One of his big hands reaches out to rub a red curl between his fingers. “I find this side of you extremely interesting.”
I arch a brow. “You found me interesting before… in my parlor and my kitchen.” I slant him a wicked smile and he hisses through his teeth. As fast as a snake bite, his hand cups the back of my neck and pulls me close.
“Oh, I did. There are so many interesting things about you, my little bird. Your penchant for self-sacrifice. Your inability to be cruel. Your strength at the most inopportune times. And your bravery when you have little to back youup. I'm interested in all of it. I'm beginning to think I could spend a century discovering new ways to find you interesting. Not the least of which is this pretty mouth wrapped around my cock.”
A small gasp sails across my parted lips, and he licks it away, flicking the tip of his tongue against mine. I fist his shirt, my inner thighs suddenly slick with heat.
His nostrils flare. “I hope this plan of yours works and quickly. The night is short.”
He releases me at the sound of the doors opening, and I smooth my dress, feeling positively rattled. Stars above, I can’t so much as look in his direction without the air crackling between us. Something has changed. A wall that was there only days ago is gone. But I can’t think about that now. With a few cleansing breaths and a refusal to look in Damien's direction, I slow my pulse and get my head back in the game.
I try my key in the door to Tony's penthouse. It doesn't fit. Bastardchanged the locks.
“Damien?”
He breaks into shadow and trails of darkness disappear under the door, leaving behind only a whiff of spice. A second later, the lock clicks, and the door opens. I walk into the foyer of a place I used to live but was never home to me. It’s sad really, how little I miss it. I close the door and turn the corner toward Tony’s office, only to come face-to-face with the business end of a Glock.
30
Hit Me with Your Best Shot
ELOISE
“It's me!” I raise my hands, meeting Tony’s eyes.
Tony glowers at me over his gun, his rumpled suit looking like he's just got home from the office. “What the fuck are you wearing, Eloise? You're lucky I didn't shoot you.”
“Didn't Ralph call up?”
He juts his chin toward me. “Yeah, he called. But he didn't tell me you were dressed like a whore.”
Fucking bastard. I refuse to let his insults shake me. I need to have a level head for this. “I just want to talk.”
“How did you get in here anyway?”
I glance over my shoulder, but Damien isn't there. “I still have a key.”
“I changed the locks.”
“Guess it still works.” Behind him, coils of darkness turn into a Damien-shaped cloud.
“Put the gun down, Tony. This will only take a second.”
“Unless you came to tell me you're moving out of Harcourt Manor before our court date, we've got nothing to talk about.” He circles his finger in the air. “Turn around and get the fuck out of my house.”
“The hard way then,” I mutter. I lift my gaze over Tony's shoulder and lock eyes with my monster. Damien forms in a flicker of darkness and pries the gun out of Tony's twitching fingers. I don't register how he does it. He moves so fast; he’s nothing but a smudge of black. But when he settles into existence behind Tony, his arm is around my ex's neck like he means business.
“Settle in, Tony, and listen to what she has to say,” Damien grits out. “And know this —I will kill you without hesitation if you try to hurt her again.”
“You again? I'll have you disbarred!” Tony struggles against Damien's grip, and I realize he still thinks Damien is a lawyer from Maeve's practice.
Damien lands one giant hand on his shoulder and ushers him into the living room where he presses him down into the couch with enough force to pale Tony's face. “I'd like to see you try it from the grave.”
I take more than a little satisfaction in the spark of fear I see in Tony's expression. Reaching into my bag, I pull out this month's copy of Echo Mills Today. Tony scowls. “I see you recognize this.” I wave it a little in the air.
“So what?” he snarls. “It's a free magazine available all over the city.”
“A magazine produced by Gold Weaver, Inc.”
