Page 52 of Devil’s Promise

She shakes her head, her forehead swishing against mine.

“It might be the most beautiful thing about you, which is really saying something.”

She blinks up at me and that’s when I see the tears in her eyes. Is my weight hurting her? My words?

Or is it my actions?

“I was never going to fuck Chastity,” I tell her. “I don’t mess with the dancers.” I don’t actually sleep with many women. It’s not that I can’t. I get offers all the time.

A tear tracks down her cheek, and I know that Chastity was the least of it.

“Your father is important to my family’s future.” But that’s shit too. My brothers don’t want a future that includes Don. That’s all me.

A line appears between her brows. Next to my face, she writes on her own palm.

“No dice. I know you can talk.”

She shakes her head, her body trembling beneath mine. With a sigh, I pull out my phone and hand it to her. I only push up far enough to let her write, my lower torso and legs still on top of her. If ever she might run, today is the day.

She types out a message, showing me the phone.

What are the terms of the contract?

“He gets votes. I get land.” I know I’m leaving major pieces out.

She frowns as she turns the phone toward herself again.

What about me? How long are we going to be married for?

I read the words, my mouth hardening into a thin line. She is so close to the heart of the matter. With her silence, it’s tempting to think of Promise as nothing more than a breathing doll to be moved and used without thought or opinion.

But I got a taste of what that would be like downstairs and it was complete shit. I want the full experience. The warmth, the heat, and intelligence too. I like it way more than I ever imagined I would. “I haven’t worked that part out yet.”

She frowns at me, pushing at my shoulders. But I don’t want to get up. In fact, I start pulling at the hem of her dress. She smacks my hands, her frown turning into a scowl.

“I told you. You are mine, which means, you put out when I want you to.”

She grabs my phone again. I know I’m not going to like whatever she’s about to type, but I’m just glad we’re talking. What a pussy I’m turning out to be.

She takes the phone, her fingers flying over the screen.

You can’t be in bed with him and me. Not going to work.

The words are like a punch to the gut, her hit dead-on. Because she’s right. I’ve got to pick a side. Him or her.

And either way, I’m pretty sure I’m the one who’s screwed.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Angel

I have no idea what Promise thinks about me stomping out of the apartment, but as I make my way down the stairs, I absolutely thud my way down.

Making noise lets out some of the pent-up aggression I’m feeling.

Was it just this morning that I had a naked Promise in my arms? Fuck me. I’m on my way back to the conference room, when Knox steps out of my fucking office. His pierced nostrils flare as he cracks his knuckles. “We need to talk to you.”

I keep walking.