Page 9 of His Dark Hunger

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Amy waited outside the door to his office, uncertain whether he’d approve of her going inside without him. Playing safe, she leaned against the rich wood paneling and replayed the last few moments in her head.

Jonah’s prophecy had transpired to be true. The situationwasweird now that her son was there, and there was no denying it. How long could she pretend that her and Kyle’s relationship was strictly professional, and what would Jonah think if even a fraction of the truth was disclosed?

A painful knot of vulnerability furled inside her. She had no answers, but she had a sickening suspicion that the solutions might reveal themselves in the coming days. Incorporating Jonah into the household had never been part of the deal. It had only ever been about her and Kyle. But now the terms had changed.

Jonah was there, and she was absurdly thankful Kyle had taken him in—even though she knew his presence would alter things.

She glanced up as the door at the end of the confined, wood-laden corridor opened, her heart pounding as Kyle came into view.

“Sir.” She straightened, abruptly aware of how overdressed she felt in her casual clothes. “Thank you again… for everything. I know having Jonah here wasn’t what we discussed initially.”

“No.” He strode along the carpet to join her. “It wasn’t.”

His tone was playful, but the curt response twisted unease in her tummy.

“I’m grateful.” How many bloody times had she told him already?

She was like a robot stuck on repeat, but shehadto say something, had to convey her gratitude. Kyle’s money had tugged her and Jo-Jo out of a hole the size of Nebraska. If she worked for him for a hundred years, she didn’t know if she could ever truly repay him. The fact his knowing gaze sent fire to her blood made everything messier.

“I know.” He paused beside her in the narrow space, nudging her against the wood paneling. “Our deal has changed, little girl.”

Her throat dried, his pet name for her washing over her like cold water. She wanted to tell him how thankful she also was that he hadn’t used the term in front of Jonah, but the intensity in his eyes held her lips still.

“Yes, sir.” There was no point arguing. She’d deduced that much on her own. “I owe you the bail money now, too, and I’ll make sure I pay it back somehow, I pro—”

His hand moved like lightning, one slender finger pressing lightly to her mouth. “The contract you signedalready stipulates a far higher salary if you choose to stay beyond the trial.”

“Yes, sir.” She mumbled around his digit, surprised at how little she was riled to be silenced by him. Only a week before, she’d have been outraged by the deed, but pressed against the hard wood, she barely even flinched. “But I was talking about whatI owedyou.”

“I know.” His mouth tugged upward, though his expression remained stern. “You owe me a lot, Mrs. Kendal.”

She shivered at the way he made that sound, vaguely aware that her reaction was probably the point. “Yes.” She sounded breathy. “I know, sir.”

“It’s okay.” His handsome features softened as his fingers shifted to gently holding her nape. “We’ll extend clause seven, little girl. That ought to resolve things.”

Clause seven.

She swore her heart galloped faster at the reminder. That illusive clause was as comprehensive as it was imprecisely worded.

“Extend it?” Trapped between the unyielding wall and his delicious body, she could hardly catch her breath.

“Mmmm.” He definitely smiled that time.

“But…” Her head fogged as his fingers stiffened at the back of her neck. “I thought that clause could mean anything you wanted it to anyway, sir?”

What was she doing? Was she asking for more in the way of punitive measures from the dark god before her?

“Oh, yes.” His head lowered, those tempting lips skimming over her mouth. Amy’s eyes fluttered closed at the intimacy, her chest straining to be free of its fabric prison and feel the potency of his touch again. “That’s a good point, little girl.”

“I just want to make sure you get what you’re owed, sir.”

Staring into his eyes, she accepted without hesitation that she’d have done anything he asked of her. Even if it meant falling to her knees and devouring him there in the hallway, even though she knew her son was somewhere in proximity and the idea of him catching them was possibly the most soul-destroying thing she could envision.

That was Kyle’s power.

She didn’t love him the way she loved her children, and he certainly didn’t need her support the way they did, but the electricity sparking between them was utterly fucking consuming. Something about him and the way he instructed her set her soul alight.

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