I moved quickly, whipping my shirt over my head and pulling my pants off so fast they turned inside out.

Laz continued with his commands. They were brazen, without a 'darlin'' to be heard. "Lay on your back and tuck your hands under yourself."

I quickly slipped my hands behind my lower back, palms flat against the bed.

"Spread your legs for me."

I could feel him staring at me. I turned scarlet, but I yearned for him, so I gave him what he wanted. I swallowed, closed my eyes, and opened for him.

"Olivia, if you still want this, if you want me, tell me. Right now." He unzipped his pants and slipped out of them.

His voice was commanding, and it thrilled me, head to toes. I was more than ready for him. "Yes. Please, Laz."

He mounted me so swiftly I didn't have time to cry out when he first rammed himself into me. He drove as deep as he could, as fast as he could, slamming against me.

I lost track of the smell of roses, the noises I was making... of everything. All that existed was what he was doing, and it was glorious.

He stopped suddenly, and I cried out at the loss. "Don't stop, please!" I begged.

"Oh, I'm not done," he growled. "Was I hurtin' you?" His voice was serious but still lustful.

I appreciated his concern, but it wasn't necessary. I shook my head. "No. More. I want more. Please?" I begged.

He grabbed a pillow. "Lift up and put this under your ass."

I knew what was coming. With my hips in the air, he could thrust harder and get deeper. I bit my bottom lip, waiting. He leaned over me and began again, kissing me as he did. He started slower this time but ramping up once he settled into position, hitting me in just the right spot. I could feel him swell even more, getting closer. I had a fleeting thought about his impressive endurance.

He slowed a little and went up on his knees. "Get yourself off, Olivia. I want to feel you spasm around me when I fuck you."

I wasted no time doing what he wanted, panting with effort, until I came, tightening on him as cried out. He smacked my hand away to make room for him to continue, dripping sweat on me from his exertions.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked as he pounded me.

"No!"

"Good. I want you sore enough to remember me tomorrow."

"Yes!"

He rode me, fast and hard, with incredible control. It wasn't long before I could feel another orgasm begin to build. Somehow, he knew and leaned back again, giving me access and the order to do it.

Something rose in me, an energy that was more than just the swirl of pleasure leading to release. As I got closer, it continued to bubble to the surface until I thought I would burst.

"Come for me," he demanded. "Right now."

My body obeyed him as naturally as breathing. "Death..." I sighed his name. As I did, the power which had built in me swirled out into him.

"What the—?" he asked with a slight pause. But, it was only a moment before his orgasm hit so hard I felt it deep inside. He cried out as he buried himself to the hilt, grinding into me until he spent.

He rolled off of me, breathing heavy, pulling me with him until I was lying on top. He wrapped me in his arms and held me to him.

I sighed and slept.

The candles had burned low, and the sun had come up by the time I woke. During the night, I had moved off Laz. He had tucked me into his shoulder instead. I kissed his chest and sat up, but he continued to sleep. I chuckled to myself; I was indeed sore and would remember him all day.

I grabbed my pants and shirt and made my way to the bathroom to take care of business. He was still sleeping when I emerged. I sat on the edge of the bed and looked down on him. He was so out of it that even when I touched him and called his name, he didn't answer. If I hadn't seen him breathing, I would have been concerned.

I searched for my phone and found it on the couch. The battery was almost dead, but I had enough to text Lucifer.

~

Me: I'm ready to come home, love.

~

Only a moment had passed when his portal opened, and he stepped through from somewhere I didn't recognize. It closed quickly. He smiled at me, and I wrapped my arms around his neck so he could hug me close.

"Thank you, Lucifer."

He laughed softly. "I take it you had a good time?"

I nodded against his chest.

"Good. Now, let us allow Death sleep."

I didn't understand. "What?"

"Come on. I will explain at home."

He opened another portal to our bedroom and snapped. "There's a bath for you with some Epsom salt," he explained with a grin. "Death is not known for being gentle."

I blushed and cleared my throat. "No, gentle, he is not."

I headed to the bathroom, putting my phone on charge as I did. I slipped into the hot water, grateful, as Lucifer sat on the edge.

"Can I join you?" he asked, hopeful.

"Of course, though, I don't think my body could handle sex right now," I grinned.

He snapped away his clothes. "I just want to bathe you."

We settled into our usual positions, and I was soon washing my hair under the warm stream of water he created with the pitcher. When I finished, he began to scrub me gently with a soapy loofah, and we talked.

My curiosity took over. "So, what did you mean about letting Laz work?"

"Death does the vast majority of his work while he sleeps. Being dead already, he does not need to sleep, but he does so he can travel without the constraints of time and space."

I nodded. "I wondered how he had time to take all those people."

"He does not personally take them all. Most deaths are routine, and his staff can handle them. He only does the harder, or more important, ones."

Noises echoed in the apartment.

"Ah. It sounds like Azza is back. He took Deirdre out for Saturday pancakes." He moved to get out.

"You're leaving?" I asked, disappointed.

A wide smile lit his face, and he kissed me quickly. "I am sorry, love, but I have work of my own to do, and I cannot do it while asleep." He stepped out and dressed again with a snap. He bent over to press his lips on my forehead. "Azza will come and finish your bath." He heated the water for me.

"When will you be back?" I asked, trying to get comfortable. The Epsom salt was helping, but I was still going to be sore for the day, if not two.

"I should be home this evening. I will text." He left the bathroom, opened a portal, and then was gone.

Azza came into the bedroom. "Olivia?"

"I'm in the tub, Azza!"

The grin he sported when he walked in was infectious. I found myself smirking in return.

"So..." he began, dissolving his clothes away.

I made room for him in the tub. "So, what?"

"Did Death show you a good time?"

I chuckled. "I'm in a tub full of Epsom salt. What do you think?"

He laughed at me. I splashed at him playfully, then handed him the soapy loofah so he could pick up where Lucifer left off.

I could feel his excitement at being in the water with me, but he didn't push. After he rinsed me, I snuggled back against him, and we talked about little things.

"Deirdre complained over breakfast her shoes were too tight," he told me.

I rolled my eyes. "She's outgrowing everything! I think I might take her shopping today."

My phone rang in the bedroom, and I slumped against Azza, not wanting to leave him. The caller was persistent, so when it began to ring again, I got out, threw on a towel, and answered.

"Olivia!" Laz exclaimed. "What did you do?" I could practically hear him pace.

"Umm... nothing?" I assured him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I need to see you, darlin'. Can I come over?"

"Well, yeah, I guess so. I'll send Azza..." My brow creased.

"No need."

A portal opening startled me and brought Azza into the room in a flash, wings unfurled, putting himself between me and the potential danger.

My heart skipped a beat when Death yelled, "Whoa! It's just me!" The time together hadn't dampened my attraction to him.

"I thought you couldn't portal!" I exclaimed, stepping out from behind Azza as he rolled his shoulders to furl them again.

"I couldn't," he explained, grabbing me to him. "until that power surge you gave me last night, darlin'." He smiled broadly before giving me a quick kiss.

"Power surge?" Azza looked at me. "What's he talking about?"

I told him about the energy I'd fed Laz the night before.

Azza's eyebrows raised. "Really? That is very interesting. I haven't found a woman who could do that in centuries."

I scowled. The lack of explanation was frustrating. "Do what, Azza?

"Feed others," he clarified, "similar to what I do."

I squinted at him. "But, don't I do that for Lucifer?"

Azza nodded. "Yes, but that's with my help. You did this all on your own."

Laz cupped my cheek and turned me to him. "You restored what I had lost. This means we'll have an easier time findin' my replacement now."

Azza cleared his throat. "Why don't the two of you go to the terrace to talk? Olivia hasn't had breakfast, and I want to cook for her."

I smiled at Azza. "Omelet?"

He nodded. "With lots of cheese." He glanced at Death, "You want one?"

"Well, if y'all are cookin', I'm not sayin' no!" Laz laughed.

I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and we settled at the table under the umbrella. He held out his hands, and I put mine in his.

"Laz, we need to combine our efforts. So far, we've been working independently," I lowered my head, "and I'm so sorry. I should have never let what I was feeling get in the way."

He put a finger under my chin and lifted it so I had to look at him. My stomach quivered when his gaze captured mine. "The main thing now is that we are. What do you suggest?"

"Well, maybe I've been asking the mirror the wrong question. I've wanted to know who the next candidate is, but that's just gotten us a location. A better one would help narrow things down, right? I'm at a loss about what to ask, though."

"How does the mirror work?" He asked.

I pulled out the necklace and looked into it. "When I think of someone I know, I can see them in the mirror. Like... Azza." The mirror clouded, then cleared, showing Azza in the kitchen. "But, it only works if I can hold an image of the person in my mind. If I don't know what the person looks like, I can't find them, which is why I'm stuck looking at the throng of people in Seoul."

Laz sighed. "I can only provide pictures of all the people who aren't candidates. That doesn't help us. We're back at square one, sweetheart."