“Helped you how?”
“With my adjustment to being human. I know what to expect now.”
“Oh, because TV is so realistic?” He smiled. “Sure, keep thinking that way. It’ll get you far.
Oh, and you should probably watch out. You know what happens to pretty girls who watch too much TV?”
Val frowned. “What?”
“They start packing on the pounds.” His gaze slowly tracked down her body and he grinned.
“Although, it looks like it may be a little too late.”
Her hands immediately came to her waist in a self-conscious motion.
“Don’t listen to him Val,” Reggie said. “He’s just trying to get to you. You’ve got a smokin’ bod. Trust me, there’s been more than a few times I’ve had to leave your presence with a strategically placed magazine in front of me, if you know what I mean.”
She grimaced at the mental picture. “Gee, thanks Reggie. I think.”
“It’s a pleasure to ride on your smokin’ hot shoulder.”
They made their way a few more blocks up the road. To their left was a tall silver apartment building. Or at least that’s what it looked like. The Underworld couldn’t have luxury condos, could it? she thought.
Way kooky.
“What’s here?” Val asked Nathaniel, who’d started walking so fast that she had to jog to keep up to him.
“I already told you. Somebody who might be able to help you.”
“Who?”
“You ask a lot of questions.”
She frowned at him and crossed her arms. “Who?” she said in a more commanding tone.
He shook slightly with the effort of fighting off the compulsion to obey her.
“His name is Donovan,” Nathaniel finally said, looking supremely disgusted with himself for answering against his will.
“And who exactly is Donovan?”
“A Tempter.”
“Geesh,” Reggie said. “How many of you guys are there, anyhow?”
“Enough.”
Great. Just great, Val thought. Another Tempter. After this experience, she could probably organize a softball team of Tempters. Or a wrestling team. Mmm. Nathaniel wrestling.
Potentially shirtless.
She eyed him for a moment as he glared at her.
Jell-O came to mind.
No. No wrestling. No Jell-O.
But now she was kind of hungry.
They took the mirrored elevator to the ninety-first floor. Nathaniel walked confidently down the hallway and knocked on the door at the end.
After a moment it swung inward. From the inside of the darkened apartment, Val heard a deep voice.
“Nathaniel. Well, well. Long time no see.”
The speaker slowly came into the light. Since he was a Tempter, Val knew he was going to be good-looking. She just wasn’t prepared for how good-looking.
Damn. As in hot damn.
Donovan was six feet of lean, muscled perfection. He wore black silk pajama bottoms, leaving his chest and washboard abs bare. Where Nathaniel was pale, Donovan was dark.
Like rich, expensive, delicious chocolate.
She had the sudden, overwhelming urge to lick him, but managed to control herself.
Just barely.
Nathaniel stared at her with an amused expression. “Donovan. I’d like you to meet someone.
This is Valerie Grace.”
He raised an eyebrow and extended a hand. “A pleasure.” His voice was warm and deep and smooth as silk. Evil silk, that is. And very charming. She took his hand, but instead of shaking it, he raised it to his lips to give it a sensual brush that left a tingling warmth behind—which seemed to be a Tempter Demon trademark.
“Hi,” she squeaked.
“Won’t you both come in?” Donovan motioned with his muscled arm.
“Ahem,” Reggie cleared his throat. “Aren’t you forgetting someone?”
Nathaniel sighed. “Oh, and that is apparently named Reggie.”
Donovan glanced at Val again since Reggie was still on her shoulder. But he didn’t look at the rat. His gaze slowly took in every inch of her. “Very nice.”
“Thanks!” Reggie said.
She swallowed heavily, feeling suddenly naked despite her many layers of clothing, and followed Donovan inside. He flicked on a light so she could see the apartment.