Page 39 of The Devil and His Goddess

His tanned smile fell, and his brow furrowed. “What?”

“I’m really sorry,” I repeated, picking his shirt up to hold it out for him.

His eyes swung from the shirt I held to my face then back again, and as the seconds ticked by, his nose scrunched and lips peeled back. He stomped over and snatched his shirt from my hands and snarled, “So you’re just a fucking tease?Youget to get off while I getnothing?”

My eyes widened in disbelief. Was this guyserious?

“Look,” I started slowly, “no onegot off, okay? No offense, but it wasn’t working. Maybe you can find someone else to help you, but it won’t be me.”

He scoffed and looked me over in mock disgust. “Excuse me?You’rethe one who brought me up here. You were so into it, it was near embarrassing. Now you’re trying to make like you don’t want my dick?”

He took a step toward me, and my stomach bottomed out as fear started to prick at my insides. I was a pretty small girl, and while he wasn’t the biggest guy out there, he still tripled me in size. If he wanted to take what I denied him, he easily could, especially with my rope still on the bed and a loud party raging around us.

“You need to leave,” I managed to croak, despite my tongue being weighed down with sand.

“You need to give me what I’m owed,” he fumed as he started to advance on me.

Before he could take another step in my direction, a hand appeared between us. My heart tumbled over itself when Perseus filled the doorway of my room just as his hand clasped Bradley’s throat. He yanked him out of the room and shoved him up hard against the wall across the door.

“I believe she told you to leave,” Perseus said, his deep voice dangerously low and calm. Despite his tone, his fingers tightened where they gripped Bradley’s neck.

Before I knew what I was doing, I placed my hand on Perseus’s back. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to hold onto him. But the pull to be near him, to grip the back of his shirt like a stable rock in turbulent winds, drew me to him. He glanced over his shoulder at me, and the flutter in my stomach amplified when those green eyes locked on mine. He immediately relaxed beneath my fingers, and with a final icy glare thrown at Bradley, Perseus released the man and stepped back while shielding me with his now free arm.

Bradley rubbed at his neck and glared at the two of us. “Fuck this. Her pussy isn’t worth it. I’ll get off with my girlfriend. I don’t need you.”

“Of course he has a girlfriend,” I muttered with a glare at his retreating back. “What a cheating scumbag.”

With Bradley gone, I was left alone with Perseus, the sounds of the blaring music and vibrant chatter of party-goers filling the silence between us.

He faced me. An angry edge pinched his eyes slightly, and his mouth twitched into a sardonic grin. “Some date.”

My cheeks warmed as I recalled the absurd lie I’d fed Perseus. Instead of acknowledging it, I looked around the empty hallway. “What are you doing up here?”

He looked up and down the hallway, too. “I was looking for the bathroom.”

I pursed my lips skeptically but didn’t argue. I walked across the hall, and after knocking on the door to make sure it was clear, I opened it for him. He ducked in and after a moment, he reemerged. I took a turn, cleaning myself up down below. I hated the feeling of that jackass’sspitdown there. With everything all clean, I stepped back into the hall, and I wasn’t at all surprised to find Perseus leaning across the doorway, waiting on me.

“Are you stalking me, Peasant?” I asked, flipping my hair over my shoulder as I headed toward the stairs.

No way was I going to keep hanging around my bedroom with him. The temptation to pull him in there and just give into what we both wanted was too great, especially since I was still itching for release. My demon had a sick mind, leaving me hanging the way he had, and since he had been brazen enough to appear while I was with Bradley, I worried he’d make another appearance while Perseus was there. I wasn’t sure luck would be on my side, allowing me not to get caught twice in a row.

Perseus laughed behind me, the sound deep and real. It made that already warm and buzzing energy in my stomach expand to my chest. “Guilty.”

I wove through the thinning crowd on the first floor. People were either dipping out to get some sleep or pairing off to go have sex. I’d havelovedto be in the latter group, but …

Since the party was winding down and I was trying hard to ignore the pull to my boss, I went to my safe haven. Though, Perseus followed me, which wasn’t necessarily helping. The home ballet studio was empty since we’d locked this room before people came over. I breathed in the freshness of the room, free of sweat, cologne, or perfume.

“Wow,” Perseus marveled as he shut the door behind him and looked around the studio.

I smiled, dragging an appreciative hand over the barre while studying the room with him. “Pretty great, right? This is my best friend’s house. Her parents made this room for her when we were in elementary school.”

“Really?” Perseus’s warm gaze drifted to the wall that housed dozens of dance recital and dance competition photos of Aiysha and I.

I joined his side, and together, we looked at the old memories.

“Look at you,” Perseus chuckled as he pointed at a photo of me when I was four. “You make an adorable duck.”

“Shut up,” I laughed and shoved him in the arm. “Was that my most esteemed role? No, but I take every routine, character, and story I do very seriously. Even back then.”

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