“That is not helpful ‘Bastian.”
“It isn’t exactly easy with everyone around her all the time. Trying to get her alone is like trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.”
“I know. We will be on the road soon. Maybe it will be easier.”
“Doubtful. Especially with Xane around. He is powerful and knows how to manipulate her.”
“Yes, he is, out of all of them, the one I find most problematic,” CK says. “What do you mean he knows how to manipulate her? What do you know?”
“Nothing concrete but he does have a way with her. With this whole Demons-come-from-Dragons thing, he plays on it.”
“Yes. He most definitely did that earlier. Anyway, we need to talk about the other thing.”
Sebastian sighs. “That one is not to my liking. It looks crazy suspicious. I know she saw me talking to him in Vegas. If the girl hadn’t gone after Nico, she would’ve asked about it. Lucky for me, she seems to have forgotten.”
“You will have to get him on his own and convince him the girl is what he wants. The sooner his attentions are diverted away from Aefre, the better.”
“I am pissed that she woke up bond-less,” Sebastian snarls. “I mean, what the fuck, man.”
“Indeed, a fucking lot of trouble for nothing. This is why you need to fix it. Soon.” CK gives him a hard glare.
“Fine,” Sebastian grouses. “But you are going to owe me, big time.”
“I have given you enough,” CK replies blandly.
I awake abruptly. Was I dreaming? I must have been. A really vivid dream. They were talking about me, about…what about me? I can’t remember. My head is pounding, and I glance at the clock: 4 AM. Shit. I forgot all about Jess.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO
I climb out of bed and pull on my robe. I go to her room first. She is in there, sleeping. Alone. I leave her to it, quietly closing the door and push open Devon’s door. He is also sleeping. Alone. I crawl onto the bed with him and he stirs. I put my head on the pillow next to him and watch him sleep. I feel like I need comfort for some reason, and I want it from him. His beautiful blue eyes pop open as he senses me.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hi.”
“What’s up?”
“I just wanted to be near you.”
He pulls back the covers and says, “Get in.” I Shift to Elizabeth and do as requested, snuggling up to him. He sighs in bliss. “I have wanted you in my bed for so long.”
“I’m here now,” I say to him.
He glances at the clock. “Not for very long.”
“Long enough,” I say. “Dev. We need to talk. About what I told you after Jess.”
“I don’t
want to talk about it,” he says shortly.
“Why not? I think we need to.”
“No. No talking,” he says as he moves over me and kisses me, undoing my robe. He drops his mouth lower and lower down my jaw, down my neck until he reaches my nipples and licks me roughly. I arch my back and forget all about what I wanted to talk about. He plants little kisses all the way down my ribs and stomach and I’m happy to be attended to by him. He reaches my aching wet hole and inserts his tongue into me.
“Oh, gods,” I cry out. “Oh, Dev, I want you.”
“Not yet,” he murmurs as he adds his fingers to his tongue, and I come suddenly and forcefully.