Page 31 of Devour

“There’s a significant difference. You’re a monster.”

She has no idea. And let’s hope for her sake, she never has to find out.

Seventeen

Maeve

Men are such animals. Of all the stupid things to have happened to me today, thinking I could do a casual hookup was the most idiotic, hair brain idea I’ve ever had. He didn’t have to bring up that he was beingforcedto engage in sexual activities with me. I was nothing more than a chore for him. He’s not the slightest bit affected by me. How can anyone be so cold? Then again, he did kill someone like it was nothing. It would be extremely conceited to assume my vagina was enough to rattle him.

Leo and Trina appear at our side. Trina is watching us intently. I ease only slightly closer to Nicholas. His grip on me tightens as he pulls me until our bodies are flush. With a low menacing voice he whispers, “Playing this game again, are we?”

“Can you give me one more dance?” I grit out.

His palm inches lower on my back. He places his other hand on the back of my neck, holding me tenderly. I lean forward and in a hushed tone tell him, “Kiss my forehead. And say something funny to make me laugh.”

“I’m your fake fiancé, not your obedient dog.”

“You’re right about not being obedient. You’re more like a rabid beast.” I pull back and laugh a little too loud. I’m overacting.

Nicholas’ face transforms. He’s looking at me with devotion and gentleness. It’s almost too easy to fall for it. I’ll never know if this is the real him, but for this last night, I’m simply going to enjoy myself. After another dance, I find myself slipping back under his spell. We dance, genuinely laugh, and for anyone watching, we’re an engaged couple who is madly in love. In fact, I’ve completely forgotten about that jerk Leo and his new fiancé.

Nicholas has kept his promise. He promised he could be anyone I needed, and he’s exactly who I need tonight. He’s charming everyone, me included. With my head on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around me, I sway to the music. After tonight, I’ll never see him again. That should be a relief, but it’s not. This is bad. I’m not going to fall for my one-night stand in Vegas – who is also a murderer.Murder.That word rings loudly in my ear.

How’d I forget? This is dangerous. In fact, I should hurry to the room and change. I don’t want to wear this dress on the trip home. “Excuse me,” I mumble to Nicholas. “I need to go to the restroom.”

When I hurry out of the banquet hall, I immediately spot a familiar face. I’m not surprised to run into Journi Reign in Vegas. From following her on social media, she comes out here all the time for guitar expos. A legend in the guitar world. Her company produces the absolute best.

“Journi!” I wave and head toward her.

“No way that’s Gram’s Itty Bitty! Fuck, look at your tits in that dress.”

“It’s Little Bit.” Why did I even create her? Legend Journi Reign just complimented me. She wraps her arms around me.

“That’s it! Little Bit. Sorry. But again, look at those tits. Little Bits my ass.” She keeps one arm around me and leads me toward the bar. “Have a drink with me. Do you have time? Please?”

“I’m about to leave with my cousin, Tristan, but I could have one.”

One drink turns to two shots. Then I’m spilling my horrid tale of how I ended up in this horrid situation.

“Well, you see, I shit myself,” I explain to Journi.

“That’show you met?”

“Unfortunately,” I confess.

She laughs way too hard over my miserable tale. In a rather defensive tone, I exclaim, “Accidents happen!”

I signal to the bartender for another shot. Narrowing my eyes on her I ask, “Didn’t you meet your husband with a vagina up your cucumber?” I frown and realize I might’ve flubbed my words.

She snickers and downs her shot. “Not quite how it happened. But touché.” Journi pats my knee and I immediately become suspicious by the smile she’s wearing. “Wanna know something?”

“Always.”

She nods and accepts the shot the bartender hands each of us. “It was my car your shitty ass sat in. Really hope you wiped well.” She clinks our glasses together. “Cheers.”

“Cheers?” I can’t believe I got in Journi Reign’s car…

“To it being a small-world and finding happiness even when things are shitty,” Journi declares.

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