Page 16 of Conflicted

The demon didn’t seem to be done, either. Throwing a chip into the centre of the table, he said, “How about a final game? Winner takes all.”

I bristled. Fuck no. He’d done enough damage tonight.

Prowling closer, I fought to ignore the burning urge to touch him. It was like my soul was reaching out, begging me to make that connection.

Don’t touch him. Don’t touch him.

My hands came down on his shoulders. Everything in me settled instantly, the chaotic yearning that had dogged me for centuries falling silent.

What the fuck is happening?

All of this happened in under a second. It took every drop of self-control I had to speak. To steady my voice. To be the stern leader of the Seraphim that I needed to be in this moment. “Actually, I think you’re done for the night.”

The demon stiffened but didn’t turn. “Hmm. Don’t think you get a say in that,actually.”

My hackles rose. Just who did he think he was? “You can either walk out of here, or I can drag you out by your feet. It’s your call.”

He shrugged my hands off. I flushed. Shit. I hadn’t even realised I’d still been touching him. Getting to his feet, he turned slowly.

I swallowed hard, trying to school my expression as the full force of his gaze met mine. That day in Hell, I’d been too distracted to really appreciate him. I’d noted his physicality—his stocky build. His height. His amber eyes. The tattoos and piercings. But I hadn’t taken into account the sensuality behind all of those things. The muscles that would have no issue holding me up as he fucked me. The way he towered over me, despite there only being a few inches between our heights. The flames that seemed to dance in his eyes. The beautiful artwork that adorned his skin, like he’d used his own body as a canvas. The silver glinting in his lip, making me wonder what it would feel like on my cock.

All in all, this demon was a dangerous package.

His full lips twisted into a sardonic smirk as he noted my open perusal of him. “See something you like?”

The words jolted me back to reality. What was Idoing? I forced myself to snap into work mode, reminding myself that I was here because I had a job to do. Namely, protecting humans from demon scum like this fucker. I threw up a compulsion net, making sure our conversation didn’t draw any unwanted attention.

“You wish,” I hissed, taking a step back. Not because he intimidated me, but because I couldn’t seem to breathe deep enough to fill my lungs with himso close.

“I don’t, actually.”Actuallyseemed to be our word of the day. He cast his gaze up and down my body before dismissing me with a sneer. “You’re not my type. Far too buttoned up and tidy. I bet you make the bed right after sex, don’t you? Hmm, no. That’s not right. That’d mean you’re interesting enough to disturb the sheets. You probably leave the bedding without so much as a crinkle on it. Nothing about you suggests you like to get down and dirty when you fuck.”

I flinched, his barb hitting too close to home for my liking. It wasn’t my fault that all the men I’d been with expected me to be in control and, more often than not, to top. Okay, so maybe the fact that I couldn’t let myselfgowith any of my previous partners was on me, but it was hard. How could I relax while also paying attention to my surroundings? How could I let my guard down knowing that at any moment I might be attacked?

Being leader of the Seraphim was a huge honour, but it also meant living with a huge target on my back. I didn’t ever let myself forget it.

Not even during sex.

The demon misinterpreted my flinch. “Oops, is bad language not allowed around archs? Do you need to wash my mouth out with soap? Sit me on the naughty step for a few hours? That’s what counts as a punishment for you angels, right?”

My mind flashed to the cell. The whip. “You knownothingabout our kind.”

He stepped closer, dropping his voice down low. I hated how it sent goosebumps over my skin. “Ah, but I know enough. I know you don’t understand what it’s like to truly struggle. To worry whether you’re going to survive another day. You don’t know what it’s like living in fear of beingtortured daily. Of taking punishments because someone you care about has fucked up. I might not know much, but you knownothing,Micah.So tell me…what gives you the right to tell me what to do?”

My temper, so rarely riled, hit flash point. “I have therightbecause I’m the leader of the Seraphim. You’re not downstairs now, demon. Up here, my word is law, and if you want to live aquietlife, you better get on board with that. Fast.”

He picked a piece of lint off my collar. “Shame, I was hoping we’d never run into each other again.”

His words caught me off guard, making me falter. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I have no intention of living a…what did you call it?” He snapped his fingers. “Oh yes, aquietlife. That’s not how I roll, I’m afraid.”

“How does that lead to us running into each other again?”

The demon smiled patronisingly. “Oh, I’m assuming you’re going to have an issue with how I’m about to live my life, despite it having nothingto do with you. Therefore, I imagine I’m going to beblessedwith your charming presence again, whether I like it or not.”

I moved toe to toe with him. “You’re topside now, demon. You need to play by my rules.”

“Or you’ll what?” Arrogance dripped from him, and he flicked his tongue out over his lip. My eyes tracked the movement automatically. “You’ll keep wondering what I might taste like?”

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