Page 68 of Cruel Devil

“You don’t do anything without my permission, understand?”

I blink at him. “In that case, I need to go pee in about ten minutes. That okay with you?”

Darkness floods his eyes. “Promise me, Nyx.”

“I’ll be good,” I say sweetly. “I promise.”

“You’ve already planned his assassination, haven’t you?”

“You don’t trust me?” Bees could collect my nectar for honey.

He has the nerve to scoff at me.

“Fine!”

I jump off the bed and invade his closet, pulling out a dozen or so sweatpants, trying to find one that might fit me. I land on a pair of black joggers that probably hit him mid-calf, and tug them on.

“Then there’s a simple solution,” I tell him as I scoop out his vests and shirts onto the floor. I rifle through them, kicking away those that don’t inspire me. There’s a faded red vest that looks smaller than the rest. I yank it over my head and knot it just below my breasts.

“And that is?” he asks dryly, shoving a piece of melon into his mouth as he watches my Oscar-winning performance.

“I won’t leave your side, my dear, sweet husband.” I crawl over the bed to him, brushing our noses together because he’s too stubborn to draw back.

He tries to grab my hair, but I dart back and scramble off the bed.

“Uh, uh,” I tut, waggling a finger. “Play nice.”

Savage slides off the bed, oozing malevolence as he makes his way over to the pile of clothes I left discarded on the floor. He dons a shirt and swaps his sweats out for a pair of jeans. As soon as he heads for the door, I rush to his side, slipping my hand into his.

“Hubby.”

He tugs like he wants to pull away, and then tightens the grip instead. Then he brings his hand up and kisses my knuckle.

“Wifey.”

I glare at him, but he just gives me a grim smile and clicks his fingers. Bella’s collar clatters as she leaps up and races after us. Another click of his fingers, and she falls in line like a dutiful soldier, ears pricked like she’ll be the first to alert him of enemies in the hallway.

I’m scowling, but I refuse to let go of his hand. And he grips me just as tight, refusing to release me.

It’s kinda sweet, but also toxic as fuck.

Like cyanide.

Chapter 23

Savage

Vito walks out of the elevator and gives me and Nyx a grim smile. When he spots Bella, he drops into a crouch, throwing his hands wide.

Bella whines, her muscles tensing like she wants to rush forward, her steps becoming stiff as she struggles to hold herself back.

“Come on!” Vito calls. “You don’t want cuddles, Bella?”

Good God, he’s a fucking sadist. Poor Bella’s shivering from excitement and frustration.

“Go,” I command.

Bella shoots off like a rocket. Few men would be brave enough to stand their ground if they saw a Rottweiler the size of Bella charging toward them.