Page 31 of Saint

Chapter Ten

Ashiver ran down Mia’s spine. Was he purposely trying to scare her?

“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit,” Mia said.

Nik snorted and rolled his eyes. “I know who and what I am.”

“You can deny it all you want, but there’s a good guy in there. I’ve seen him.”

“You have no idea what I’ve done,” he insisted.

“I don’t care. You protected me yesterday—more than once—and you saved me from freezing to death. I owe you.”

“Trust me. You don’t want to owe the devil.”

She tilted her head. “You might be big and scary, but you’re not the devil. You’re more like…” Her voice trailed off as she sought to find the right comparison. “Like an Archangel—someone who defends and protects against evil.”

He shook his head, but didn’t comment further.

“I want to go with you to Petrov’s,” she said, and he nearly choked on his coffee.

“No.”

Ugh, that simple denial he always gave her was so annoying. “I can help.”

“Petrov is a monster,” Nik said. “And you’re not going anywhere near his compound.”

“Nik—”

He marched right up to her, grabbed her chin and forced her to look into his dark eyes. “In case I wasn’t crystal fucking clear, your ass stays here. No fucking way are you going to Petrov’s. Understand?”

“You’re not the boss of me, Nik Valentine,” she said stubbornly.

He leaned down until they were nose to nose. “Iamthe boss of you, Mia Carlisle, and you will do exactly as I say.”

They were so close, a breath away, and her lips parted as the air around them suddenly charged and seemed to crackle. “I’m not afraid of you, Nik,” she whispered, searching his charcoal eyes.

“You should be running from me,” he said, voice husky, attention dipping to her mouth. “Locking yourself in that bedroom and hiding until I return you to dear old dad.”

“I’d rather be kissing you,” she admitted.

Nik released her chin and stepped back. “You don’t have any idea what you want.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Dammit, Mia. Why’re you so fucking difficult?”

“Because I know that I can help you. Where exactly is this compound that—”

The moment she mentioned Petrov’s compound, Nik exploded in a way she hadn’t seen before. He’d warned her, but she hadn’t listened, hadn’t believed him. And now she had a front row seat to how scary he could actually be.

The dragon had just come lumbering out of its den and he was breathing fire.

Dark eyes blazing, anger and frustration pouring off him in hot waves, his nostrils flared. She was glad he couldn’t really breathe flames or she’d be crispier than a piece of burnt bacon.

“Get your ass into the bedroom,” he ground out, tone low and lethal. “Before I drag you in there.”

Shit.She’d pushed him too far. Eyes wide, she scampered away before he could manhandle her and make good on his threat. Because right now? Nik wasn’t playing.

---