Page 21 of The Devil and His Goddess

She swallowed hard, and those blue eyes glanced at my mouth before meeting my gaze again. “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful for the role you gave me.”

Ah.

Before I could open my mouth, she plowed on. “I-I was the lead inSwan Lakefor the past two years. I made the stupid assumption that I’d get the role again this year, so when I didn’t, I thought it was your way of saying I’d regressed. That I wasn’t good enough to beyourOdette and Odile like I had been for the previous director.”

I watched her slender throat work on another swallow as her eyes finally fell to the ground, and she stepped just out of reach.

“That’s not what I intended at all,” I reassured her quietly.

She nodded but didn’t look up. “I know. I mean, I’m still a principal dancer. To be honest, that part didn’t really register until after I’d left. Up until then, all I’d heard was, ‘You aren’t as good as you once were.’” Her blue eyes finally met mine again, and they glistened with remorse. “That was wrong of me. I’m truly so sorry for disrespecting the decision you made and the ballet you created. I swear, that really wasn’t my intention.”

Her apology was appreciated but not necessary. I wasn’t like people she’d worked with in the past. For one, I was ademon, and we tended to view things much differently than humans. What she thought was a blow to my pride was actually just another log being added to the fire that was my current obsession with her. Her reaction gave me another excuse to get her here alone, and thank Hell for that, because I craved to see her dance at every available opportunity.

Still, her apology was sincere, and being a forgiving creature of the dark, I decided to shed some light on my decision to cast her as Psyche inDancing in the Darkinstead of as Odette and Odile inSwan Lake.

“Swan Lakehas been done before,” I started. “Everyone knows what they’re getting when they come to see it. Itisbeautiful and an experience worth seeing. ButDancing in the Darkhas never been seen. It’s never been done. The audience doesn’t know what experience or story they’re getting. It’s a clean slate for a group of dancers to make their own. That’s why I chose you and those who I believe to be the strongest dancers here.”

I took a step toward her, closing the distance she’d put between us. “I chose you, because you’re able to tell a story in how you move.”

I gripped her wrist and held her lower back with my other. I leaned her back, and her eyes fluttered shut as she let me dip her body low. She trusted me to keep her from falling, and she relied on me to pull her back up into my space so that our bodies lined upeverywhere.

“There’s a story in how your eyes reveal everything you’re feeling,” I continued softly.

I released her wrist to place the crook of my finger beneath her chin. Her vivid eyes opened to lock on mine, and in them swam dozens of emotions. Lust. Determination. Hope. Fervent hunger for her desires.

“It’s in how you hold yourself,” I whispered against her lips, running the backs of my fingers down her throat and between her breasts. Her breath hitched, and I wanted to fucking cum just from the mere sound. “I want that. Ineedthat for this dance.”

“I can do it,” Harper immediately said in a breathless rush. Her fingers tightened where they once again clutched the shirt at my waist. “Iwantto do it. Please.”

There was no missing the desperate plea in her words, and if I had to guess from the way she tilted her head closer to mine or from how her palms moved to the front of my hips, I’d say she wasn’t talking about the ballet right now. At least, notonlythe ballet. Not to mention, the sweet scent of her arousal blossomed in the space around her, sending my Incubus instincts fucking scattering like sparks about to ignite into a full-blown explosion.

She wanted me.

And goddamn, if I didn’t feel the same.

“Come have dinner with me,” I murmured against her lips, finally feeling the faintest touch of them as I did.

“Okay,” she answered quietly.

Holy fucking Hell.

Her lips barely brushed mine in something I wasn’t sure could actually be called a touch, yet that whisper of one sent a jolt of electricity right down my spine and to my now aching cock. I was going to fuck her. Right this goddamn second.

But somewhere in the back of mind, I remembered there was still staff here that could pass by this room any minute. And while I wasn’t opposed to voyeurism by any means, this was my prized ballet company. I didn’t want to tarnish my image in my new employees eyes when I’d barely started. Because that’s what fucking Harper right here would do.

Damn humans and their fucking sense of public etiquette.

I quickly stepped away from Harper before I completely lost all sense of control and fucked her, consequences be damned. “Get changed. I’ll meet you out front.”

With the sudden separation of our bodies, it was like reality came rushing back to her, and she realized what she’d agreed to. “Wait, I—”

I didn’t stick around to hear her attempt at recanting her agreement. I left the practice room in a brisk walk. Not only did I want to ensure our plans remained, but I had to get to my office. I needed to fucking jerk off before this human made me explode.

Chapter 9

Perseus

HARPER PARKED NEXT TO ME at the Greek restaurant. She’d changed into dark jeans and a cream-colored sweater, and my fingers itched to run under that top to caress the bare skin beneath.

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