Free Date With Death (Welcome To Hell) by Eve Langlais

her arms around his neck. She made a moue of distaste and pulled back. “Eew. You’re all sweaty.” She narrowed her eyes and looked him up and down. “It better be from exercising, alone. ”
    “I was jogging, so you can get that jealous gleam out of your eye.”
    “I am not jealous,” she huffed. “And don’t go thinking just because I was trying to get your attention that this means anything.”
    “Then why call me?”
    “Because contrary to what I said this morning, my itch still needs scratching.”
    “I’ll scratch that and more. It’s what boyfriends are for.” Mictain acted cool, but her words made him want to rip the clothes from her body and sink himself into her glorious sex.
    “Whoa. Slow down. I never said we were dating. That implies emotional involvement.”
    Mictain held his temper as he leaned against the concrete parapet and folded his arms. “So what are we then?”
    “How about friends with benefits?” she said, sliding up to him and tracing a finger down his chest.
    Not quite what I have in mind, but it’s a start. “Fuck buddies, huh? Sounds good to me, but just so we’re clear,” he said, leaning forward so his mouth hovered barely an inch from hers, “I don’t share.”
    “Neither do I,” she said as she tiptoed up to brush her mouth across his. “So you’d better get a half dozen donuts when you get our coffee.”
    It took him a second to get her joke. She skipped out of reach, but not quick enough to avoid his swat on her ass. She giggled and turned to waggle her bottom at him. He lunged, but she danced away. “Nope. You don’t get to play with these buns until you feed me. So get moving. And bring a blanket too.”
    “Yes, general,” he replied with a salute. He’d let her think she could order him around, for now. There was time enough later to battle over who would wear the pants in their relationship, although his true preference was that they wear none and stayed naked in bed for at least the next decade or so. Of course, first, he’d have to change her mind about their relationship. Fuck friends indeed. Marigold was his whether she wanted to accept it yet or not.
    Mictain planned his seduction as he jogged down the twelve flights of stairs to the street. He smiled at the cashier as he bought them two large café mochas along with a dozen donuts. He got hard when he quickly popped back to his place to grab a blanket for them to picnic o n— and then fuck. He became enraged when he emerged onto the rooftop and saw Marigold fighting for her life.
    How dare someone touch my woman!
     
    *
     
    Marigold leaned on the cement parapet as she looked down at the street. She saw Mick emerge from her apartment building, moving briskly to the coffee shop. She smiled, unable to stop the warm glow that suffused her. Her crazy plan to call Death had worked, although she’d been somewhat worried she might get one of Mick’s co-workers. But her very own angel of death arrived, swooping in to save her from herself. Much as she wanted to remain aloof and just use him for good sex, she knew she was falling for him. Judging by his capitulation, it appeared like he might have already tumbled.
    Not that he’d said any actual words, but then again, they hadn’t really had time to talk much. Something she planned to rectify over coffee, donuts , and then during the afterglow of good sex.
    Which , judging by the sudden stench of brimstone, might end up delayed. Marigold whirled, expecting a visit from the big man. She got a surprise instead. A not so good one, which was kind of ironic because how many people would prefer a visit from Lucifer?
    “Holy shit.” Her breathy expletive was heard by the five demons advancing on her, or so she assumed by their matching grins. Not a pretty sight, especially for the human in their path. “Looking for someone?”
    “Are you Marigold?”
    “Uh, no.”
    A nasty chuckle met her refutation. “Nice try, witch. Be a good girl and don’t try to