A Demon’s Touch by Ella Jade

Chapter 12

Harper

Sitting on the curb in the parking lot of the spa, I assessed the damage to my car. Someone had brutally slashed all four tires. If that weren’t enough destruction, they neatly etched the word whore on the driver’s side door. My poor car.

What was supposed to be a relaxing night at the spa to celebrate my first real career victory had turned out to have a shitty ending. Once the police left, I was supposed to contact my roadside service, but I called Angelo instead. I didn’t think the decision to ask for his help was intentional. It seemed natural, like who else would I call?

When he turned into the parking lot, I stood from the curb. My stomach did that fluttering thing whenever he was close. As he got out of his car, I walked toward him, admiring the light blue t-shirt and well-fitting jeans he donned. When I saw the tattoos on his right arm, the butterflies in my stomach turned to a swarm of frantic bees. I had to settle down.

“Are you okay?” He took my hand in his and looked me over before glancing around the empty lot. Before I could comment on his bandaged hand, he asked, “You’re here alone?”

“Yes, the police left a while ago, and the spa employees are done for the night.”

“Everyone left you out here alone?” He let go of my hand and circled my car. “This is why I’m a recluse. I don’t understand humans.”

“‘Humans?’” What the hell did that mean?

“People.” He shook his head when he saw the word on the side of my car. “This is disgusting.”

“I guess someone got bored.” I joined him by the car. “I apologize for calling you.”

“Why? It was the right thing to do.”

“I filed a report, and the spa owner is going to pull the footage from the security cameras tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll follow up with both the police and the spa.” He gestured toward the car coming toward us. “That’s David. He’ll stay until they tow your car and handle getting you something else for now.”

“He doesn’t have to do that.” Not only had I made Angelo leave his home tonight, but now I’d inconvenienced David. “I can manage.”

“That may be true, but I’ll take care of everything.” He motioned for David to join us. “I’ll take you home.”

“I need to get something out of the car.” I opened the back door and took out an overnight bag as he walked over to David. They held a brief conversation, but I couldn’t hear what they said. David waved at me.

“Sorry you had to come and rescue me,” I said. “I can wait for the tow truck.”

“It’s not a problem.” He surveyed the damage. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He took out his cell. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“What’s that?” Angelo pointed to my bag.

“Some clothes and things. I keep it in the car in case you need me to stay over.”

“Really?” His appetizing lips turned into a satisfied smirk. “I thought you were opposed to that.”

“I am. I mean, I was, but if you need me, then I want to be prepared.”

“Good to know.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me to his car. “Are you hungry?”

“No.”

He took the bag from my shoulder and then opened the passenger side door. I slipped inside and buckled my seatbelt as he shut the door. He placed my bag in the trunk before taking his seat behind the wheel.

“Why would someone do that to my car?” I rested my head on the back of the seat. “It’s so senseless.”

“People can be senseless.”

“You mean ‘humans’ can be senseless? Isn’t that what you said?” I laughed. “Thank you for coming to help me.”

“I’m glad you called me.”

“What happened to your hand?”

“I cut it on some glass.” He shook his hand out. “It’s fine.”

“Between your hurt hand and my vandalized car, I should have taken you up on your dinner offer tonight. We both might have had a better evening.”

“That’s why I don’t take rainchecks.”

“Oh, you needed to turn there.” I looked out the back window. “I live that way.”

“But I live this way.”

“We’re going to your house?”

“Well, seeing how you have your overnight bag and all.”

“Um, you want me to spend the night with you?” My heart rate increased at the thought of sleeping at his house. “Not exactly with you-with you but at your home?”

“You’re unsettled. I don’t blame you. It’s upsetting when someone destroys your property. I don’t think you should be alone tonight.”

“That’s very kind of you.” My knight in shining armor. “I’ll be fine at home though.”

“I’d feel better knowing you were with me.”

“Your mom should be very proud of you. She raised a true gentleman.”

He gripped the steering wheel as he focused on the road. The silence was awkward, but I didn’t want to say something I shouldn’t. Being around him reduced me to babbling and sticking my foot in my mouth on more than one occasion.

“My mother didn’t raise me,” he said. “She died when I was ten.”

“I’m sorry.” Mouth meet foot… again.

“I went to live with my father after that.”

“Was that a good thing?”

“I thought it was, but then, as I got older, I realized he wasn’t someone who should raise a child.” His jaw clenched. “He wasn’t the best role model.”

“It sounds like it wasn’t the best childhood.” I could relate. I might have come from a privileged family, but being raised by nannies and housekeeping staff wasn’t always ideal. “Do you have a relationship with him?”

“He died years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He glanced at me. “I’m not.”

When he turned onto the long road that followed the river, I fumbled with my hands. Why was I so nervous to spend the night? I spent the entire day with him five days a week. Why should being at his house in the dark be any different?

“What has you so anxious?”

“I’m not anxious.”

“Hmm…” He made a right onto the access road that led to the house. “The river is calm tonight.”

“How do you know that?” I gazed out the window. “It looks fast and furious to me.”

“I can feel it, but compared to you, anything is calm.”

“How can you feel the river?”

“We’re home.” He ignored my question as he put the car in park in front of the garage. “That’s Conrad.” He pointed toward a large, muscular man, who opened my door. “He maintains the property at night.”

“You have someone maintain the property at night?”

“David needs to sleep.” He shrugged as he got out of the car.

“Hello, Conrad.” I said when the hunky guy with the arm sleeve tattoo opened my door.

“This is my attorney, Harper Whitmore.” Angelo grabbed my bag from the trunk. “She’ll be spending the night with us.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Whitmore.” Conrad shut the door after I exited.

“Please, call me ‘Harper.’”

“Conrad.” Angelo placed his hand on the small of my back. “Put the car in the garage and then touch base with David.”

“Sure, boss.” He took the keys from Angelo. “Have a good night.”

As Conrad maneuvered the car into the side garage, Angelo and I entered the house. The soft, dim night lighting accented the foyer, allowing shadows to bounce off the walls. It was quieter than usual. Maybe because Greta wasn’t moving around the kitchen, shifting plates and pots or singing to herself as she prepared her delicious masterpieces.

“Are you sure you’re not hungry?” Angelo asked. “I could get you something from the kitchen.”

“No, thank you. We had that late lunch, and with all the excitement from today, I’m not really that hungry.”

“Perhaps a drink?” He pointed to the family room. “We could celebrate your victory.”

“Sure.” A drink sounded great at the moment.

“I have champagne, or I could make you one of those trendy martinis you like.” He offered with a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

“You can make a martini?”

“How hard could it be?”

I followed him into the impressive room with the huge flatscreen TV that covered most of the wall next to the French doors and windows that boasted a stunning view of the backyard.

“Wow.” I stood in front of the television. “This is over the top. I bet Monday night football is an event here.”

“David and Greta are the sports aficionados in this house. I prefer the stock and business channels.”

“Of course, you do.” I turned and smiled at him. “Do you work every second of the day?”

“I try.” He smirked. “I enjoy an occasional classic movie from time to time.”

“Like Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman?”

“Oh.” He rolled his eyes. “I consider classic a little further back than that.”

“What do you like to watch?”

“I have an eclectic palate.” He went to the built-in bar in the corner of the room. “It depends on my mood. Last week, I was into Alfred Hitchcock. This week, I find myself seeking out Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.”

“The Philadelphia Story.”

“You know it?” He seemed surprised.

“This one nanny that I had for a few years enjoyed classic movies. She was with us from the time I was eight until I was thirteen. That was a rare occurrence in my house, a nanny staying so long.”

“She left an impression on you.”

“She would let me stay up late and watch the old black and white movies with her. I loved all the romantic ones.” I hadn’t thought about that in years. “We would make popcorn and sit in her bed and watch a few times a week for years. Those were some really wonderful memories.”

“What was her name?”

“Rosa.” I stared out into the backyard, admiring the way the landscape lighting accented the rose bushes. “She was probably one of the longest nannies Kiki and I had. I really missed her when she left.”

“Why did she leave?”

“They all left eventually, but I noticed a pattern.” I sat on the sofa. “Everything was always fine, and the house ran smoothly until my parents came home, and my mother inserted herself into our daily lives. Like being a mom three times a year was really important to her or something. She would criticize the help and tell the nanny she was doing it wrong. They never stayed too long after that. Then, my parents would leave again, and Kiki and I would have to adjust to another adult presence in our lives.”

When I looked up at him, he was staring at me intently with those onyx eyes I’d grown accustomed to.

“So, are we drinking?” I pointed at the bar, trying to end this awkward conversation. “You offered me a drink.”

“A martini?”

“What are you drinking?”

“Tonight, seems to be a vodka kind of night but not that fruity stuff you drink.” He held up a black bottle. “Only the genuine stuff for me.”

“I’ll have that too.”

“Really?”

“What? I went to college parties.” I joined him at the bar. “I drank vodka.”

“How would you like it, Ms. Yale?”

“Huh?”

“Straight or on the rocks?” When he smiled, my stomach jumped, and my knees knocked together.

“I’ll take it however you’re having it.” I sat on the barstool facing him. “We’re celebrating, right?”

“Absolutely.” He placed two shot glasses on the bar and poured the clear liquid into each of them. He picked one up and handed it to me before wrapping his long fingers around the other glass and bringing it to mine. He clinked them together. “A toast to my amazing attorney, who is the best decision I’ve ever made.”

“You flatter me.”

“You deserve it.” When he brought his glass to his lips, I couldn’t focus on anything else. He tossed his head back and drank the vodka in one fast gulp. “You’re supposed to drink yours too.”

“Oh, right.”

“Let’s try that again.” He poured himself another. “Together this time. It’s a toast, remember?”

“I do.” I clinked my shot glass to his again, and then this time, I brought it to my mouth, tentatively pressing the rim to my lips for a sip. I tasted little, so I closed my eyes and chugged the small amount in one go.

When I opened my eyes, Angelo set his empty glass on the bar. “Well?”

“It’s very smooth.”

“It should be.” He poured another round. “It’s about five grand a bottle.”

“You spare no expense for anything, do you?”

“I don’t have to.” He moved the drink closer to me. “Are you up for another?”

“Yes.” The first one went down so easily. I didn’t see the harm in having another. I picked up my glass. “Are we toasting this time?”

He held his glass to mine. “To the most unique woman I’ve ever met.”

I drank the shot faster than the first one. “Even more unique than all those swimsuit models?”

“Models?”

“I believe you called them ‘house guests.’” I pushed my empty glass toward him, feeling much more relaxed than when I first arrived.

He smirked as he filled the tiny glass to the rim. My coordination was a little off when I reached for the drink, and some of it spilled down my wrist on the way to my mouth. Slinging my head back, I downed the shot and set the glass back on the granite countertop.

Angelo grabbed my hand and brought my wrist to his mouth, flattening his tongue along my skin and licking the vodka I had spilled. His hot, wet tongue caused a pulsating sensation between my legs.

“You missed some.” He released me from his hold and did his shot. “Are you sure you’re not hungry?”

Not for food.“Just thirsty.”

“Maybe you should slow down.”

“I’m not driving.” I handed him my glass as the room spun. “One more.”

“I find it difficult to deny you.” He filled our glasses. “You’re more than I expected.”

“Am I?” When I licked my lips, his gaze followed my tongue. “You’re every bit as intimidating as I thought you were the day we first met.”

“You’re getting used to me.”

“Let me guess.” I lifted the glass to my mouth, noting how he couldn’t stop staring at my lips. “You can feel it?”

We drank together, his gaze still more scrutinizing than ever.

“I can feel a lot of things.”

If you knew what I felt right now, we’d be in your bed.The fuzziness inside my head intensified. “Did I say that out loud?”

“Say what out loud?” He poured another round.

“That we should be in your…” Stop!

“Don’t stop there. We should be in my what?” He handed me the half-filled shot glass. “I’m very interested in what you have to say.”

“I thought we were only having one more?”

“You don’t have to drink it.” When he leaned close to my face, his warm breath caressed my mouth. “We can stop whenever you want.”

“We haven’t even started.” I took the drink from him and finished it.

“Ms. Whitmore, you’re full of surprises.” He drank his vodka before bending down and retrieving a bottle of water from the mini-fridge behind the bar. “Let’s switch to something a bit more hydrating.” He took off the cap and handed me the water. “Sip that.”

“Thank you.” I tucked my hair behind my ear and then took the water from him. “Speaking of surprises, there is the matter of your tattoos.” I glanced at his arm before tracing my finger over them. “I like these.”

“Thank you.”

“When can I see all of them?” I ran my hand down his rock-hard chest. “I don’t think I can wait until California.”

“Waiting isn’t a bad thing.” He ran his fingers across my lips. “It can enhance any situation.”

“Is that why you won’t kiss me?” Did I say that out loud?

“Maybe I should serve you vodka more often.” He moved his fingers along my jaw. “This is the most relaxed I’ve ever seen you.”

“It must have been the massage.”

“With the guy who left you in the parking lot with the slashed tires?”

“Who?” My body swayed in the chair, and I had to grip the edge of the counter to steady myself.

“The man who had his hands all over you. Did you enjoy that?”

“The massage therapist?” During the entire massage, I imagined it was Angelo’s hands on me. “I don’t even remember his name.”

“I hope not.” He came around the bar and stood between my legs. “From now on, I should be the only man who touches you.”

“You don’t touch me that often, at least not for real.” I rested my palms against his shoulders. “You’re like stone. Hot, lava stone.” Am I making any sense?

“Do I touch you in your dreams?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “In all the right places.”

“Do you like it?” He ran the back of his hand down my neck. “When I touch you?”

“I like it when you make me come.” Oh god! “I think I’m drunk.”

“I know you’re drunk.” His black eyes didn’t abandon the power they held over me. “I’m going to take you upstairs now.”

“To bed?”

“To bed.”

He scooped me up in his firm grasp and headed toward the foyer. I wrapped my arms around his neck, dangling my feet so my flip-flops would fall to the floor. As I pressed my lips to his jaw, I worked my way to his ear, and his breathing picked up.

By the time he had gotten to the bottom of the staircase, the alcohol had completely gone to my head. Any control I may have had over my words or actions had left the building thirty seconds ago.

“Angelo,” I whispered into his ear. “Are you a sex demon?”

“What?”

When his body tensed around mine, I realized my mistake. This time, I was one-hundred percent certain I had said that out loud.