeat. "I need something cold. Ice cream?"

"You read my mind," I grinned, waving the waitress over again.

When the ice cream arrived, Elias dug in like a man possessed. His eyes rolled back in pleasure as the cold dessert soothed his burning mouth. "Oh my god," he moaned. "This is heaven."

I watched him, amused and intrigued. "Enjoying yourself there?"

He nodded, too blissed out to speak. As I savoured my own ice cream, I found myself wondering what other kinds of sounds I could coax out of him. Maybe this date wasn't such a bad idea after all.

 As we finished our ice cream, I caught Elias's eye and jerked my head towards the bar. "Fancy a drink?"

He grinned, all traces of his earlier discomfort gone. "I thought you'd never ask."

We settled onto adjacent barstools, our knees brushing as we turned to face each other. The bartender approached, and I ordered a whiskey on the rocks. 

Our drinks arrived, and I took a slow sip, savouring the burn. Elias mirrored my action, his eyes never leaving mine. The air between us crackled with tension.

"So," I drawled, setting my glass down. "Tell me, what's a nice shifter like you doing in a place like this?"

He chuckled, leaning in closer. "Looking for trouble, I suppose. Are you offering?"

I smirked, letting my fingers trail along the edge of the bar until they just barely touched his hand. "Depends on what kind of trouble you're after."

Elias's breath hitched, and I felt a surge of satisfaction. It was almost too easy, this game we were playing. But damn if it wasn't fun.

"The best kind," he murmured, his hand inching closer to mine.

I took another sip of whiskey, considering. Part of me wondered what dear old dad would think of his little girl flirting with a shifter in some bar. The thought made me want to push things further, just out of spite.

"Well," I said, letting my knee press against his. "I might be able to help with that."

 I leaned in close, my lips nearly brushing his ear. "What do you say we get out of here? My hotel's just down the street."

Elias's eyes darkened with desire. "Lead the way."

As he signalled for the check, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. Sure, I'd just killed a demon a few hours ago, but this? This was a different kind of hunt altogether.

Elias settled the bill, and we stood. His arm snaked around my waist as we headed for the exit, his fingers trailing lower with each step. I suppressed a shiver, thinking of all the ways this night could end.

"You know," I said as we stepped out into the cool night air, "I'm not usually this forward."

He laughed, a low, rumbling sound that sent heat coursing through me. "Somehow, I doubt that."

I grinned, playfully bumping his hip with mine. 

His grip on my waist tightened, pulling me flush against him, his lips inches away from mine. I tiptoed, kissing his nose, winking, and then diving out from his arms. He could wait until we got back to the hotel.

As we walked, I found myself actually enjoying his company. It was a strange feeling, one I wasn't entirely used to. Most of my interactions were either business or family-related, and neither of those tended to be particularly pleasant.

We reached the hotel in no time, the anticipation building with each step. As soon as the elevator doors closed behind us, I made my move. I pushed Elias against the mirrored wall, crashing my lips into his with a hunger I hadn't realised I'd been holding back.

His hands gripped my hips, pulling me closer as he returned the kiss with equal fervour. The taste of whiskey and hot sauce lingered on his tongue, a spicy reminder of our evening.

"Fuck," I breathed as we broke apart for air. "I've been wanting to do that all night."

Elias grinned, his eyes dark with desire. "Why'd you wait so long?"

I laughed, trailing my fingers down his chest. "Where's the fun in rushing?"

The elevator dinged, signalling our arrival at my floor. I grabbed his hand, leading him down the hallway to my room. As I fumbled with the key card, Elias pressed himself against my back, his lips finding that sensitive spot just below my ear.

"You're making it very hard to concentrate," I muttered, finally managing to unlock the door.

"Good," he growled, following me into the room.

As the door clicked shut behind us, I turned to face him, suddenly aware of the sniper rifle that should be sitting in the middle of my living room floor back home. Thank Dad for pyroporting. The last thing I needed was to explain why I had a high-powered weapon in my hotel room.

"So," I said, kicking off my heels, "about that nightcap..."

Elias's gaze roamed over me, hungry and appreciative. "I think I'd rather skip straight to dessert."

I couldn't help but smirk. "Careful what you wish for, shifter. You might not be able to handle me."

He pulled me close, his hands splayed across my lower back. "I'm willing to take that risk."

As our lips met again, I pushed thoughts of demons and contracts out of my mind. Tonight, I was just Luella – not the heir to hell, not an assassin. Just a woman about to have a very, very good time.

 Elias's mouth crashed into mine, his body pressing me against the wall with an urgency that made my head spin. I wrapped my legs around his waist, grinding against him and relishing the groan that escaped his lips.

"Fuck, Luella," he panted, his fingers digging into my thighs.

I smirked, twirling my hips again. "That's the idea, isn't it?"

His response was a growl that sent shivers down my spine. His hand slid up my leg, pushing my dress higher. The heat of his touch was intoxicating, and for a moment, I wondered if this is what humans felt when they talked about burning with desire. 

Elias's lips never left mine as his fingers teased higher, tracing patterns on my inner thigh. When he finally reached my core, his touch sent a jolt through me that rivalled any hellfire.

"Christ," he growled in my ear, his voice rough with want. "You're so fucking wet already."

I bit back a moan, not wanting to give him the satisfaction just yet. "Less talking, more action, shifter."

His fingers dipped inside me, and this time I couldn't hold back the gasp of pleasure. As he began to work me towards the edge, I found myself thinking that maybe, just maybe, this night would be worth missing out on the messy, hands-on kill from earlier.

 I wasn't about to let him have all the fun. With deft fingers, I undid his fly, letting his trousers fall to the floor with a soft thud. My hand slipped into his boxers, wrapping around his length. I stroked him slowly, savouring the feel of him hardening further in my grasp.

"Fuck," Elias groaned, his head falling back against the wall. 

I grinned, increasing my pace. "That's the plan, big boy."

Just as I was getting into a rhythm, he slapped my hand away. For a split second, I considered snapping his wrist for that, but the look in his eyes - pure, animalistic hunger - made me reconsider.

He lined himself up at my entrance, his gaze locked on mine. "You sure about this, princess?"

I rolled my eyes. "If you don't fuck me right now, I swear to my father I'll-"

My threat was cut short as he thrust into me, bottoming out in one smooth motion. The feeling of him filling me so completely knocked the breath from my lungs.

"You were saying?" he smirked, holding still inside me.

I dug my nails into his shoulders, probably drawing blood. "Move, damn you."

And move he did. The pace he set was bruising, relentless. Each thrust sent waves of pleasure coursing through me. I met him stroke for stroke, my demonic stamina more than a match for his shifter endurance.