Page 32 of Devour

I down my drink and then wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “But I didn’t find happiness.”

With a wink, she stands from her barstool and pats my shoulder. Journi gently turns my head to the right and whispers in a seductive tone, “Enjoy.”

There he is. My sinful desire strolling toward me. A man who I hate that I want. The drinks are starting to catch up to me and it’s getting late. I want to shout for Journi to get back here. And it was she who warned me not to cross him, now she’s telling me toenjoy.

“Let’s go,” he tells me. “I’ll escort you up to the room. You don’t need to walk alone after consuming so much alcohol.”

Eh. Whatever. When we get inside the elevator, cliché elevator music begins playing. I can’t help but smile.

“Thank you,” I tell Nicholas. “The music is a nice touch.”

He doesn’t answer, but I notice his lips twitch.

When we enter the room, Nicholas stops me. “I want to show you something. I made you a promise yesterday, and I’d like to keep it.”

“Okay…”

He leads me into the bathroom that is already filled with steam. There are candles. Rose petals. And bubbles, so many bubbles.

“When did you do this?” I’m baffled. This doesn’t fit him at all. It’s so…romantic.

He shrugs. “I didn’t. I texted and had my people arrange it.”

“The effort is very sweet and generous.”

“I’m not sweet.” He takes a slow step toward me. “I’m not generous.” Another step. “But I do owe you a bubble bath.” Another step. He crowds me against the wall. “I am a man of my word. Or should I say, a monster of my word.”

He’s throwing what I called him earlier back at me. I want to tease him back, but all brain function comes to a halt when he speaks again. “Now undress. If I’m your monster, then you’re my little she-wolf.”

Eighteen

Nicholas

Tending to another person is a foreign experience for me. Despite making it clear that she’s not mine, her body melts under my touch. As I suspected it would. I kiss the hollow of her neck. Her skin warm, soft and tender. Maeve’s gentle nature is something I haven’t had much experience being around. She’s managed to penetrate my dark heart. The most confusing thing in all of this is how a woman so charming and beautiful had to make a deal with the likes of me to be someone’s “only desire.” That douche downstairs cheated on her and she hasn’t healed from that betrayal. Time to do my final good deed for Miss Goodman. Tonight, I will erase any doubt of how fucking desirable she is.

There’s also my own selfish reason for what’s about to happen. I want to get under her skin as much as she’s gotten under mine. Her body is affected by me, but I want more. It’s not fair that I should be the only one suffering the long-term effects once the weekend is over. She’s not going to walk away like I was nothing. No. I want my name to be on her lips every time shetouches herself. Every time a man touches her, every time she takes a lover, every fucking time she is aroused. I want her to be left wanting because none of them can compare to this weekend in Vegas withme.

I take my time lathering soap on her skin. My hands glide along every dip and curve of her. Some of the suds have settled, giving me glimpses of her nude body. She dips her head back to wet her hair so I can wash it next. Rose petals float along the surface, a few sticking to the skin that’s barely peeking out of the water.

“What do you do for a living?” I ask her.

She’s quiet and I worry she won’t answer. It’s not like I can’t find out within minutes. I have the resources to learn anything I want about her. But I want her to tell me.

“Public Relations. I work with a PR company. I love it. We do everything from events, personal, small-business, corporate, and non-profit.”

Shampoo covers my hands as I begin to massage her scalp. Her sweet little breathy sigh has my cock hardening. I guide her head back to rinse. Then I apply conditioner.

“Is that what you’ve always wanted to do?”

That earns me a little chuckle. “No. I guess I kind of fell into it. I started out as a wedding planner, and somehow it evolved to other events and then I got recruited to work for this company.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Are you making small talk?” I can hear the smile in her voice.Fuck.I am. This is a strange night. Lots of firsts.

“Just answer the question.”

“Alright, bossy. It happens to be red.”

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