The aroma of frying bacon and coffee brewing stirred Lexie from her sleep. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she immediately winced at the bright rays of sunlight drifting in through her blinds. Today was her first day of college, and she had barely slept at all. The vast majority of the night was spent tossing and turning; she could not stop thinking about Declan. The entire way home, she had kicked herself for freaking out on him after he kissed her. He was the most attractive guy to ever hit on her—and she screwed it up—spectacularly.

It was easy to get caught up in his physical appearance, but it was more than that. He was the only guy to ever spend that much time trying to get to know her, to show any interest past a flirtatious comment. As cliché as it might sound, there was a connection between her and Declan. But of course, she flipped out and severed any chance she had of exploring it. Chicago was a big city; there was no way she'd ever run into him again. Yet another missed opportunity—there had been many of those in her eighteen years.

Throwing the covers aside, Lexie sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, staring at the floor. She finally found it in her to drag herself up, and after slipping into her robe and sliding on slippers, she padded down the hall toward the kitchen.

The open floor plan of the apartment was flooded in the early morning sunlight, adding a touch of radiance to the simple earth-tone decor. As she passed the side table next to the couch, she tapped a weary finger on the corner of the silver frame holding a picture of her parents—silently wishing them good morning from a thousand miles away—and shuffled into the kitchen.

Caleb lifted his green eyes from the pancakes he flipped over on a hotplate. "Good morning, little sister. You're looking especially haggard today. I take it you had a busy night at the diner."

Lexie glared at him as she opened the refrigerator and poured herself a glass of orange juice. "Why, thank you, Caleb. I really appreciate that," she quipped, running a hand through her tangled hair.

"You're welcome," he grunted as he stretched his lanky body and grabbed two plates out of the cupboard next to him. After stacking them with food, he handed one to Lexie and followed her to the dining room table. He sat across from her and flipped through a textbook. "Listen to this: there's this rapidly growing religion in Africa where they believe a female deity kidnaps people while they're swimming. She forces them to make an oath of sexual fidelity to her before she releases them on dry land and in better health than they were before she first took them."

"You never grow tired of theology," Lexie mumbled.

"Well, no, it is my job." He glanced up at the sound of her fork scraping against her plate. Lexie aimlessly scooted her food around as she stared at it. Closing his book, he pushed it away and asked, "Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?"

She didn't meet her brother's eyes as she started to eat. "I don't think you'd want to hear about this." She smiled weakly. "Thank you for breakfast, though. That was very sweet of you."

"The first day of your adult life, you have to start it off with a proper breakfast." He flashed his sister a smile, causing the clusters of freckles on his cheeks to bunch together. "Are you excited at least?"

Lexie couldn't help but smile back at him; Caleb's smile had always been contagious. "Yes. I'm excited." She took another bite of her pancakes after dipping it in the pool of syrup on her plate. "But I have to admit I'm a little nervous," she said, dropping her voice to a whisper. Lexie hated to admit when she was feeling less than confident, and that seemed to be happening more often lately.

Placing his fork on his plate, Caleb folded his hands on the table, leaning forward so that his sandy hair fell in waves over his eyes. "This is a big change for you, Lex, but it's also a new start. Take advantage of it and shape it into what you want it to be."

Lexie swallowed her last bite and found her thoughts drifting to Declan. A new start...she was pretty sure Caleb was talking about college classes, but when would she get over her nerves regarding the opposite sex? Her social life needed some major work.

"Something is clearly bothering you. Are you positive you don't want to talk about it? You might be surprised by what your big brother can handle."

Staring at the wood on the table, Lexie ran her tongue along her top teeth before sitting back in her chair. "All right. But don't say I didn't warn you. I met a man last night. At the diner."

Caleb's hands fumbled all over the place: first to scratch the back of his head, then to his jaw before his arms settled across his chest, trapping his fingers under his armpits. With his spine rigid against the back of his chair, he cleared his throat and replied, "Really?"

"See? I knew you couldn't handle it!"

"What? I'm listening!"

She cocked her head to the side before doing her best Chandler Bing impression. "Come on, Caleb...could you be any more awkward?"

He twisted his head to one side and then the other, cracking his neck. "I was a little shocked to hear you talking about a guy. You've only been here three months, but I'm...over it. Carry on."

She rolled her eyes. "That's a big part of my problem. You've never heard me talk about a guy. I'm utterly clueless, and I freaked out when a guy kissed me, like a damn prude!" As soon as the words left her mouth, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for her brother's reaction.

Caleb picked up his fork again, staring at the strips of bacon bathing in syrup on his plate. The scar on his forehead crinkled and released several times as he quietly processed what she had confessed. Finally, his gaze met hers and one cheek ticked with an attempted smile. "You met a guy at work and kissed him last night. Wow. I mean...I...you—"

The front door of the apartment swung open and a tattooed woman in tight leather pants yelled, "Good morning, bitches."

Caleb fell back in his chair and moaned, "Oh God."

Relief washed over Lexie at the appearance of the beautiful redhead who had flounced uninvited through their door. "Gia!" she exclaimed, pushing away from the table and wrapping her arms around her best friend, burying her head in her shoulder. "I'm so glad to see you."

Gia hugged Lexie back before placing her hands on her shoulders and holding her at arm's length. "Alexandria, what are you doing? It's your first day of college, and you look like a hot mess. You should be getting ready." She let go of Lexie and sauntered over to the table. "There are things to learn," she lifted a sticky piece of bacon from Caleb's plate, "and boys to fuck," she finished with an overzealous bite.

Caleb scrunched his nose. "I left Montana with the hopes of never having to deal with you again; over a decade with you was enough. And yet you follow me to Illinois, and you still don't knock."

Gia cocked an eyebrow at him, bringing attention to her one brown eye which contrasted the blue one. "Good morning to you too, Ca-leb," she finished by tapping her finger on the tip of his nose.

Lexie grabbed Gia's hand and dragged her down the hallway to her bedroom before Caleb lost his temper. She closed the door behind them and leaned against it. "I have to talk to you. Now."

Throwing open the doors of Lexie's closet, Gia sorted through the clothing. No doubt, she was planning to dress Lexie for what she considered a momentous occasion. "Spill, I'm all ears."

"I met a guy last night at work. A sexy, mysterious, sweet, gorgeous-as-hell guy." Lexie leaned over to the mirror and pulled her hair into a high ponytail, her bangs spilling over her forehead as she examined her face. 

Gia yanked a short, white sundress off the rack, and spun around on her heels, her voice creeping an octave higher than normal. "You actually spoke to a guy?" She practically skipped to the bed, plopping onto the mattress and resting her chin in the palms of her hands. "Go on."

Lexie dropped to her knees in front of her best friend and grabbed her wrists. "More than that. I kissed him."

"Get. The. Fuck. Out. How did that happen?"

Lexie shrugged. "It was so weird. He came into the diner—the last customer of the night. It was just me and Bobby working, and I looked like total shit, to be honest. But I immediately felt drawn to him. He invited me to sit, we talked...one thing led to another and he was kissing me." Lexie's face was hot when she finished. 

Placing her hands on Lexie's cheeks, Gia pressed them together, causing her friend's lips to protrude. "That's so amazing! Look at you, going for it! What's his name and when are you seeing him again?"

Lexie removed Gia's hands and turned away. "His name is Declan, but it doesn't matter because I'm not going to see him again."

Jumping to her feet, Gia asked, "What? Why?"

Lexie swallowed back tears, unable to meet her friend's dual-toned eyes. "Because I freaked out and told him to leave..."

"Oh, Lex." Gia wrapped a brightly tattooed arm around her shoulders. "It's okay. He was a first kiss, not your soulmate. You're going to kiss a bunch of guys." She turned both her and Lexie, so they were facing the full-length mirror on the back of the bedroom door. "I mean, look at you; you're a hot little vixen who is ready for her time to shine."

"Right." Lexie took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I need to jump in the shower, then I'll put that white dress on, and we can go to school."

She walked into her bathroom, and as soon as the door closed, the smile slid from her lips.

What if Gia was wrong? What if Declan was supposed to be there at that exact time, just like he said?

And she destroyed her chance.

She shook her head, clearing her mind, and stepped under the stream of hot water.

After Gia spent an hour fussing over Lexie's hair and makeup, Lexie spent the rest of the morning in class—mostly boring general education courses, with one art class thrown in after lunch. When classes were over, she had another hour before Gia was out of her Biology lab, so she decided to wander around the art building.

As she made her way through the student exhibit rooms, she became more eager to get into her art classes. She knew she'd have to complete English, math, science, and the like, which was fine. There wasn't really a subject in school she didn't enjoy, but art was the thing that made her eyes light up and her heart catch fire. She opened the door to the Medieval exhibits, the room she had saved for last.

Medieval art, especially of a religious nature, was her very favorite. She felt her emotions swelling as she explored the pieces of art around her. But her heart overflowed, flooding her veins with hot blood when she caught sight of a set of dark midnight-blue eyes gazing at her from across the room.

Declan.

He froze in place, blinking several times, clutching a rustic relic in his hand, causing the muscles of his exposed forearms to flex. Gone was the casual attire he wore when they met, and in its place was a dark gray button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled to right below his elbows. His long legs were accentuated by black slacks, which hugged his hips like a second skin. She didn't think it was possible he could be any sexier than he was last night, but she had been terribly mistaken. 

♕♕♕♕♕♕♕♕

It never crossed Declan's mind that the sexy waitress from last night would walk straight into his exhibit. The medieval artifacts didn't normally attract the attention of the pretentious art students who attended the university. They were prone to sipping coffee while debating the meaning behind sleek lines and elementary shapes. The religious and violent renderings of the pre-15th century were too tacky for their tastes. But of course, Lexie didn't fit the mold; she had proven that by pulling away from him last night.

Last night—he shook his head, pushing away the thoughts. He had her here now. This was his second chance.

Declan turned to his boss, the Curator of Medieval Artifacts. "John, you will finish up with this...right?" He handed him the ancient carving of an angel.

"No problem. Take as much time as you need."

A killer smile pulled at Declan's lips. It wasn't often that he used his ability to compel someone. He tried to never take advantage of humans and their pliable minds, but he couldn't risk missing out on this opportunity.

With long calculated steps, Declan moved toward Lexie. He used the seconds to calm the incubus inside him, who had roared to life when she entered the room. Placing his hands in his pockets, he took a deep breath, feeling the demon settle and his eyes return to a rich sapphire. "Lexie," he greeted her when they were face-to-face.

She swallowed; the tension rolling off her was palpable. "Declan. What on earth are you doing here?"

As she stood there with a bewildered look on her freckled face, there was nothing more he wanted to do than to pull her to him for another kiss. Instead, he answered, "I work here, so the question is—what are you doing here?"

"You work here?" She straightened her short, white dress—which released wicked thoughts that he promptly pushed to the back of his mind. "I'm an art major...here...at the Art Institute," she continued.

Declan's heart pounded as his mind raced with the possibilities. He would get his chance to figure out the mystery which was Lexie after all. "You're an art major, and you actually appreciate Medieval art?"

She smiled. "It's only an obsession of mine, much to the chagrin of my parents. They always thought it was so depressing and dark, but I find it fascinating and beautiful." 

Fate was being too good to him, and he wasn't going to be ungrateful for its gift. "I might have access to a vault with some pieces that are being prepped for exhibit in the coming months. I'd be more than happy to take you on a tour, but you have to agree to my terms." He cocked an eyebrow, silently hoping she would be tempted by the offer.

There was trepidation written on her face, but he could also sense the temptation in her heart. And in the end, the latter won out. She stepped closer. "What are your terms?" she asked, her voice raspy.

"We start over. Last night didn't happen."

She bit her plump lower lip, and he let his eyes close briefly, hoping that by the time he opened them again, she'd have made her decision. "All right," she whispered.

He chuckled and donned his matching set of dimples. She had no clue how the smallest thing like her lip between her teeth or her sweet agreement made him ache for her. But he would tame his desire until he was certain she was ready to try again. He pulled his hand from his pocket and held it out to her. "I'm Declan Cain."

She squeezed his hand in hers, brushing her fingers against his palm. "I'm Alexandria Sade. But my friends call me Lexie." The corner of her mouth pulled up into a lopsided grin.

Unable to resist, he brought the back of her hand to his lips, caressing them over her knuckles. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Alexandria." 

She nodded and he led her to the basement where they'd find the vault holding the artifacts he had promised.

Declan stood back, propping his shoulder on the doorframe, watching as Lexie moved throughout the confined space in awe. "You're free to handle any of the pieces in here; just be gentle."

A smile spread over her face as she said, "Really?" At his nod, she walked around the vault, taking in everything.

He admired the way her short dress swayed with the movement of her hips and how her delicate fingers cradled the smaller pieces of art. As she took in every little detail, her beautiful face lit up, and she was absolutely stunning.

"This is amazing." When she looked up from the tiny sculpture she was holding, she saw him watching and blushed. "What?" she asked, pushing a loose piece of mahogany-colored hair behind her ear.

He wavered on the line, the demon yanking feverishly on its restraints. It took every ounce of willpower to stay in place and subdue his need for lust. "I was thinking the same thing about you," his voice was a low rasp.

She set the sculpture back on the shelf with care and walked toward him slowly. "You were?" Her chest rose up and down steadily, her desire—the same desire from last night—evident on her face.

"I was." Declan clenched his hands in his pockets, willing his body to stay in place and let her come to him.

She appeared to be fighting a battle in her head—to come closer or to stay where she was. Her viridescent gaze ran down his body, from his face to his sculpted arms, his lower half, then back to his blue eyes, which he knew were darker than a few minutes ago. But as it had upstairs, the temptation won out, and she kept walking until she was standing within inches of him.

"Once we cross this line, Alexandria, there is no going back."

She inhaled sharply, and for a moment he expected her to push him away. But she didn't. She reached her hand up tentatively and brushed a piece of his dark hair off his forehead.

He leaned his face into her palm and kissed the center of it as he withdrew his hands from his pockets. Softly gripping her hip, he guided her forward and closed the space between them. His other hand curved around the back of her neck and his thumb gently stroked along her cheekbone. He held her gaze as he asked again, "Do you understand that there is no going back?"

She didn't hesitate this time, nodding and giving him a breathless, "Yes, I understand."

Declan's desire flared at the mere sound of her voice. Hanging on to the last shred of the rapidly deteriorating restraint on his incubus, he gently lowered his lips to hers. He took his time, slowly gliding his warm tongue along her lower lip, easing her into letting go, allowing him in. His fingers wove themselves into the ends of her ponytail, gripping her hair and guiding her head back. "Open up to me, Lexie." He meant for his words to be seductive, but there was an undertone of a desperate plea for her to give in to her true lust.

She parted her lips and moaned, sending a shiver up his spine. Pressing herself even closer to him, she tangled her fingers in his hair, lightly scratching his scalp. Surprising him by parting his lips with her tongue, she took it upon herself to deepen the kiss.

He growled in response, and at that moment, a sensation like he never felt before radiated from the center of his chest—his angelic nature was fiercely awakened. It was reaching for Lexie, aching to wrap itself around her. The sensation took him by surprise, and breathlessly he moved his lips from hers, trailing them down the side of her throat. "God, Lexie, you have no clue what you're doing to me." The angel raged against the incubus, pushing the demon into his deepest depths, holding it at bay and away from Lexie. It was the reprieve he needed to gain control. With his entire body shaking, he pulled her close until her head rested on his chest, and placed a kiss in her hair.

A war between angel and demon had been ignited within him. It was violent and shook him to the core. Never had he felt so completely divided by his natures—lost within their battle. Lexie Sade may have been the cause of his internal conflict but holding her in his arms also felt like the answer to the eternal emptiness within his heart.