Page 6 of The Devil and His Goddess

Perseus was.

All the remarks I’d made, the unprofessionalism I’d shown, thenameI’d called him all fired through my mind. I was dead—so,sodead.

Perseus reached my table and placed my glass in front of me. “Goddess.”

My eyes never left his as I stated flatly, “You’re the new artistic director.”

“And owner,” he added without missing a beat, sipping on his champagne.

A small, incredulous laugh slipped out as I rubbed at my forehead. That same mantra kept screaming inside my skull.

Dead, dead, dead.

“I’m assuming someone came and broke the news while I was grabbing drinks?” Perseus speculated with a chuckle.

“I’m an idiot,” I said as deep remorse punctuated each word. “I am so sorry. I missed your address, and I didn’t—”

“Why exactly are you apologizing?” he asked with a tilt to his head. “I don’t mind you being late.Tonight.This was just an easy-going way for me to introduce myself to everyone. So why apologize?” His eyes glittered with rising amusement as he asked, “Do you regret calling your new boss ‘Peasant?’”

A nervous giggle tried to rise up my throat, but I stomped it down. “That. Among other things.”

I’d been dancing with myboss. A very sexually charged dance. I knew what his chest felt like against mine, how muscular his thigh was when pressed between my legs, and how good it felt to have his hands on my body. And I’d basked in all of those sensations in front of theentirecompany. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die from the mortification of it all.

“It’s been fun, sir—”

“Sir?” he repeated with a perplexed raise of his brow. “Not ‘Peasant?’”

I barrelled on without acknowledging him. “But I have to go.”

Perseus straightened, and his teasing smirk changed into something softer, something that reminded me of the heated sparks that had been brewing between us. “Let me see you home then.”

That flare of desire threatened to ignite again, but I refused to let it. This was my freakingboss, and I couldn’t give into my horny urges now only to come to work and act like I hadn’t fucked this god of a man.

So what did I do to distance myself from any possible sexual relationship with him? I lied.

“Look,” I started with a sympathetic frown. “You were great to hang out with while here, but honestly … you aren’t my type.”

There was barely time for me to register the look of shock on his face before I turned on my heel and fled.

Chapter 3

Perseus

I WAS DUMBFOUNDED. UTTERLY AND entirely baffled. Not her type? Not herfuckingtype? I waseveryone’stype. Even if someone wasn’t initially attracted to me physically, my charm quickly won over anyone I wanted.

And Iwantedher.

Harper Ashwood.

The minute I’d spotted the ballerina who’d become my obsession ever since watching those recordings, I was determined to make her mine—tonight. I couldn’t wait another damn second. Feeding off the pleasure of a human that delectable was going to be the highlight of my goddamn week.

She’d been into me, too. That much was obvious from our interactions prior to her realizing who I was. I could smell her arousal the minute she saw me, and I knew she was absolutely heading down the path of fucking right alongside me.

Not her type?

The demon inside me growled at the rejection, even though I knew it was a lie. I watched Harper’s back as she fled the ballroom of the hotel where the party was taking place. She thought this was the end, that what had started to grow between us was officially put to rest. But her attempt at a blow to my pride had only fueled me in my interest.

I was a simple demon. Being told no by someone who secretly wanted me only made me want to pursue harder. When they finally caved to what we both knew they wanted, it was the sweetest amusement for me.

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