Kat packed up her messenger bag with her choir binder and bible after they were dismissed. Choir practice was every Wednesday and she hadn't missed one since she was three, or so her parents told her. She couldn't remember that far back but she did know the building itself had a sense of familiarity and safeness she would always cherish.

"Kat, will you eat these?" Bernice, one of the older women in the choir asked, holding up a container of cookies.

Normally Kat would say no but she had Nex at home and so she smiled and nodded. Things became very strange between them after that night they kissed. Nex grew distant and went back to being rude and vulgar. Kat hoped the cookies would chill him out a little bit.

"So, what's new in your life?" Bernice asked as she handed off the container.

Kat knew at some point it would come around to choir that there was a half-naked man in her yard with her. The neighbors liked to gossip.

"He's just a friend," Kat sighed.

"Who?" Bernice asked, feigning innocence.

"Funny," Kat said, grinning.

"From what I heard maybe he shouldn't just be a friend," Bernice said, raising an eyebrow.

"Bernice," Kat giggled, shaking her head. "No. It's not like that. I'm actually dating someone else."

"Does this someone else have you blushing as much as your friend?" Bernice asked.

Bernice had no filter. Kat rolled her eyes and bit back the smile.

"Yes, he's very nice. We've been on three dates and have a fourth planned for this weekend," Kat said, slinging her messenger bag over her shoulder and walking out of the church with Bernice.

Kat did like Jason. He was sweet and gentlemanly, nothing seemed to be wrong with him. Kissing him didn't have the same effect on her as kissing Nex did but she attributed that to the fact Nex was her first kiss and that kiss was a lot more intensive with her in his lap.

"I'm glad you're going out and making friends," Bernice said, smiling warmly, linking her arm through Kat's. Bernice lived directly across the street from the church and Kat always saw her to the door. "Oh, I almost forgot," Bernice said, reaching into her purse as they crossed the street. The pavement was wet and reflective from the burst of rain they had during choir practice. "I've finished the book you lent me," she said, pulling out The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde.

"Oh." Kat smiled and took the book, which was actually a short story but there was no point in mentioning that. "What did you think?"

"I think for a cheerful young woman, you certainly have an affinity for dark things," Bernice laughed. "I did enjoy it, though. It was humorous despite its morbidity."

"I warned you," Kat shrugged, slipping her worn paperback into her messenger bag as they approached Bernice's house.

"You did and I should like to see more. I know you have more," Bernice said, eyeing Kat.

Kat smiled and nodded. "I'll bring something Sunday," Kat offered.

"That would be lovely," Bernice smiled, placing a kiss on Kat's cheek. "I'll see you Sunday, dear."

"See you Sunday," Kat waved, starting down the street.

Bernice went inside and Kat started down the street towards home. She wrapped her jacket around her tighter as there was a little chill to the air after the rain. Unable to stop herself and not so anxious to get home to whatever plans Nex had, she kicked around in various puddles as she walked.

It was evident music was playing loudly the closer she got home. The loud music was coming from her house. Kat wondered what Nex had up his sleeve this time. It seemed like every day he had a new way to drive her crazy then immediately remind her she could get rid of him if she just 'cooperated'.

Kat walked inside and found two other people besides Nex sitting on the couch. Nex turned and looked back at her with a mischievous grin.

"Hey, kitten. Come meet my friends," he said, gesturing to the two people next to him. "We're having a demon party."

Kat knew he'd try something but if he thought something so simple would break her, he had another thing coming. Kat walked over and smiled at the two men, waving.

"Hi, I'm Kat," she introduced.

"Lucian," the one with silver hair said.

"Marcus," the other said.

Marcus had black hair like Nex, but unlike Nex, his was long and went past his shoulders. Both new demons had an unnatural red tint to their eyes like Nex did although Marcus's were darker and Lucian's were pale to the point they almost seemed a little pink. Kat spent enough time around Nex to know he enjoyed sweet things so she decided to get herself on their good side.

"You guys want cookies?" Kat asked, holding up the container.

"Oh, hell yes," Marcus said, reaching for the container.

Nex sent Marcus a glare but Marcus ignored it, opening up the container. Kat gave Nex a sweet smile and turned away, going to the kitchen.

"We're planning to be up late," Nex tried.

"That's okay," Kat shrugged. "I've got earplugs. But unless you want to deal with the neighbors, I suggest you turn the volume down," she said giving him a pointed look before turning around and getting into the cupboard.

Lucian and Marcus looked over at Nex in amusement and he scowled.

"Shut up," he said, grabbing another beer from the case.

"She's good," Marcus said with a mouthful of cookies.

Nex smacked the cookie out of his hand and they growled at each other.

"Nex, don't be rude to our guests," Kat scolded from the kitchen, making both Lucian and Marcus snort.

Nex sent them a warning glare before getting up and going to the kitchen where Kat was making tea. "I can't promise nothing will be broken by tomorrow," he said, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter. "We party hard. We might invite girls."

"Use protection and stay out of my parent's room," Kat said simply. "And you can't break anything. It was part of the agreement when I called off the exorcists."

"Maybe I just won't keep my word," Nex countered.

Kat turned to him with a disappointed frown. "That's not very nice, Nex. Why don't you instead put your energy into finding a way home that doesn't involve murder?"

"Because that's worked out oh so well for you the last three weeks," Nex scowled.

"I could be making progress. We don't know," Kat said, carrying her tea over to the kitchen table. "Did you guys eat dinner?"

"Dinner?" Marcus asked, picking his head up.

Nex sent him a glare but Kat smiled.

"Yeah, you guys want some? I'll cook," she volunteered.

"What? You never cook for me," Nex grumbled.

"That's because you're usually being rude. They've been nice," Kat said, sipping her tea.

Marcus and Lucian snorted again, causing Nex to growl at them.

"You were supposed to be here to help me," Nex hissed.

"Oh, right. So I've made a list of people and their sins, so awful you would be able to kill without feeling guilty," Marcus said, holding up a paper.

Kat set the tea down and walked over, picking up the paper. She glanced at it briefly then crumpled it up and dropped it in the garbage.

"No. It's not happening. If you don't bring it up again I'll make dessert," Kat offered.

"Done," Marcus nodded, lifting a beer in cheers.

"Really?" Nex sighed.

"You were right," Marcus shrugged. "She's a tough one to crack."

"Aw, did you talk me up to your friends?" Kat cooed, pinching his cheek. "That's so sweet. I'll make enough for you, too."

Lucian bit back the smile but Marcus didn't bother hiding his. Nex glared after Kat as she went into the kitchen and started cooking. She never looked back at him which just made him more annoyed.

He opened another beer and plopped down on the couch. "She's impossible."

"She's also pretty cute," Marcus said, raising his eyebrows.

"Don't even think about it," Nex growled. "Besides, she's dating someone."

"Is that... Jealousy I hear?" Lucian asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Nex scoffed. "I'm not jealous. Just annoyed."

"You better hope Lilith never catches wind of this," Lucian warned.

"She won't. Assuming everyone has been careful," he said, looking between them suspiciously.

"I'm not the one you'd need to worry about," Lucian responded, sliding his eyes to Marcus.

"Don't look at me. I've barely even tried to help. I'm here for the food and the beer and the view," Marcus said, glancing over at Kat.

"Stop it," Nex snapped, blocking his view with shadow. "Don't ogle her."

"Why? Got a claim?" Marcus taunted.

"Just don't," Nex growled, crossing his arms.

"Careful, Nex," Lucian said, frowning. "You know Lilith is sensitive to jealousy. If she decides to look for you she'll be able to smell it on you a mile away and that won't end well. For you or for her," he said, nodding to Kat.

"It's not jealousy," Nex said, standing abruptly. "You two were supposed to help but you're just pissing me off."

"Kat's right. You are rude," Marcus said, sipping his beer.

Nex slowly inhaled and exhaled, briefly considering setting Marcus on fire but deciding against it and returning to the kitchen where Kat was chopping vegetables. She didn't notice his presence behind her as she worked. Her phone went off and she quickly picked it up, opening the message from Jason and smiling. Nex rolled his eyes and snatched the phone.

"Hey!" Kat said, trying to get it back.

"You shouldn't let your phone distract you when the stove is on," Nex said, sliding it into his back pocket. "But if you want it back, you're more than welcome to get it yourself."

Kat sighed and ignored him, going back to chopping vegetables.

"Well, you can't like him that much if you're going to let me stop you from talking to him," Nex said, crossing his arms.

"I do like him. I also like not fighting and you're trying to start a fight with me. Again," Kat said, dropping the vegetables into a skillet where she already had chicken cooking.

"Fighting is fun, kitten. It gets people passionate. You'll understand when you finally have sex. Don't tell me you're going to let him be the one to do it," Nex said, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

"So what if I am?" Kat said, turning to face him and crossing her arms. "You're the one that said I should just get it over with."

"Not with someone like him," Nex said, narrowing his eyes.

"Then with who?" Kat asked, throwing her arms up.

"Someone that can make your skin feel like fire from one look in the eyes and a simple touch," Nex said, bringing his hand up and brushing his fingers against her neck.

Kat inhaled sharply and stepped away from him, her cheeks turning red. "Don't you have friends to bother?" She muttered, wrapping her arms around herself.

"They're annoying me," Nex scowled. "And I honestly want to know why did you bother saving yourself this long if you aren't going to wait for the right person?"

"Who says he's not the right person?" Kat shrugged. "And I wasn't intentionally saving myself, I just never... Met anyone I wanted to be close to in that way."

"And you think he's that someone?" Nex scoffed. "Why?"

"He's nice to me, Nex," Kat sighed. "I know that's not a word you know the meaning of but it means a lot to me that he's nice to me. He opens doors and he listens to me and he-"

"Compliments your clothes, holds your hand, talks about your interests at dinner instead of focusing on his own?" Nex guessed.

"Well," Kat frowned. "Yeah. He does do that. Why are you saying it like it's a bad thing?"

"Because, kitten. He's playing you like a fiddle," Nex said, rolling his eyes. "If he was genuinely interested in you he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off you and he would tell you about himself. Relationships are a two-way street, it's not all one person talking about their life while the other says nothing. Do you know anything about him?"

"There's nothing wrong with not being selfish," Kat said, rolling her eyes. "Not that you'd know."

"It's beyond that. How often does he dodge a question and turn it back around to you and make it seem like something sweet?" Nex challenged. "He isn't asking you about your life and taking you to fancy dinners because he cares, he's doing it to fuck you and he's probably guessed you're a virgin and easy to scare so he's taking it slow, playing the part of an interested suitor like the actor he is. What base have you two made it to anyway?"

"I'm about five seconds away from calling in the exorcist," Kat said, narrowing her eyes.

"I'm not trying to be mean," Nex sighed. "I'm telling you there's something not right about him. I feel it. I felt it that first day he said hi to you."

"You don't even know him," Kat said, throwing her arms up in exasperation. "He's a sweetheart and a gentleman."

"That sounds horribly boring," Nex said, rolling his eyes.

"It's not boring. Consistency is nice," Kat argued, turning back to the stove and grabbing a spatula before tending to the food.

"Your life is full of consistency, kitten," Nex said, coming up behind her.

He set his hands on her hips and held her in place as he came closer, until they were touching, until all of the back of her pressed against all the front of him. He moved her hair aside and ran his nose down her neck, making her drop the spatula.

"Consistency isn't really what you want, is it? I don't think so. I think deep down you want passion," he said, sliding his hand up her stomach, between her breasts and to her neck, turning her head towards him. "I think you're clinging to him because you think he's safe and the unknown excites you so much it scares you. It makes you feel out of control. And you do love being in control, don't you kitten? I bet you would like even more giving up control to someone else," he said, rubbing his thumb over her lips. "Someone you can trust. It's much more exciting to be out of control. Especially if someone you want is taking control for you. Wouldn't you like to not be the one in control, just once?"

Kat was already having a hard time breathing but then his hand moved from her hip to her lower stomach, his finger playing with the hem of her shirt, brushing against the sensitive skin. She couldn't seem to make herself pull away from him even though she knew she should. Nex smiled and nudged her nose with his, his lips nearly brushing against hers.

"Imagine it, kitten," he whispered, nuzzling her ear. "Imagine letting someone else take control for you. For once you have nothing to worry about. You just sit back and let them have you, take care of you, dominate you," he said, running his finger along the top of her jeans. "Someone that paid attention enough to know every sensitive spot you have," he said, nuzzling her neck, making her fists and other parts of her clench. "Knew you enough to know everything you liked, how to push your buttons in the best way, how to take your breath away with just the right words, bring paradise to you. Imagine that, kitten. Giving your control over to someone who would take care of it and reward you for giving it up. Doesn't that sound better than having to take care of everything yourself all the time? You're so tired, Katherine. With the right person, you could feel invigorated and empowered. A girl like you deserves to be worshipped and tended to," he said, running his thumb over the lip she bit down on until she released it. "Now doesn't that just sound heavenly?"

Kat had started leaning back against him while he was talking. His hand slid under her shirt, caressing under her belly button and sending sensations right between her legs. Nex watched her reaction carefully before leaning closer, almost touching her lips with his. He leaned in again, the faintest brush of their lips had Kat's heart rate accelerating.

The sound of her phone ringing snapped her out of the momentary spell he seemed to have.

Kat pushed him away, trying to catch the breath that seemed to leave her the moment he touched her, her face flushed red. "Don't do that. I'm seeing someone," Kat said, meaning to sound stern but sounding shakier than anything. She ignored her hesitance earlier and reached around Nex to get in his back pocket, retrieving her phone.

Jason's name lit up on the screen and Nex growled lowly, turning and walking away as Kat took a deep breath and answered.