Laz laughed heartily, deep in his belly. "Oh, darlin', I would if I could. I can hardly move."

I groaned and smiled as I shifted position and felt the soreness he'd left behind. "Oh, damn, Laz. It'll be days before I can do this again."

"Actually, you have rapid healin' now, too. It should be just a few hours before you recover. Just long enough for food. Let's go out!"

I blushed. "I, umm, have no clothes."

He chuckled again. "Fortunately, you have this nifty way to travel to go and put something on. See if Lucifer and Azza want to join us. I know an amazing burger place. Best in Atlanta."

I nodded and, as gently as I could, scooted off the bed. Just as I was going to wave a portal, he called my name.

"Wear a dress, Olivia. Nothin' fancy, or overtly sexy, but no underwear."

A thrill ran through me. "I need to take a shower, too. Give me an hour?"

He made a gesture that I recognized as pulling a phone from thin air, but nothing happened. "Damn. I think that's what I'm goin' to miss the most. Where the hell is my phone?" He looked around the loft, spotting it on the coffee table.

I cocked my head. "Hey, am I like Lucifer now? I mean, can I give people powers?"

"To a limited degree," he said, sliding off the bed and taking me in his arms gently. "Why, are you offerin'?"

"I think the hide-a-phone power is relatively benign. How do I gift it to you?"

"You need to text Charlie and have it added to my record."

I grabbed my phone from my 'pocket' and texted Charles.

~

Me: Add the hide-a-phone skill to Laz's record, please.

Charles: Yes. Ma'am. Anything else?

Me: Can I give him the portal power, too?

Charles: Yes, Ma'am.

Me: Do that one, too.

Charles: Done. Text again if you need me.

~

I grinned as I put my phone away. "As soon as Charles enters it, you'll have the hide-a-phone power as well as portal travel."

His eyes went wide. "You're givin' me portal travel?"

"Yes. Why? Don't you want it?"

He hugged me. "Yes, of course I do. It's just really powerful, hon. But, Death's portal can go anywhere in existence. Even Heaven and Hell. Will Lucifer be okay with that?"

"Hmm. Good point." I took out my phone again.

~

Me: Can you limit the portal power to the physical realm?

Charles: Yes, of course. Very wise.

Me: Do it. Thank you.

~

"Okay, you're limited to the physical realm."

He brushed his lips on mine. "Thank you, Death," he murmured, low and rumbling.

His voice thrilled me, and I deepened the kiss, feeling the desire filling me again, making me throb and ache.

He pulled back. "Go. Get ready. Casual dress, but no underwear. I want to know you could be open for me."

I shivered. "Yes." I waved a portal, stepping into our bedroom to find my Fallen Angels wrapped up together, sleeping. I could only hope they had loved as hard as I had.

Lucifer raised his head and smiled. "Olivia. I did not expect you home tonight."

"We're going out for dinner. Laz wants to know if you and Azza want to go with us. Something about the best burger place in Atlanta?"

He brightened. "Yes, there is a bar and grill called the Vortex that has amazing burgers. But, you could have texted that."

I looked sheepish. "I don't have any clothes. And, I need a shower. I have an hour to get ready."

He snapped on the shower for me and turned to Azza as I went to wash.

I was halfway through when Lucifer came into the bathroom. "Olivia, I have a special deal I need to complete, and I am taking Azza with me. We will meet you."

"Okay, love. I'll see you then."

I finished my shower, dried off, then threw on a flowing floor-length Maxi dress and sandals. I went to do something with my curls but found them beautifully arranged. In fact, I skipped my makeup routine altogether except for some lipstick to match my outfit.

I had five minutes to spare when I opened the portal to Laz's loft.

He was sitting on the couch, reading a book. He checked his phone for the time. "Very good." Gesturing, he brought me to stand in front of him. "Turn and let me see your dress, Olivia. It's beautiful."

I turned in place, flaring the long skirt.

"Excellent choice! Now, show me."

I flushed, excited by the order. I lifted the dress to prove I was naked underneath, as he had commanded.

"Very nice, darlin'." He stood, taking the dress from my hand so that I could wrap my arms around him as he kissed me.

Wetness blossomed between my legs, and he slipped two fingers through it and into me. I whimpered.

"Does that hurt, Olivia," he growled.

"Yes. A little."

"But you like it, don't you?" He curled his fingers inside me.

I groaned. "Yes."

"Good. I like hurting you, just enough to excite you." He slid his fingers out of me and licked them clean.

I swallowed. "Can't we stay in?" I whispered.

He chuckled. "No. Now, come on. Where are Lucifer and Azza?"

"They'll meet us there. Lucifer had a deal. Azza went with him."

My phone dinged, and I brought it out to look at it. It was a text from Charles.

~

Charles: There is a man that you need to collect. Is Laz with you?

Me: Yes, we were just going to dinner.

Charles: Good, he'll teach you what to do. I'll try not to bother you anymore tonight.

~

I looked at Laz.

"Your first collection has come through?" he asked.

I nodded and swallowed. "Charles said you'd teach me what to do."

"Of course, darlin'. What's the address and name?" He looked at my phone.

I read the name. "Cardinal Frances Louisa. He's at... wait..." my brow wrinkled, "does that say the Vatican?"

"It does, indeed. Come on, I've been waitin' to collect this bastard for years." Laz waved a portal, and it opened into the living room of a well-appointed apartment. An older man in a bathrobe and slippers had slumped in a chair. The bible he had been reading now on the floor beside him.

"Call his name. He won't see me, he will only see you."

I cleared my throat. "Frances? Frances Louisa."

"Now, hold out your hand, palm up, so he has to take it rather than you takin' his. When he does, just lift him out of his body."

I saw the man's soul lift its head and sit up. His eyes focused on me, and I held out my hand in invitation. "Come with me."

He raised a hand and placed it in mine. When he did, I gently lifted and stepped back, tugging his soul. He came willingly, fascinated by me.

"Am I dead? Are you an angel?"

I glanced at Laz, and he nodded, encouraging me. I spoke to the man, "You are dead, Frances, but I am not an angel. I am Death Incarnate."

Once he was free of his body, I heard Lucifer's portal. Surprised, I turned to it and saw him and Azza step through.

"Death," Lucifer greeted me formally. "Congratulations on your first collection. I can take him now."

"Give Lucifer his hand, Olivia. They have a deal."

I handed Frances off to Lucifer. When they touched, the man snapped his attention to him. "Cardinal Satana? What are you doing here? I thought I was dead?" He looked back at me, and I nodded.

"Frances, I am here to collect. I am Lucifer, and you belong to me."

"What? No! Wait! I'm not supposed to go with you! I confessed!"

"Yes, you did, Frances, but you also sinned again. You never could leave him alone."

The man broke down and sobbed. "I love him."

"He is a child, Frances. Or, rather, a demon-child. You sold your soul to me to have him with you in Rome."

Frances' eyes grew. "He—He's a demon?"

"Yes, of course he is, Frances. Children are innocents. I do not use innocents for deals."

"You tricked me! Call off the deal!"

Lucifer chuckled. "You dealt to have him. Specifically, him, demon or no, and that is binding. You belong to me."

The man began to struggle, but he couldn't break the hold Lucifer had on him. Azza stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the struggling man, capturing him.

"Death. We will see you in a little while. We must process Cardinal Louisa."

"Okay," was all I could manage to say.

Laz waved a portal to his loft and pulled me gently through it. I felt dazed.

"You did well, Death." He gathered me up.

I blinked and shivered. I knew the kind of punishment that was waiting for a pedophile, such as the Cardinal. It would be fitting and just.

I gave Laz a small smile. "So, I will hand off soul deals to Lucifer. Who do I hand off to from Heaven?"

"Peter, usually. He's—"

I nodded. "I've met Peter."

Laz blinked. "You have?"

"Yes. When I was collecting the corrupt Seven Virtues for Lucifer. Peter came to Hell to take a woman whom Lucifer had waylaid on her way to heaven."

"He did what?" Laz gaped. "Who the Hell in my office allowed him to do such a thing?"

"I don't know, Laz. I only know she was in Hell for a little while to tempt her husband, who was the corrupted Virtue of Faith, to make a deal with Lucifer."

Laz shook his head. "I'd forgotten that you'd collected those souls for him. So, this wasn't your first."

I gave him a half-grin. "Is that bad?"

"No, not at all. Now, let's get some dinner."

We took the elevator to the garage, and Laz held the door open for me on a silver Mustang Cobra. We drove across the city, pulling into a brightly lit bar and grill with an enormous stylized skull on the building. He slid into a parking lot, then insisted I stay in the car until he could open my door.

It was evident from the moment we walked in that Laz was well known.

"Mr. Phillips," the hostess said as she checked the seating chart. "Your usual table is free. Would you like it?"

"That would be lovely, darlin'."

I bristled a little at hearing him call another woman darlin'. Oh, stop it. He's southern. It's a thing.

She took us to a booth situated in a raised area set off a little from the others. I noticed as I walked through the crowd that heads followed us. I looked at the floor and tried not to blush.

I took one side of the booth while Laz took the other. He cocked his head and smirked. "You're goin' to have to get used to that, sweetheart."

My brow furrowed. "Used to what?"

"Capturin' people's attention. As you come into your power, your attractiveness will increase. Not that you weren't already stunnin', of course. But, this will take it up a notch or two."

"Oh. Umm. I'm not sure what to do about that," I shared.

"There's nothin' to do, sweetheart. It just is. You'll get used to it. Just hold your head high. No more starin' at the floor. That's an order."