“NO.”Yep, it’s definitely the only word I’m capable of saying right now.
He steps toward me—slow, deliberate, heat radiating off him like a storm. “Piper.”
“Nope.”Oh! One for the win. Gods, I need help.
“You’retrembling.”
“That’s fear,” I lie.
“That’s arousal.”
“No the fuck it’s—WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?” I screech, eyes widening a fraction as he stops directly in front of me. He’s close enough that my breath hits his chest.
“Because you summoned me,” he murmurs. “And now I’m in your world. Your home. Your orbit. And whether you accept it or not…”
He lifts my chin with two fingers. “…you aremine.”
My heart flatlines. Newt hisses like a disapproving chaperone. Slade doesn’t blink. I break first, stumbling back. “I’m going to work,” I croak. “You are going to stay here and not talk… Or… breathe loud. Or touchanything.”
Slade leans against my doorway like sin incarnate. “I go where you go.”
“You go NOWHERE.”
He only grins, and my heart plummets to my ass all over again. I’m in over my fucking head. And he knows it. Fucking bastard. A very big, very sexy, verysmugbastard who is currently leaning in my doorway like he’s posing for a demon-themed advent calendar.
“Stay,” I tell him.
Slade lifts a brow. “I’m not a dog.”
“Then stop acting like you’re going to follow me everywhere.”
He steps closer. Too close. His voice drops into that deep, I’m-your-problem-now rumble. “I go where the bond leads.”
“No,” I hiss, poking his chest. “You go WHERE I SAY.”
His grin is slow and devastating. “Sayplease.”
I shove past him before I lose my last functioning brain cell, turning around to yell, “STAY. HERE.” It comes out like I’m yelling commands at a toddler or malfunctioningRoomba.
Slade leans against my kitchen counter, arms crossed, smirk sinful. “For a little witch who summoned a higher demon, you give terrible orders.”
“Stay,” I repeat, jabbing a finger at him.
“Make me.”
I nearly scream. Newt does scream—hissing from atop the fridge like my feral hype man.
Slade snorts. “I’ll consider staying.” His eyes drag over me, slow and molten. “If you say it nicely.”
“I hope your horns grow crooked.”
He…laughs. Actually laughs.
Great. Add “demon delighting in my misery” to the morning checklist.
Finally,finally, I storm out and slam the door.
Chapter 5
