While his companion, probably Siren’s bouncer, was intimidating due to his size and his masculine features, this man’s attractiveness was sleek, sexy, and there was something a little sinister about it.
He radiated power and arrogance, and I was sure there wasn’t a soul within a mile who couldn’t feel his influence, even if they didn’t know what it was they were experiencing.
Ididn’t know what I was experiencing. A tangle of emotions raged inside me when I looked at him, and most of them weren’t positive.
This man—Mr. Morningstar, no doubt—was dangerous. He wore his maleficence like a freaking fashion accessory. And damn if it didn’t look good on him.
“Gentleman,” he purred, his voice deep and gritty, like a slow, woeful song that brought your skin to break out in goosebumps no matter how many times you’d listened to it. “If you’re looking to sin, you’ll want to come inside where I can offer you an array of indulgences free of barbarism. If you’re strictly looking to kill yourself, do it a few blocks down, hmm? If you’re looking for a trip downstairs via bloodshed and brutality, I’m afraid you’ll need to take the old-fashioned way. This front entrance is for civilized, paying guests only.”
His gaze shifted to me, to Gabe, then back to me. The corner of his mouth quirked as if he’d analyzed the situation instantly. “Well, look at this rare little piece of sunshine. I haven’t seen one of you in quite some time. Guardians typically do better at keeping your kind far away from me and my little sinner’s den here.”
What in the world was he talking about? What did he mean,guardians? And why had he referred to me as ‘sunshine?’ It was the same nickname the sleazy biker had called me.
I looked to Gabriel, who was fuming. He was regarding the suited man and his henchman with such hatred, it was palpable in the air.
“What do you say, Little Miss Sunshine? Come in and have a drink, and I’ll have Abaddon here escort our little wolf friends off the premises since they don’t seem to know how to treat a lady.”
His attention shifted back to Gabriel, his smile turning acidic. And Gabe just glowered back, teeth bared and fists balled. In the car, I’d questioned if he really had believed the billionaire playboy to be the devil or if he was just feeding me some stupid excuse to keep me out of a club full of horny men. But seeing the way Gabe regarded the man next to me, there was no question that he truly believed this to be the Prince of Darkness himself.
“You can even bring your bodyguard along with you.”
“He’s not my bodyguard.”
The man arched a brow, his lips setting back into a cool smirk. “Isn’t he? Well, come along then. I’m sure we’ll find you some sort of suitable company.”
He held the door open for me, gesturing inside. Coiling smoke, red lights, and low, melodic music poured from the entryway. It was almost like he’d opened a whole new world.
“Mel!” Gabriel started forward, reaching for me like he planned to physically stop me from stepping inside the club. By the desperate gleam in his eye, I was sure he would. But the man referred to as “Abaddon” stepped in front of Gabe, blocking him.
“Now, now. Correct me if I’m reading the situation incorrectly, Little Miss Sunshine, but I don’t think the good lady wants you following her anymore.”
He smirked at Gabe, then glanced at me, awaiting confirmation.
“He’s not with me.” I swallowed, my voiced quaking with emotion. “I don’t want him coming inside.”
The hurt on Gabe’s face was enough of a blow to knock all the air from my lungs. All I’d said is that I didn’t want him coming inside with me. But Gabe believed Siren’s eccentric owner to be something else entirely. To him, I’d chosen to follow the devil to the gates of Hell rather than let him take me home.
Tamping down my guilt, I turned my back to Gabriel and stepped inside.
