A Demon’s Touch by Ella Jade

Chapter 13

Angelo

How the hell could she know that?

As I carried Harper up the steps, she gazed into my eyes. I could sense her embarrassment over her question. If she actually thought I was a demon, I would feel fear from her. Wouldn’t I?

“Kiki had this silly class in college last year and when I told her I was dreaming about you, she suggested you could be a sex demon.”

“That Kiki, what an imagination.” A wave of relief washed over me when I realized she had no clue that I was a demon, but leave it to her intuitive sister to come up with the not-so-farfetched idea. “Would it be a problem if I were?”

“If you were a…” She laughed. “You’re teasing me.”

“A little.” I pushed open the guest bedroom door with my shoulder and carried her into the room. “You can stay in here.”

“The guest bedroom?” As she glanced around, I noted her disappointment. “It’s beautiful.”

When I set her down, she stumbled forward, grabbing my arms for stability.

“I drank too much.” She plopped down on the bed. “That’s your fault.”

“I take full responsibility.”

“You should.” She extended her hand for me and pulled me down next to her. “Is your room far from this one?”

“It’s next door.”

“Sweet, in case I need you for anything, I can come and find you.”

“Once your head hits that pillow, my love, you’re going to be out.”

She looked down at her feet. “My flip-flops flopped or flipped. I’m not sure which one, but I lost them.”

“I’ll retrieve them.” I guided her up to the top of the bed. “You should sleep now. You’ve had an eventful day.”

“This has been the best day of my life.”

“It has?” This woman had a messed-up view of what a great day should look like.

“Well, not the part about the car. That part sucked, but you came for me when I called.”

“I always will.”

“I closed an important deal for you.” She settled into the pillows. “And I got drunk with you. Um, but how come you’re not drunk?”

“Because I outweigh you by a lot, and I have a feeling I can handle my vodka a little better than you.”

“That’s probably true.” She motioned for me to come closer, so I joined her on the pillows, resting on my side to face her. “You know what would make the perfect ending to this day?”

“What?”

“This.” She pressed her lips to mine and gave me a gentle kiss. “Definitely perfect.”

“How about we up our game with that kiss?”

Her eyes dropped to my mouth when I tangled my fingers in her soft locks, bringing her lips to mine.

“Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

The demon inside me came to life when my lips touched hers. My flesh radiated a smoldering heat, but I fought him back, squeezing my eyes shut and willing the crimson glow to stay away. When she crawled into my lap and straddled me, I took her face between my hands and deepened the kiss, allowing my tongue to explore the sweetness of her mouth.

Without breaking our connection, I hovered over her. I trailed my hand down her throat and to the thin material of her t-shirt, circling my finger around her aroused nipple. She placed her hand on my shoulder as she arched her back, heaving her perky breasts closer to me.

I rolled her on top of me and gazed into her gorgeous eyes and realized how glazed over they appeared. She steadied herself against me and giggled the most melodic of sounds.

“The room is spinning, or maybe it’s me who is spinning.” She kissed my jaw and cupped the side of my face in her palm. “Either way, I like it.”

“Forgive me.” I released her from my hold and lifted her off me, putting her back on the bed. “I seem to have gotten lost in your unassuming seduction.”

“I like when you get lost.”

There was so much more I wanted, but not now, not when I’d gotten her so intoxicated.

“It’s time for you to sleep now.”

“Sleep? That’s the last thing I want to do.”

“Trust me, the vodka is going to take hold of you in a few minutes.”

“You’re a lot more fun in my dreams. Maybe I’ll find you there tonight, and we can pick up where we left off.”

We won’t.

“In my dreams, you fulfill my fantasies. Well, some of them.”

“I’m going to fulfill all of your deepest, darkest desires.” I kissed her long and hard, biting her bottom lip before I released her.

She gasped for air, a tinge of fear mixing with lust dominated her emotions.

Just wait.

“Some of those desires you don’t even know you possess. Yet, but you will.” I ran my finger along her lips. “When I make you mine, I’ll unlock all of your inner-most cravings. You’ll never want anyone else. You’ll never need anyone else.”

“I don’t want anyone else.” She pressed her hand to my cheek. “Why are we waiting?”

“Because I want you to be absolutely sure.” I trailed my fingers down her neck, circling her collarbone. “Being with me comes with complications that I’m not sure you’re interested in.”

“What does that mean?”

“That’s a conversation for another day.”

“Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?” She rested her head on my shoulder, draping her arm over my chest. “You’re so warm and cuddly.”

“No one has ever referred to me as such.”

“Maybe I don’t see you the way everyone else does.”

Wouldn’t that be nice?

After a few minutes, her breathing slowed, and the alcohol took over. I glanced down at her, imagining how this could play out. Could I be the man she thought she saw? If she didn’t know the demon existed, then perhaps, we had a chance at whatever this was.

Once I was sure she was totally out, I covered her with the comforter and kissed her forehead before I turned out the lamp. I lingered by the door, taking in her beauty and obsessed with the idea that she could be mine.

When I exited the room, David stood in the hallway, waiting for me.

“Is everything up to standard with the guest room?” He smirked. “Were you checking to make sure it was perfect?”

“Harper is asleep.”

“I saw the vodka bottle on the bar.”

“Apparently, she can’t hold her alcohol.”

“You mean, she can’t keep up with you.”

“I didn’t even try to make her keep up with me.” As if she could. I motioned for him to walk down the hallway and away from Harper. “Did you get everything settled with her car?”

“It will be in the shop for a few days, but since you’ll be in California, I didn’t think that would be a problem.”

“It’s fine. She can use one of the cars in the garage if she needs one in the morning.”

“Do you have a preference?”

“Let her take the Mustang if she wants.”

“Really? She must have really won you over.”

“What about the source of our problem tonight?” I ignored his comment. “What did you find out?”

“Our guy sent me the security footage from the parking lot.”

“And?”

“You were right. Terra vandalized Harper’s car.”

My eyes burned red with rage when David confirmed my suspicions. I clenched my fists by my side, willing back the demon.

“What do you want me to do about it?” he asked.

“Make sure the footage gets destroyed. I don’t want the police involved.”

“I’ve already told them to destroy the evidence. They’ll say there was a technical problem, and that there was no footage for tonight.”

There was no need to involve the authorities. Terra was my problem, not theirs. If she had to be handled, I would be the one to do it.

“Terra?” David also inquired, waiting for orders.

“Cut her off financially. Stop the deposits to her account.”

“The apartment?”

“Let her stay there for now. Once she realizes I’ve stopped giving her the monthly allowance, she’ll back off.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“It won’t end well for her.”

* * *

Harper

Stretching out my body from the soundest sleep I’d had in months, I gazed around the room. “Oh!” I shot up into a seated position, remembering where I was. My head pounded, and my mouth felt as if it was full of cotton.

Vodka! What was I thinking?

I rolled out of the bed in slow motion. Everything I did today was going to be slow. I checked the time on my phone. It was much later than I normally woke up.

I glanced out the window, admiring the incredible view of the pool. A quick dive in the refreshing water might help get rid of the hangover, but, unfortunately, I didn’t have a bathing suit.

My bag and the flip-flops that I’d lost last night were waiting for me by the bathroom door. It was more practical to take a shower and get dressed for work than to go for a swim. I was certain Angelo was already in his study.

“Harper.” David knocked at the door. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.” I smoothed my messy bedhead. “I’m awake.” Barely.

David entered the room, carrying a tray with bottled water, toast, fruit, and a large cup filled with what looked like a smoothie.

“Good morning,” I said.

“I hope you slept well.”

“I did.” I glanced at the tray. “What’s all that?”

“Well, not all of us can hang with Angelo when he brings out the vodka, so Greta thought you might like something light for breakfast.”

“How thoughtful of her.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “Someone should have warned me about the vodka.”

“Here.” He handed me the smoothie “Greta’s secret weapon against a drinking night with Angelo. Drink this, and you’ll feel better.”

“What’s in it?” I took the glass, inspecting the thick greenish contents.

“It’s a secret, but, I promise, it will help.”

“Okay.” I took a sip of the cold drink, and it went down smoother that I expected. “Cinnamon?” I tasted it again. “Maybe a little coffee?”

“Just drink it.”

“I need to get ready for work.”

“Angelo said to take the day off. You can get ready for your trip.”

“Where is he?”

“He had some business to take care of this morning.”

“Oh.” I tried to hide my disappointment, but I had hoped to see him today because I wanted to discuss last night. “Will he be back soon?”

“It’s difficult to say.” He picked a pillow off the floor and tossed it on the bed. “You can eat and then shower.”

“My car?”

“Is being worked on as we speak. I can drive you home, or you can take the Mustang, whichever you prefer.”

“He has you babysitting me today?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“What would you say?” The man got me drunk, kissed me like the world was ending, and then stuck me with his personal assistant. Frustrating, much?

“I’m guessing you two have some unresolved business that I’d rather not get in the middle of.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to meet the landscapers in the garden. Take your time. I’ll assist you with getting home.”

“Thank you.” I took another sip of the magic drink. “Tell Greta, too.”

“Eat the toast and the fruit. You’ll feel better.” He left, shutting the door behind him and leaving me to overthink the night before.

We had connected, I was certain of that. The alcohol had played a part in lowering my inhibitions, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t want him to kiss me. I wanted much more. In the light of the new day, I still craved him, but he was nowhere to be found. Was he just another person in a long line of people who would disappoint me?

Abandon me?

Thirty minutes later, I had finished my breakfast and showered. David had left me the keys to the Mustang. Maybe I would pick up Kiki and take her to lunch in it. If my client was too busy to even greet me this morning after what we’d shared last night, then so be it. At least I could enjoy his classic car.

As I wandered down the hallway and to the main staircase, I thought about what Angelo had said the night before: Being with me comes with complications that I’m not sure you’re interested in.

I should have heeded his warning. When a man told you he was complicated, a smart woman listened. I was indeed a smart woman, but…holy hell! When I got to the landing of the staircase, I caught a glimpse of my complicated man dressed in a black, tight-fitting suit with a dark gray dress shirt he’d left unbuttoned at the neck. Omitting the tie left a desirable amount of his chest on display.

“Ms. Whitmore.” He gazed up at me from the bottom of the stairs. “I trust you had a pleasant night’s sleep?”

“Yes, it was, uh…” Why did his presence reduce me to a clumsy schoolgirl? “It was a solid night of sleep. No dreams.” None of him doing inappropriate things to me.

“Good for you.” He showed off his dimples, as if he knew my secrets. “David told me you’ll be borrowing the car.”

“Yes.” I made my way down the rest of the stairs, stopping when I got to the last step, which put me at eye level with him. “Thank you for letting me borrow it.”

“Did you find everything you needed this morning?” When he traced his fingers along my cheek, a shiver coursed through me. A hot, desperate tremble that required his full attention.

“Yes, the shower was incredible.” I couldn’t lie about that. My house had the worst water pressure, which was why I opted for long soaks in the tub. “The jets were amazing.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the shower.” When he ran his thumb across my lips, I inhaled and took in his unique, woodsy scent. “We have an early flight tomorrow. I’ll send you the details this afternoon.”

“You don’t need me today?”

“I always need you, my love, but I have some business I have to take care of on my own. You relax today. We have a long day of travel tomorrow, so use this day to prepare for that.”

“If you’re sure…” I hesitated.

“I’m positive.” He gripped my hips, pulling me toward him. “I’m looking forward to our time away. We have much to explore.”

“We do?” My eyes fluttered when he brought his lips to mine. I rested my palms on his shoulders to steady myself.

“I think so.” His lips hardly grazed mine, but it was enough to set my soul ablaze. “I’ll see you soon.”

When he released me from his hold, I grabbed the banister for stability. As he walked down the hall, I regained my composure, taking a moment to appreciate the view of his rock hard backside.