Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
His gaze traveled down her body in what was nothing short of a blatantly hot eye-fuck. Their gazes collided again, his own holding a predatory light that made her demon stir in delight.
He didn’t ask if she was going to let him inside. He just arched a brow—a gesture that seemed both a dare and a challenge.
Moving aside to allow him entrance, she waved at the twins. Like last time, one leaned against the vehicle while the other waited in the driver’s seat.
After closing the front door, Naomi did as she had the previous night and followed Luka into the living area, coming to a halt in the center of the space.
He turned to face her, his eyes pinning her with a penetrating, assessing stare. “I’d begin by asking how your day went, but I think we’d both rather I just get to the point.”
He wasn’t wrong on that score.
He planted his feet. “Last night, I told you exactly what I want from you. Unfortunately, your anchor arrived before we could reach the part of the conversation where you told me if we’re on the same page.”
“I didn’t get the impression that you doubted we were.” Arrogant bastard. He somehow made that arrogance work for him, though.
His lips hitched up. “A person doesn’t always act on what they want. In this case, I fully intend to do so.” Her heartbeat accelerated as he covered the small space between them in one smooth glide. “The question is . . . do you?”
She worried her lower lip. “A voice in my head keeps telling me that I’d be dumb to get involved with a demon who runs a criminal empire.” A voice that sounded a lot like Tobe’s.
Luka’s eyes dipped down and boldly traced the shape of her mouth. “But?” he asked, his gaze sliding back to hers, hunger pooling there and acting as a punch to her gut.
“But . . . I find that I don’t care.”
Pure male satisfaction bloomed in his eyes. “That’s a good thing, Naomi.”
Her entity agreed. “That remains to be seen.”
He dragged a fingertip down the side of her face. “I’ve told you, you’re in no danger with me. I’m not a good person—that I’ll admit. But no harm will come to you at my hands, or at those of my demons.”
“Not even Belial?”
His eyes bled to black, the air cooling as one of his demons surfaced. The hint of cruelty in the depths of its otherwise flat gaze told her that it was likely Belial. “I will not hurt you,” it said. “Unless I think you will like it.”
She swallowed, admittedly a tiny bit intimidated by this entity. She wasn’t afraid of it, just instinctively wary. So much malice lived in its gaze. Her own demon kind of liked that, though. “Pain doesn’t do anything for me.”
“Hmm, we shall see.”
“No, we won’t. You’ll take my word for it.”
“You do not fear me, do you?” the demon hummed. “This pleases me.”
She felt her brow pinch. “I thought you liked terrifying people.”
It lowered its head toward hers, its black gaze all too penetrating. “Not you.” The entity retreated . . . and Luka’s eyes bored into hers. “Does that ease your concerns?” he asked.
She dipped her chin.
He fingered one of her curls, and her heart slammed against her ribcage. There was nothing sexual about his touch, but it didn’t matter. Excitement still rushed through her blood. Anticipation still drummed over her skin. And now she was near to vibrating with the most basic of needs. She couldn’t lie, it shook her.
He shook her.
Her demon was no less affected by him, because it wasn’t just preternatural power he wielded. It was the sheer power that came from being so very and unabashedly male. The guy, unknowingly or not, brandished it like a weapon. And now her body was an absolute mess—heart pounding, hormones drunk, feminine parts tingling.
“So you’re agreeing to be mine for at least the next few months?”
“Yes.” Her voice broke, and something lit his eyes at the little crack in her composure. Something predatory and indecent.
He edged even closer, sucking up all her oxygen. “Only mine,” he pushed in a thick whisper, the soft words fanning her face.
She licked her lower lip, and his eyes tracked the movement. “Yes.”
“Even if your anchor objects?”
“Even if.”
“Even if your family objects?”
“Even if. Quite frankly, it’s not their business.”
Satisfaction crawled through Luka, and his entities relaxed. “Good.”
She lifted and dropped her shoulders. “So, what now?”
“Now” —Luka dipped his face to hers again, watching her pupils dilate—“I’m going to take you. Use you like the plaything I’ll make you. And then I’ll use you some more.” He knotted a hand in her hair and tugged her head back slightly. “But not here. I want to fuck you in your bed.”
Her tongue swiped out to lick at her bottom lip again. “Okay.” She led him upstairs and into a very feminine bedroom that was all lavender paint and white-gloss wood.