Page 41 of Married to the Devil

I bark a laugh in relief.Oh. “Of course he does.”

Suddenly, the concerns that twined around me since parting Stella and Stoneheart last night loosen. My next breath is a full one. He wants me in a professional sense and thinks that sex is the way to accomplish that. Gods, if he actually were pursing me because of an interest inmeas a person, that would be more threatening.

Stella’s brows crease in concern, and I pat her thigh under the table, pulling away before I give into the desire to grip it.

“It’s okay,” I say. “This isn’t the first time that someone has tried to tempt me away from Kalos, and it won’t be the last.”

This isn’t even the first time someone has tried to use sex to this end. No matter how beautiful or enticing the people were,I’ve never been tempted to dally. No one has the pull on me that Stella does…or even the dark current Stoneheart provides.

Her mouth snaps shut, and the fire of jealousy on her face sends a zing down my spine. I like her jealous.

Stella smooths the tablecloth. “You’d also be welcome tocomfortme.”

That’s a sucker punch.

“How?” I ask, my mouth already watering at the thought of what types of comfort I’d be giving Stella. I’m too hungry for this witch.

She glares at me. I suppose that’s a hard question to answer in public.

“My husband and I havesharedinterests,” she answers primly. I try not to wince at his title, but my reaction is stemmed when the meaning becomes clear.

Stoneheart is willing to share this vibrant witch at my side.He’s a fool.

But he’s not. He’s too exacting for this to be a casual strategy, which makes this something to be wary of. But unless I’m misreading our code talking, I’d get to be with Stella.

I’d just have to deal with the Devil.

Even if I weren’t intrigued by the gargoyle, that offer would be difficult to turn down. I’m aware of the risks. Remy Stoneheart will make it difficult to reject an offer of employment when he plays his hand. He won’t hurt Stella, that’s not his style. But he’s trying to entangle me with his territory and is an underhanded bastard.

Even knowing that, doesn’t make the idea of having the permission to touch Stella less tempting.

I’m getting ahead of myself.

“And how do you feel about that?” I ask, trying to keep my face unaffected by our conversation. She could very well hatethe idea. She’d just been jealous of my mention of people going after me for my abilities.

But Stella’s flush darkens, and she bites her lip in a way that has my body responding, shifters surrounding us be damned.She wants me.

“Sorry if I’m late.”

We both snap to attention as a woman in a powder blue pantsuit and a blonde bob takes a seat across from Stella.

I think the surprise in the air is from us being interrupted until Stella’s face morphs into anger.

“You!” she cries.

14

STELLA

“Ah,I see that you recognize me.” The woman I’d last seen while I was naked and covered in the ejaculate of a certain unscrupulous gargoyle bows her head. “Of course, I’d like to apologize for our previous meeting.”

When Stoneheart mentioned Ariel wanted an audience with me, he hadn’t warned me that she was the one who interrupted us. The sting of that adds to my already flourishing anger.

“Fuck you,” I spit, and the gasps from other tables bring me back to where I am. I’m surrounded by shifters who are watching this unfold like reality television. I try to reel myself in, but the humiliation of that moment is fresh.

Ben’s eyes are wide, but Ariel Leonid, my aunt and Council spy, doesn’t take offense, instead her smile is soft.

“I’m glad to see you have such fire. Have you ordered? Pepper really has the best appetizers.” Her calmness aggravates me even as I’m still trying to breathe. I want to leave.

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