An Eternity of Eclipse (28 page)

“You really liked those little baby midgets, didn’t you?” I prompted with a poorly hidden smile.

“I didn’t waste my time setting up Wii consoles for the little brats and putting up with having those little munchkins hug me while watching scary movies for fun,” he finally admitted, biting back a smile when he was reminded of them.

“So why’d you lie and say you didn’t?”

“I’m trying to make you hate the idea of being human,” Eclipse admitted miserably, turning to face me fully. “Admitting that I like the little baby midgets doesn’t exactly help my cause, now does it?”

Something about his answer warmed my heart. It wasn’t exactly a Hallmark answer, but coming from a Demon like Eclipse, it was better than anything a Hallmark card could dish out.

Satisfied, I nodded favorably and peered up the elevator gauge. I realized that my floor was coming up, and when it did, it would end whatever we had going on because my decision was set in stone now.

“Well, I guess this ends our little relationship, huh?” I asked quietly, staring at him once the light for the eleventh floor hit twelve, nearly coming to the thirteenth floor.

He studied me with disappointed frustration. “You’d really rather die than become a Demon?”

I bounced my head, giving him the same thing he had given me within this box of steel: an honest answer.

“I’m already less than human. I don’t want to lose anymore of my humanity. If my soul is the only thing left that makes me human, then I’m going to keep it. I can’t help that I’m the way I am, that I have sadistic tendencies. But since I have the choice right now to keep my humanity, I’m going to hold onto it. I trust that I’m making the right choice.”

“Right choice for who?’ he countered once the elevator doors slid open. “It’s definitely not the right choice for you.”

I smiled weakly at him, stepping out with my new presents. The sight of Eclipse in such misery was hard to swallow, but I wasn’t going to be persuaded to alter my decision.

“Goodbye, Eclipse,” I said to him, trying to act as civil and polite as possible. If this was my last interaction with him, then I wanted it to end on a nice note. “I can’t say that it’s been a pleasure, but I can definitely say that it’s been entertaining. Good luck with the ‘I’m-going-to-be-human’ thing. I’m sure someone as smart as you can figure out how to charm your way out of the deal. Take care and don’t make anymore foolish deals.”

Eclipse made a rude noise at my words. I had no doubt that he hated me. The elevator doors then slid shut, leaving me with the last image of Eclipse shaking his head. He did not utter a single word of goodbye. He simply stared at me with a mixture of disbelief and resentment before the doors closed entirely.

To be honest, I was a bit put off by his cold demeanor. This resentment was fleeting when I placed myself in his shoes. There was a chance that he would die because of my choices. Anyone in his right mind would be bitter about this. I rationalized that perhaps it was better for him to not say anything. Perhaps it was best to leave on a quiet note because knowing Eclipse, if he actually opened his mouth, he’d probably blurt out something completely offensive and ruin the mood.

Leaving all of that behind once I reasoned that he was officially out of my life, I treaded silently down the hall and headed straight towards my apartment. Once I walked in, I was instantly greeted by an eager OinkOink. He came bouncing towards me, barking and wagging his white tail in glee.

I smiled,
genuinely
smiled at the puppy that had fast become an acquired taste for me. I bent down, placed the heels and handbag on the carpet, scooped him up in my arms, and hugged him.

“I guess you’re my family now, right, OinkOink?” I murmured, kissing him on the head. I stared down at him with sad eyes. “Will you miss me when I die?”

He responded by snuggling closer to me. He licked my chin affectionately and whimpered in sadness. It was as though he was telling me that he didn’t want me to die.

My heart warmed at this gesture.

“I didn’t like you when I first met you because you’re furry and cute, and I hate cute animals,” I admitted to him, staring down at his innocent face. “But now I’m happy that Eclipse gave you to me because I really like you—flaws and all.”

I gave him another kiss on the head before setting him on the ground and going through the motions of my nighttime beauty regime.

Time to move on with my life . . .

I changed into my pink nightgown, washed my face, and brushed my teeth before I went into my bedroom to prepare for bed. I was in a relaxed mood when I noticed OinkOink running into my room, barking relentlessly.

“Arf! Arf! Arf!”

He stopped beside me, hopping on my heels. His tail was wagging profusely, indicating that he was delighted about something.

“Arf! Arf! Arf!”

“OinkOink, shush!” I warned him, lightly nudging him with my foot so that he would get the point and shut up. Unfortunately, he did not heed my request. The barking continued.

“Arf! Arf! Arf!”

I was going crazy with all of OinkOink’s annoying high-pitched barking. I was close to putting a muzzle over him and sticking him in a shoebox when another sound thundered over OinkOink’s incessant barking. 

“OinkOink. Be quiet.”

I froze after I heard the familiar voice, and just like me, OinkOink grew quiet as well.

With excitement pulsing in the puppy’s eyes, he ran towards the direction of the voice. My reluctant eyes followed the little fur ball as he skidded around my bed and stopped at someone’s bare feet, pawing at them for attention.

My eyes rose up. Air hilted in my chest when I saw him—Eclipse—standing there, bare-chested and wearing nothing but black drawstring pants. He looked good with a shirt on but damn, he was on fire without it.

I was stunned, completely speechless until I saw Eclipse step closer to my bed and wrap his hand around my comforter, pulling it aside to make room for himself.

I instantly snapped out of my stupefied state.

“Wait, wait, wait! What are you doing?” I shrieked, staring wide-eyed at him. There could only be one reason why he was here: he was ready to release his sexual frustration and finish me off. My heart raced a mile a minute at the possibility. Fear raised the pitch in my voice. “Are . . . are you planning on killing me right now?”

Though the idea of two people having sex before they left the world was tempting, I still had a list of all the cool things I wanted to do before I died. I couldn’t have sex with him until I completed all those tasks!

Eclipse laughed, gazing at me while he tossed the comforter aside. “No. You may be dead-set—no pun intended—on dying, but I’m not going to let you. I’m not giving up on you, Teacup. I’ve risked far too much to be here; I’ve given up far too much to let it all go down like this.”

I was flabbergasted. If he didn’t want to have sex with me then—

“. . . Why are you standing near my bed with your shirt off?”

He smirked at me while OinkOink continued to pant in glee. “I’m going to be a permanent fixture around here now.”

Oh no.

My eyes broadened further when I digested the meaning behind this. Eclipse popping in and out was already driving me crazy. Now he was planning on staying with me permanently? Shit! Oh shit, this couldn’t be happening. I had kicked him to the curb when we were in the elevator. Why was he back?!

“B-but what about your responsibilities,” I stuttered, recalling him telling me how busy he was as a Royal Demon.

“It can wait,’ he dismissed at once.

“But—”

“You don’t get it, Gracie,” he interrupted firmly. He grabbed a pillow and an extra blanket from my bed and made his way over to the little sofa I had in my room. He turned to me after dumping the pillow and blanket on the sofa. He straightened to his full impressive height and gazed at me with conviction. “My
entire
existence is dependent upon yours. You may be foolish enough to accept your fate, but I’m hell-bent on making sure you fulfill your destiny.”

He sat his gorgeous butt down, stuck his long legs over the length of the sofa, placed the pillow behind him, and covered himself with the blanket, permanently making himself comfortable in my bedroom, and as it would appear, in my life.  

Eclipse flashed me a wicked smile that took my breath away. His eyes glowed with a fusion of determination and raw carnality that would have given me a nosebleed if I weren’t so frozen with shock.

“As far as I’m concerned, until I successfully turn you into a Demon, you are
never
getting rid of me.”

"Why do you have to be better than the one I’m waiting for?"
19:
Immovable Fixture

Everywhere I went, Eclipse was right there alongside me.

He was there with me in lecture halls, for my shopping errands, for my workouts, and of course, he was there with me when I volunteered at Sanctuary. The worst part was that he also got the kids to call me “Gracie” and “Teacup.” I would cringe every time they called me those nicknames. It was akin to having little mini Eclipses running around, torturing me and teasing me with cuteness. My only consolation was that they began to call him “Ashtray” as well. However amusing that was, it did not make up for my frustration with Eclipse. It was one thing to be hounded by a Demon, but it was another to be hounded by a Demon that I was very attracted to. Since I was trying to resist his charms, I did not appreciate him hanging on me like white on rice. 

“You have to leave me alone,” I told him after we left Sanctuary and returned to my apartment. 

We had finished our evening workout, arrived home, and put OinkOink to sleep. I had been holding in this plea for a while, thinking that if I let Eclipse be, then he would get the point and leave me alone himself. Nevertheless, as a girl who was about to die, suddenly having a ridiculously good-looking Sex Demon follow me around was the equivalent of someone constantly waving a candy bar in a fat kid’s face. Since I had chosen death, the prospect of dying from having sex with him wasn’t as terrifying as it should have been. And this new line of thought was a problem because the last thing I should endeavor to do was expedite my death sentence.

“I don’t think so, Gracie,” Eclipse replied. He smiled as he drank from his water bottle. He was shirtless, sporting only dark blue basketball shorts and blue running shoes. There were tints of sweat shimmering on his body after the tough workout we had at the gym. While I was on the stairmaster, he was showing off his endurance on the treadmill. It took all my willpower not to look directly at his smoking-hot body and to keep my perverted eyes solely focused on his face.

“You don’t feel as if you’re an inconvenience to me?”

He appraised me up and down. Mild amusement cloaked his eyes as he took in the sight of me with a black workout tank top and black shorts. “Well, you’re an inconvenience to me considering that you’ve essentially sentenced me to death. I’m just returning the favor, Teacup.” He smirked devilishly and added, “By the way, if you think I’m going to have sex with you as your last ‘dying wish,’ you’re in for a rude awakening. As enticing as you are, I don’t put out unless I get something in return. In this case, my price is your soul. If you want even a remote chance of molesting me, you know what you need to do.”

Even though I had already suspected that he would use sex as a weapon against me, it wasn’t nice to verbally hear him admit this. I narrowed my eyes. “You’re teasing me on purpose?”

“Yes, I am,” he said shamelessly. A proud, masculine smirk quirked onto his lips. “And if I trusted myself to not pounce on you, then I would’ve taken it upon myself to be completely nude while in the apartment with you.” He bequeathed me with an indignant smile. “Consider yourself lucky that my weakness is you and that all I’m doing is walking around with my shirt off, Teacup. If I had done the former, then I know the sight of me naked would have convinced a nun to become a Demon for me. You wouldn’t even stand a chance.”

“You’re shameless,” I seethed, secretly thankful that he didn’t do the former. I doubted I would stand a chance if that frigging Demon were to flaunt his raw and untamed sexuality in my face. I went quiet for a few breaths before changing the subject to a more socially appropriate one. “How does the Demon thing work anyway?”

I needed to get as far away as possible from sexual thoughts about Eclipse. Nothing would sober me up more than talking about demonic things. Now that I thought about it, I was also very curious. I had never asked him how the conversion process worked. It would be interesting to hear the answer.

“What will happen to me if I agree to become a Demon? Will I be reborn or something? Will I change completely? What will happen?”

“The conversion process is a long and complicated one,” Eclipse began with a sigh. “I’ve never performed one so I have no idea how it truly works. There are things that the Demon—who is known as the ‘Creator’—and the human have to do before the conversion can even begin. It’s a very complex process. Apparently, only when the human agrees to give up their soul will the Creator know what to do. I can’t tell you how the conversion will work, but I can tell you that once I turn you into a Demon, you will stay as you are in human form. The only difference is you’d be better. You can switch from the realms of Hell and the human world as you wish. You can live as a human and work as one as well. You can do anything you want—as long as your Creator gives you the leeway to do so.” A faraway look appeared on his visage. “Though I have to tell you it might take you a couple of months—or possibly even a year or two—to leave my bed because I’ll probably want to keep you there with me for a while.”

I glowered at him. He really did have no filter for that mouth of his.

“You do realize you’re objectifying me?”

“And you’re not with me?” he countered without apology. He tilted his head. “I see how you look at me, Gracie. I’m the Demon of Lust for the Devil’s sake. I can feel your lust and your desire for me. You don’t care about getting to know me or saving my life. All you care about is the sexual wonders you know I’ll bring to you.”

He arched a challenging brow at the scowl that took over my face.  

“Our relationship is a symbiotic one, Teacup. We both desire things from each other, we both find one another attractive, and we both benefit from each other’s shallowness. This is the best relationship two different entities like us could have. I don’t see the point in pretending that there’s more to our relationship than our mutual, shallow admiration of the other. I also don’t see the point in you constantly pretending that you’re so prim and proper when nothing but dirty thoughts invade your mind when it concerns me.” He grinned coyly before inching closer. Desire teemed in his beguiling eyes. “Just say the words, Gracie. Say it, and we can both give in to what we want without you croaking before the night is over.”

“You know what? You’re right,” I finally admitted, abandoning all pretenses about ignoring this “sexual wall” between us. What was the point of denial when this Demon was so adamant on pointing it out? “I do want to have sex with you, but I also want a strawberry cheesecake. Do you see me bingeing on that? No. Do you know why? Because we human beings have this thing called self-control. There is a cost and worth to everything. The cost of losing my soul to sleep with you isn’t worth it to me—definitely not. That said, you can taunt me all you want, but I’m not giving in. Not now, not ever.”

He paused for a contemplative second before disbelievingly saying, “You’re comparing your desire for phenomenal sex with me to
cheesecakes
?” Amusement colored his expression. He stared down at me with favorable eyes. I would even go as far as saying that his fondness for me grew even more in that moment. “My nonexistent-goodness, you’re such a fat girl at heart.”

I wheeled away from him. I concluded that there was no point in lingering on this topic. It was needless teasing and it was best to just end it. I couldn’t handle hanging out with him any further tonight. I needed space for my own sanity. I roughly jutted my head towards the bathroom as my way of dismissing him from the room.

“Are you going to shower first or should I?”

He nodded, aptly accepting my dismissal. While he was getting ready to leave for the bathroom, he suddenly waved a hand over the kitchen table. A slice of strawberry cheesecake appeared before my eyes, shocking me with its sudden presence. I gaped at him, openly suspicious of his actions. What was he up to?

“Temptations are part of life, Gracie,” he purred lightly. “They may not be good for you, but it is fine to give in every once in a while, especially when you know how delicious it’s going to be.” He pushed the plate closer to me. “So what the hell, right? Life is short. You only live once. You might as well enjoy it.” Just before he left for his shower, he stopped behind me, brought his lips to my ear, and silkily said, “And thank you for letting me know your dessert of choice. For our first night together, I was having trouble deciding between slathering whipped cream or caramel all over myself. However, having you eat a strawberry cheesecake off my naked body will do as well.” I could feel him smile as I gasped inwardly. “I’ll be in the shower, Teacup. I’ll leave the door open just in case you need me.”

As soon as he disappeared and I heard the shower running, I had to place a hand over my heart to calm the incessant beating. I was exceedingly disturbed with the mindless sexual attraction I felt for him—I had never felt this way about anyone. I was so affected by Eclipse’s intense sexuality that I had to get a tissue because my nose was starting to bleed from our encounter!

I hate my life
, I thought miserably, pathetically sitting down on the table and munching on the strawberry cheesecake, bloody nose and all.

I was crestfallen. How was I going to survive my last remaining months with someone like him by my side? It was becoming unbearable, mainly because I knew I was going to die and a big part of me really didn’t want to die a virgin. I literally had death trailing around me and all I wanted was to throw myself at him and have him give me the time of my life. But then I’d remember the list of cool things I wanted to do before I died and dying from an orgasm was not one of them.

I shook my head as conviction presided over me. I couldn’t be a willing victim in this mess. I had to be a fighter and I knew just how to do that.

●●●

“Where are you going?” Eclipse asked the following night.

He watched as I glided out of my room with a little jade green dress and super high heels. OinkOink was following closely behind me, making soft panting sounds as he trotted along, staring up at me in confusion. The puppy clearly didn’t understand why I was dressed so provocatively.

“Studying,” I said briskly, grabbing my white trench coat from the couch where Eclipse was relaxing.

Eclipse’s eyes narrowed while he watched me put on the jacket. “Liar.”

I blew out a breath, not caring if he knew where I was headed or not. “I’m going to a club.”

His eyes enlarged at this piece of information. OinkOink had jumped onto the couch with him and was settling onto his lap. Against my better knowledge, it appeared that OinkOink was staring at me in outrage as well.

“Are you a dysfunctional nerd or something?” Eclipse asked at once, shocked with my nonchalant answer. His blasphemous eyes gaped at me like I had committed an unforgivable sin. In a low, scandalized voice, he added, “It’s a school night.”

“Yeah,” I dismissed carelessly. “Since I’m going to die anyway, I think that merits me being able to go out on a school night and let loose.” I glared at him, remembering how needy he made me feel the night prior. I needed a break from this guy or I would end up dead on my bed soon. Gathering up my courage, I tried to appear stern when I told him, “You better not crash my night out. I’ve had enough of the testosterone in the room whenever you’re around. Since you’ve made it a point to be around me 24/7, I need room to breathe. I need to hang out with my friends.”

“Friends?” he prompted, perplexed by my answer. “What friends?”

“My girlfriends.”

“I thought you didn’t have any real friends?”

I rolled my eyes at this unnecessarily true fact. “Just do your own thing tonight, and I’ll do mine, okay?”

He took a moment to appraise me before carefully asking, “You really hate being around me that much?”

Being around you makes me wanton!
I wanted to whine at him. I resisted the urge to be childish and demurely said, “If you have to ask, then you’re not as smart as you look. Now promise me you won’t crash my girls’ night.”

A muscle leapt in his sculpted jaw at my careless dismissal. Much to my surprise, a slight bitterness overtook his face and he turned away from me. If I didn’t know better, I would go as far as saying that Eclipse was offended and hurt by my strong distaste for his presence.

With a quiet and bitter voice, he dismissively said, “Have fun on your girls’ night.”