I woke, finding myself back in my body in Hell, Jake sitting on the side of my bed. His eyes were locked onto me, as they always were when he was around. You'd think in all the time I'd known him that I would have gotten used to it, but i wasn't. I sighed and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, siting up. I was not ready to deal with him yet. "Why are you here, Jake?"

"I didn't realize you were still asleep. I only dropped by to give you this token of my affection." he pulled a single long stemmed rose out of his jacket and laid it in my lap. A huge mortal cliche.

"Watching chick flicks again?"

He rolled his eyes, "You really shouldn't insult me. It's no way to talk to your other half."

"You're not my 'other half.' Your closer to an annoying cousin."

"Someone's moody this morning."

"Being in Hell is bad for my complexion."

He reached out and pinched my cheek gently, "Come on now, dear. We both know you're flawless."

"Not quite."

Jake laughed softly and moved so that he was closer, one hand planted on either side of my hips, his thigh brushing mine through the covers. His hair fell around his face as he moved closer still to me, blocking most of my view of the room. His dark eyes roamed my face and a small frown grace his lips. "I don't like seeing you so unhappy." He murmured, moving his right hand to move a stray hair out of my face, "Why won't you let me make it better? Make you happy here with me? Our new lives together would be so much better if you would just let me fix it. I know that you haven't fallen for me just yet but I think that we can start working in that direction. I was thinking that it might help if we took the next step in our relationship...We both have needs after all."

Before I fully registered what he was asking he'd swooped down and nipped my collarbone. I pushed him away from me with a harsh glare. "No. Not now. Not ever."

"Why not, angel? It's a perfectly normal expectation, especially now that Asia's gone. And who knows? You might beg for more." He took my wrist and began rubbing small circles on it with the pad of his thumb. "My skills are legendary. You don't have to do a thing unless you want to. All you have to do is relax and let me take care of you."

"If you wanted sex you should have kept Asia around."

He laughed again, "Please, sweetheart. I can call her back anytime. I want more. I want to make love to you, Azrael."

"Don't say that. Don't even think it. I'm incapable of love. I don't want love. And I definitely don't want to love someone like you."

"'Someone like me.'"

"A self-centered, manipulative, heartless, traitor. You lost any chance of being even remotely close to me when you betrayed my Father. I'd rather lose my wings than sleep with you!"

Jake's face hardened into an icy glare and he stood up. "I guess I have to find a more creative way to your heart then. And I swear, Azrael. I will have you. One way, or another."

"Lord above! It's always like this with you! Too much would have to change. Things you would never change. Just give up." I sighed and shook my head in exasperation.

A gleam of interest came into his eyes, bringing a smile to his face. The same he always seemed to get when I challenged him. "Try me."

"Privacy for one thing. I get that this is your territory but I need space." I groaned. "Like now for instance. I'm trapped up here all day everyday unless you get bored and I hate it. I feel caged."

"Of course. I'll even get you the key to your door if you want. What else?"

This of course, made me curious to see how far I could push him. "I want to be allowed to leave the hotel. Being around all of these demons gives me a headache."

"You've already seen the lake. You know how dangerous it can be out there. But I'll make sure the staff and residents are more accommodating. See? I can compromise." He trailed his finger across my jaw and letting his thumb brush against my lower lip. If it meant I could get more out of him, I wouldn't stop him...yet.

"And uh...one more thing?" I bit my lip, watching his eye light up in excitement.

"Name it."

I put my hand on his shoulder and put on a slight pout. "Can I please go back? Just for an hour...Even if I don't go anywhere near Venus Cove, just to let the reapers know I'm ok and help lighten their work load a little. They're not used to having to reap for me. Please, Jake?"

"Tsk..." he rolled his eyes, "Let's not play games. You and I both know that the second I let you go back, you'd fly off and I'd never get you back."

Well...He wasn't wrong. The thought of flying far away made my wings twitch in anticipation under my skin. "Go with me then."

"And give your little family a chance to rescue you? Not a chance. I've got to keep you here with me until baby sister gets herself into trouble she can't get out of, your friends are noting but corpses in the ground, and you...are willing to cooperate."

"Then I will never be happy here." I turned away from him.

"Just wait. Sooner or later you'll come to think of this place as home." He stood and walked toward the door. "And when you do, you'll realize this is where you're meant to be."