Page 98 of Stone Cold Touch

He stood up fluidly. “It’s an American classic.”

Smiling, I closed my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Open your eyes, shortie.”

I felt his hand in mine again, so I pried my eyes open. “Why?”

“You need to see where you’re going.” He pulled me into the darkness. A second later, soft light flooded the room and he let go of my hand. Heavy blinds were pulled down, blocking out the sun.

I kicked off my shoes, stumbling as I pulled off my socks. My toes sank into the plush carpet. “I think I’m hungry.”

“I’ll have the food sent up here.”

I faced him, my breath catching as he pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside. Smooth skin stretched over hard muscle. His pants hung so low.

“I had a little bit of everything made. Hamburgers. Fries. Chicken tenders.” He stopped, looking at me. A smug smile appeared as he removed his shoes. “See anything you like?”

I couldn’t answer, but I saw lots of things I liked.

He prowled across the room, stopping a few feet in front of me. “Sorry. I can’t stand the smell of smoke. Does it bother you?”

I knew there was a reason it should, but I shook my head and then found my voice and a healthy dose of boldness. “No.”

“Then you won’t mind shedding this?” Roth wrapped his fingers around the strings dangling off the neckline of my hoodie. “It reeks of Sucky and Inky.”

Before I even shook my head no, he’d worked the zipper down. I held my breath as his knuckles brushed over me. Sharp tingles shot through me, clearing the haze from my brain for a moment or two. Then he slipped the “offensive” material off my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.

“Pretty.... What is it called?” he murmured, eyes clearly not on my face.

“A...camisole.” I took a deep breath, but couldn’t get enough air in my lungs. “Roth?”

His gaze flicked up. “Layla?”

I started to speak, but something soft and furry brushed against my foot, drawing my attention. A tiny white kitten stared up at me with beautiful blue eyes. I bent at the waist, reaching for the little fur ball, wanting to hug it and squeeze it and love it, but then I remembered.

Frowning at the little devil, I pulled my fingers out of reach. “No. I remember you. Bad kitty.”

Hair along the little darling’s back rose, and it hissed before spinning around and dashing back under the bed.

“I see you’ve learned from your previous mistakes, but I think you’ve upset Nitro.”

“Those kittens have rabies.” I rose and then gasped as a wave of dizziness washed over me.

Roth placed a hand on my arm and there was a muted sensation of concern. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah... I’m fine. This happens after...” I trailed off as the black-and-white kitten poked its head out from under the bed, eyeing me with ears flat.

“After feeding?”

Feeding. Was that what I’d been doing? Just like the rest of the demons in the strange place in the bowels of this apartment building? Doing my part in the demonic food chain? I shivered.

“You didn’t take her soul, shortie.”

I cocked my head to the side. I hadn’t. “She was okay, right?”

“Yes.”

“And if she was down there, that meant she was bad, right?”

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