Page 9 of Demon’s Temptation

But then the wall came down, his eyes going flat, lifeless. He shook his head. “I can’t give you that.” His gaze hardened, the muscle in his jaw jumping. “You don’t know what you’re asking, Chaya, don’t have the first clue what being with me entails.”

He wasn’t even prepared to try to give her a chance to prove herself. “Then let me go,” she whispered. They both knew she didn’t just mean physically.

“Shit.” He jammed his hand through his hair again, making it stick up at odd angles. “Just…just tell me we’re good?”

What did you expect, Chaya? A declaration? That he’d admit the way he felt about you?

“I’m not telling you a damn thing. Now get out of my way. You smell like that guy you fucked, and it’s turning my stomach.”

A low blow, but she was willing to use any weapon at her disposal right then to protect herself against this man. A man who didn’t even know the power he held over her.

He hissed, cursed a string of foul words, and shoved away from the wall.

She didn’t wait, yanked the door open and did her best to act like her heart wasn’t breaking into a million pieces…and went back to work.

She knew the minute he came back out onto the floor, and she made sure to avoid him for the rest of her shift.

Lifting her tray high, she dodged a couple dancing and went to deliver her last drink of the night. She’d seen the guy here a time or two. He had salt and pepper hair and dressed a lot like Brent, wearing his expensive dark suit with confidence. The male was definitely a dominant. He’d taken his jacket off, and his shirt sleeves were still buttoned at the cuff, emphasizing his long, elegant fingers. Several subs had been watching him, but he seemed content to sit back and watch.

She stopped beside him. “Here’s your drink, sir.”

He glanced at her, a small smile lifting the corner of his mouth. “Thank you.” He picked up his drink and took a sip. “Do you have a moment to sit with me?”

If this guy thought she was in the market for a Dom, especially after what had happened tonight, he was sniffing around the wrong fire hydrant. “I’m actually just about to head off.”

“I only want a few moments of your time.” He held up his hands. “Nothing untoward, I promise.”

The guy smiled again, putting her at ease. Her curiosity piqued, she placed her tray on the table. “Um…sure.”

She sat across from him, and he aimed his silver eyes at her. She sensed he had demon blood, but how much she had no idea. He was more than likely a demi like her.

He laid a hand on the table and slid it toward her. When he lifted it, a plain white card rested in front of her. The Dungeon was embossed in fancy silver lettering. “This is a club I frequent. Membership is exclusive. You can’t join without an invitation from a member. This card allows you three visits as a voyeur.”

Okay. “Why are you giving me this?”

He sat back in his seat. “May I ask your name?”

She stared at him for several seconds. She was tempted not to answer, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Chaya.”

“I saw what happened earlier, Chaya. That male was an idiot to turn down the gift you offered him. If you’re ever interested in exploring that side of your nature, I would be more than happy to oblige.” He tapped the card. “But first I ask that you come and watch.”

She inwardly groaned. He’d seen her humiliation. Jesus. How many others were pitying her for her stupidity? “I work here, Mr.…”

“Victor.”

She toyed with the corner of the card. “What do you think you can show me that I haven’t already seen?”

“We don’t keep all the action behind closed doors, Chaya. You’d be surprised.”

He stood, shrugged into his jacket, and smiled down at her. “I hope to see you there sometime.” Then he made his way out of the club.

Chaya didn’t hang around. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck there after closing with Brent, forced to endure another conversation like the one they’d had earlier. Quickly changing into her street clothes, she grabbed her bag from the dressing room, and, head down, walked out into the street.

As soon as she was out of the club, her mask dropped and the pain returned unbidden. She crossed her arms against it burning in her chest, and something bit into her palm. She looked down at her hand and realized she was clutching that damn card.

Could she?

She’d told Brent she wanted him to let her go. She was full of shit. The pull toward him was as strong as ever. She wasn’t ready to give up yet. Whether that made her a glutton for punishment or a complete idiot, she didn’t know. The male could pussyfoot around it all he wanted, but he wanted her, too. He was right about one thing, though: she didn’t have the first clue what being with someone like him entailed.