The Ember's Kiss was a popular alcoholic drink with demons. It had no supernatural ingredients but packed a punch that most humans wouldn't find palatable. Despite being well-liked, it wasn't advertised or listed on the menus, so only those who knew what it was could order.
It was a warm whiskey cocktail made with smoky bourbon infused with ghost pepper essence and a spoonful of black honey that added a slow, burning aftertaste. Cinnamon ash adorned the rim of the glass, and a heated metal cube was placed into the drink to keep it hot.
Asuriel had always enjoyed spice but, even after tasting the Ember's Kiss multiple times, could not get past the ghost pepper's strength mixed with the whiskey's burning down her throat. It was borderline painful!
She returned to the bar to mix the brooding stranger's drink. Making drinks of all kinds was one of her passions, so it came quickly. It only took a few minutes for her to finish concocting the peculiar beverage, after which she returned to his table.
"One Ember's Kiss for you," Asuriel announced as she placed the drink before him, careful not to disturb his paperwork. "Enjoy."
The man again didn't bother to look up at her to make eye contact and instead stayed focused on his work while he sipped the drink. Just as she turned to leave, he said in a low voice, "It tastes alright... For a human. Nicely done."
It tasted 'alright?' For a human? Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"…Thank you, sir?" Asuriel responded apprehensively. "I'm glad it's to your taste."
"You, on the other hand," he added, "smell awful. Just a tip – wear better perfume if you don't want to disgust your customers."
Asuriel blinked.
Did this guy really say that to her face? 'Just a tip?' What an ass!
Unsure of how to respond and thoroughly offended, she stood silently for a brief moment. Then, a realization hit her – the incense!
"I apologize," she said honestly but elicited no response from the enigmatic patron.
Even more embarrassed by his silence, Asuriel returned to the bar. Much to her surprise, Rowan had reappeared, and Evie was gone. It seemed they had found a small break in the flood of customers.
Rowan's mischievous smirk was bright enough to light up the dim lobby. "So, Noir, how did it go? I saw you chatting with Mr. Sexy Asshole for a while."
"Fox, do I stink?" Asuriel ignored him and asked her own question as she joined him behind the bar. She raised her arm and sniffed but couldn't smell anything herself.
Rowan grimaced. "You're trying to get me to sniff your pits? In the middle of work, right in front of everyone? I didn't know you were freaky like that, Noir."
"That guy told me I smelled bad!" Asuriel explained urgently. "Now, I'm self-conscious."
Her charming coworker couldn't help but laugh, then raised a hand to cover his mouth in mock embarrassment. "He told you that you were stinky? For real?"
"Fox!" she whined. "Please tell me if I smell bad! If you don't, I will go crazy worrying about it all night."
"Fine, fine," Rowan chuckled and leaned down. He inhaled several times through his nose and shrugged, "Honestly, I don't smell anything. Maybe he's just got a sensitive nose."
"Thank the gods," Asuriel heaved a sigh of relief. Rowan wasn't the kind to mince words to spare feelings, so she knew he was being honest. "I thought that, maybe, the wretched incense my mother had me burn today stuck to my clothes or something."
"Nah, you definitely don't stink," he reassured her. "You just smell like, well… yourself. The Noir de toilette."
Asuriel frowned, "…and what exactly do I smell like?"
"Oh, you know," Rowan closed his eyes briefly, then elaborated, "like sarcasm and broken dreams. Maybe with a spicy top note?"
"I hate you so much."
Rowan took a step forward and enveloped her in a big hug. The pleasant, musky scent of his expensive cologne invaded her senses. Asuriel typically would have pushed him away immediately, but she had no fight left in her. Life had been way too tumultuous lately, and if she were being honest, a hug felt nice.
"Don't lie; I know you love me," he said, patting her head a few times. "I'm your work wife, after all. I don't want to get a work divorce, and we're too young to be divorcees."
Asuriel gave him an affectionate squeeze, then scoffed into his chest. She pulled away, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. The scary bosses are looking for you, wifey. Best go and take care of them."
"Ugh, fine," Rowan lamented. He looked behind him and saw the Vipers looking at the bar expectantly. "Back to the trenches, I go."
"Good luck," Asuriel teased as she watched him walk away. She checked to ensure none of the bar patrons needed anything, then busied herself wiping down the counter.
She didn't get to do much cleaning before a foreboding feeling ignited in her ribcage. A shiver ran down her spine. It felt as though she were being watched.
Asuriel quickly surveyed the large lobby. It was pretty dark, but she could still see well enough to catch anyone staring. Once her discerning gaze reached the corner, she locked eyes with him – the very man who had been stressing her out – as he took another swig of his Ember's Kiss.
Beautiful amber eyes stared confidently back at her. His dark brows were furrowed, and his nose crinkled in distaste. She felt like she had been frozen in time, and her skin crawled beneath his judgmental gaze.
Then, like nothing happened, he left a handful of cash on the table and walked out the door. Seeing the strange guy exit, Rowan finished with the Vipers and moved to the now-vacant table to collect the payment and empty glass. His eyes widened when he picked up the money, and he practically ran back to the bar to Asuriel.
"Noir!" Rowan exclaimed. "I was totally right. He's into you!"
Asuriel scowled. "Your joke isn't funny. In case you've forgotten in the last ten minutes, he literally told me I smelled."
"He just left a hundred-dollar tip," he said, a victorious smirk on his face as Asuriel's eyes turned into saucers. Purposefully leaving a moment of silence for dramatic effect, he lifted a piece of note paper, held it in front of her face, and then added, "with a note specifically stating the tip is just for you."