Image: Gregory
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Stacy sighed as she opened the front door, stumbling through it into the hall. She dropped her things onto the table by the door, only just registering that the TV was on in the living room. She frowned as she moved to the entry, hissing when she saw Greg sitting watching cartoons surrounded by his toys. Her dad slept in his recliner, snoring away. She shook her head as she weaved her way through the toys and turned off the TV. Greg cried out and jumped up. "Eh!" he whined as he pointed at the TV and stared up at her with teary eyes."No! Use words Gregory. I know you can talk. Why are you still awake? It's four in the morning." she put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him.
"He refused to go to bed until you got home. I told Monika to go to bed and I'd stay up with him." Stacy looked over, smiling at Frank who looked half asleep still.
Stacy sighed as she lifted Greg and set him on her hip. "Come on, it's time for bed for you." she frowned as she started to the stairs. "I have tomorrow off. I'll take you to the park so you can play with some other kids and make friends." she said as she brushed at his hair and kissed his forehead lightly. Greg huffed and looked away. "No pouting. You need friends Greg. You can't play by yourself all the time." Stacy smiled when Greg huffed again. She laid him on the bed and started to tuck him in. "Get to sleep. I need to go shower."
Stacy sped through her shower, not wanting to take too long since she was practically nodding off during it. By the time she got to bed Greg was already passed out. Stacy settled in, eyes closing almost instantly. When they opened again she let out a small groan and shook her head. Damn she'd been hoping it wouldn't come to this.
Reaching up she pushed her hair back from her face as she stared out over the ocean that stretched out before her. Looking down she found herself wearing one of her favorite bikinis and smiled as she dug her feet into the sand. She glanced up when she heard a chuckle, her breath catching at the sight that greeted her. Lucas stood no more than a couple feet away in nothing more than a pair of black and red swim trunks. Stacy stopped breathing at the sight of his muscled stomach and arms. She knew she was all but drooling when Lucas smirked at her and moved closer.
"Like what you see?" he practically purred out at her.
Stacy frowned as she stiffened and looked away. "I don't think so. You're a little flabby right there." she said with a small wave of her hand to his perfect six pack.
Lucas laughed as he stopped next to her. "I'm sure." he said, giving a roll of his eyes, shaking his head a little. "Shall we?" he asked as he held out his arm.
Stacy raised a brow as she hooked her arm through his. "What about my skin? I'm going to burn here."
"Don't worry. I have sunscreen over there." Lucas motioned further down the beach. "Figured we'd take a walk after." he said as they stopped next to the blanket and umbrella he'd set up. Bending he grabbed a sunscreen bottle. "Ready?"
"I guess I have to be." Stacy said with a small roll of her eyes as she held out her arm for him. Stacy's breath caught as his hands moved over her body. She glanced away, chewing lightly on her bottom lip. When he moved to her back she relaxed a little and glanced back at him. "Are these supposed to be dates?" she asked with a small frown.
"Maybe." he dropped the sunscreen on the blanket, smiling as he snatched up the white straw hat and dropped it onto her head. "Come on." he took her hand and pulled lightly until she started to walk with him down the beach. "What would you say if I said it was a date?"
"Hmm. Since it would technically be the third I must like you." Stacy said though she made sure to add a teasing air to her voice. She glanced toward the water, watching the waves crash before frowning and looking back at him. "Why are you doing this? Isn't my contract already like void and now I owe you my soul?"
"No, and I'm doing this because I was an ass to you on our first date. This is me trying to make it up to you." he gave a small shrug as if it didn't mean anything to do this.
Stacy frowned at him. " You don't act like a demon at all."
Lucas flashed her a smile. "I act like me. I wasn't going to change just because I got a new title."
"It's weird. For the ruler of Lust, you're very chaste." Stacy said as she started to pull away from him.
"I'm trying to be good. Plus, just because I'm the Lust ruler doesn't mean I'm as bad as the people sent there. I have better control." Stacy let out a snort at his words. It was replaced with a yelp of surprise when Lucas splashed her.
"Oh, it's on now." Stacy's laughter bubbled over as they started their splash fight. It only grew stronger when Lucas tripped and landed in the water, only to pull her down with him and cause her hat to get swept away with the waves. They were both soaked by the time they left the water, laughing as they made their way back to the blanket. Stacy was wringing out her hair as she dropped onto the blanket, thankful for the shade the umbrella provided. She glanced over at Lucas, finding him under the sun with his eyes closed. She sat watching him until his eyes turned to her.
A slow, sensual smile spread when he caught her watching and she knew right then and there that he lived up to being the ruler of his kingdom. "You seem to be enjoying yourself again." he said as he sat up and leaned over to the cooler to pull out a water and hand it over to her.
"I was. You being cocky about it made me change my mind." she took a swig of the water to hide her smile at the frown that appeared on his lips.
"I can't understand it." he said with a small shake of his head.
"Understand what exactly?"
"Why you seem to be immune to me and everything I try."
Stacy barely bit back the truth. She was far from immune to the man sitting next to her, but she wasn't about to let him know that. It would just make his head inflate all the more. "Because I have a brain?"
He let out a small snort. At the look Stacy shot him he shook his head. "No, not like that. It's actually true. Though you did cave to the contract."
"I had a momentary lapse in judgment and have suffered for it since." she flashed him a smile when his brow shot up.
"Suffered is it?" he leaned in closer and Stacy was just glad she didn't give in and lean away from him.
"Yes. I have to say that word fits perfectly to what's been happening." she tried to will her breathing to normal as he stopped close enough for her to feel his breath on her lips.
"Are you so sure about that?" her breath caught as his eyes darkened from ice to midnight blue.
"Cocky bastard." she whispered causing him to smirk before his lips descended on hers. Stacy was too stunned to react at first, though Lucas coaxed a reply from her. She'd curse herself later for giving in, but at that moment her thoughts were too chaotic to care. To scattered to keep any thoughts forming. By the time he let her pull away for a breath, it came out in heavy pants.
Lucas smiled as he leaned in again, lips brushing against hers lightly. "Good morning Stacy." he whispered to her. Stacy didn't understand until her vision went black and she woke in her room with a frown.
Stacy lay staring at the wall as she tried to register where she was. Glancing down she smiled at Greg who snored lightly and clutched at her in his sleep. Her smile quickly disappeared, replaced by a frown when she remembered her dream. Oh how was she going to face the infuriating man now? With a small sigh she stared to slip away from Greg, only to have the boy jolt awake with a small whimper. "Good morning baby." she smiled as Greg yawned and started to rub at his eyes. "Come on, let's get you fed so we can go to the park."