Page 63 of The Devil and His Goddess

“So only food, dance, and sex we agree on?” he chuckled.

“Yeah. The three most important things.”

He finished pulling my shirt down and grabbed my sweatpants to hold while I stepped into the garment with my hands braced on his bare chest. With my clothes back in place, I could’ve stepped away. His job was done, so he also could’ve released me. But instead, we stayed there like that—his strong hands gently gripping my waist, my palms resting on his hard torso, and our eyes locked in a stare.

The sense of comfort I felt in his hold was unexpected. Like being in his arms was not only nice butright. That post-sex high was really doing a number on me, because while I’d given into temptation, I knew disaster could still strike. While this room was our own little world away from reality, he was my boss, a celebrity, and ademonbeyond that door.

Was that going to stop me now that I knew what being with him was like? No. But I also couldn’t deny all the potential dangers.

“I can practically see your rampant thoughts in those blue eyes,” Perseus prodded.

I pursed my lips and traced a nonsensical pattern on his chest. “Can you? Some vision you have.”

“Harper,” he chuckled with only a slight bite of warning in his tone.

Relenting with a sigh, I admitted, “I don’t like getting all serious after sex. But I have to know what happens after tonight. Like, do we pretend this didn’t happen? How do we act at work? Do we—”

He pressed the tips of his fingers to my lips, silencing my questions. Instead of looking annoyed by them, he seemed to be fighting a grin. “We’re definitely not pretending this didn’t happen, because I have every intention of doing this again.Soon. Anda lotof it. As for your concern about work, this doesn’t change anything. At work, I still expect you to train hard and be the principal ballerina I know you can be. I’ll be the boss, ready to give out roles and oversee the company as I see fit. What we do outside of work is no one’s business but ours.”

I nodded slowly, trying to really digest and accept his words. “And what about Drake? Do you think he’ll come back to work or come after me again?”

“I doubt it. For one, he failed and got caught, which will have him shaken up. Not to mention, he saw me in my true form, so he knows he’s dealing with something otherworldly, even if he doesn’t recognize what it is. He’d be an imbecile to come anywhere near you again. Not that it matters. I’m going to find him, either way.”

“You’re gonna go after him?”

“Of course I am. He sealed his fate when he dared to come after you. I already told you. I’ll break him for what he’s done. Until I do, it’s best if you’re always with someone. Don’t go anywhere alone until he’s been dealt with, okay? And if you’re ever in danger, all you have to do is say my name. I’ll hear you, no matter where I am.”

“How?”

“I’ve tasted you,” he explained, his voice dropping with a hint of salaciousness. “We’re tethered in a way now. It’s not as strong as an actual demon bond, but hearing you when you call my name won’t be a problem.”

I digested his words, letting it all sink in. Finally, I asked, “Aren’t you worried about … I don’t know. Doing something to him and getting caught?”

Perseus smirked, and his demonic features reappeared with the motion. His black-and-red slitted eyes held mine while his malicious sneer showed off his sharpened canines. “Don’t forget what I am, Goddess. I fear nothing.”

The confidence in his statement strengthened my own belief that everything would be okay.

“When is Aiyaha going to be back?” he asked. “I’m not leaving you here alone.”

“She comes back Sunday.” I chewed on the inside of my lip and looked down at my shirt to pluck at non-existent lint as I mumbled, “You can stay here if you want.”

He chuckled and tightened his hold on me. “Was that hard to say out loud?”

“Very,” I answered with an embarrassed laugh. “I’m hoping you’ll say yes to save me from feeling weird about it.”

He crooked his black-clawed finger beneath my chin and tilted my face up. His perfect lips caressed mine in an equally slow yet dizzying kiss. When he pulled back, he whispered, “I’ll stay.” His forehead dropped to mine, and he groaned, “Fuck. I’m ready for round two.”

I fought another laugh and stepped out of his arms. The remark alleviated some of the softness that had been clouding the air between us. I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or sad about that.

I raked my eyes over him and headed for the door with a flip of my hair over my shoulder. “When you’ve earned it, Peasant.”

Chapter 23

Perseus

I’D HAD EVERY INTENTION OF letting this go—lettinghergo. I’d just wanted one last look at her in a private setting, so after leaving the party at the medical facility, I’d shadow-walked to Harper’s and pulled on Coldin’s mask. Only when I got there and saw the front door standing wide open with that disgusting and warped smell of desire coating the air, all excuses and resolve I’d had vanished. All I could think about was her.

When I found that bastard standing over her, my vision wentred. I didn’t even know I’d moved. One second I was watching Drake go to strike her, and the next, his throat was being crushed in my hand.

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