Page 39 of Demon

Secretly, I’m cheering because I get to be closer to him.

“Come on,” Sammy whines. “Let’s go! I want to watch my movie.”

We follow Jett upstairs and into his room. Sammy jumps on his bed, grabbing the doll in one hand and the bear in the other, and lies down in the middle of the bed.

I can’t help myself. “I love the new toy collection you’ve got going on,” I say to Jett, trying not to laugh.

His eyes soften. He sits up on the far side of the bed, while I lie on the other side of Sammy. Jett gives her the remote, and she puts on a cartoon show. I find myself peeking at Jett every now and again. He sits relaxed with his legs out, seemingly unfazed with watching a cartoon show.

It isn’t long until I hear the soft purrs of Sammy asleep. “You must have worn her out at the gym.”

“She loved it. Would you like for me to carry her to bed?”

My heart beats faster when I think about spending more time alone with him. “Yes, please.”

His tattooed hands gently and effortlessly lift her up, and he takes her to our room. I stand by the door and watch as he pulls the blankets over her. He treats her as if she’s his own, and I have to turn around and dash back to his room so he doesn’t see the emotion on my face.

I make myself comfortable lying down on his bed, and when he walks into the room, I ask, “Do you mind if we watch a movie together for a while?”Please don’t reject me.

He gives me a stiff nod, sits on the bed, and moves to hand me the remote.

I shake my head. “You choose.”

“I don’t watch TV or movies.”

Of course he doesn’t.I turn on my side to face him, and I’m captivated by green-and-brown eyes. “Then what do you do?”

He shrugs. “Protect the club... Hang out with the MC men.”

“Protect the club in what way?” I blink. “Do you have a job outside of the club?”

“If a member or the club is in danger.” He pauses and gives me a funny look. “And no, I don’t have a job outside the club.”

I suppose I can’t imagine him in any sort of customer service–type role. “How does being in an MC earn you money?” Surely they can’t all pull a salary from just being in a motorcycle club.

His face is blank of any expression. “Gambling through the illegal fights and...” He slowly raises a brow. “You sure you want to know?”

I bop my head, though my heart rate increases.Please don’t let it be something horrific.I take a moment and think of all the possible worst-case scenarios.

“We grow and distribute pot to another motorcycle club.”

What they do in comparison to my thoughts isn’t too bad. I can live with it. I tap my fingers on the comforter. His inked skin stretched over muscle leaves me hypnotized, and thoughts of wanting to touch him make me inwardly curse myself. I need to be brave. Should I ask him if he’s interested in me or should I just kiss him? My eyes latch on to those full lips, and my mouth waters.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, confusion lacing his tone.

I smirk. “I like you.”

His pinched brows still show his confusion, so I shuffle over. He doesn’t move, but he’s watching me closely. His breathing has become faster. I do what I’ve wanted to do in so long—I wrap my arms around his stiff body, put my head on his hard, chiseled chest, and give him a tight hug. It warms my heart all the way to my soul.

I don’t care that he didn’t hug me back. I’m happy he let me touch him. His heart, however, is beating erratically, and it shows me I affected him more than he lets on. I feel the moment his body releasessomeof its tension, which makes my smile widen.

“Why don’t you like being touched?”

He pulls away, but instinctively my grip on him tightens, and I place a lingering kiss over his heart. A breath explodes from his mouth, and he rips himself away from me, then stands.

“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice harsh. He rubs a hand through his mohawk.

I lie there in shock at his outburst. Always so put together... always so in control, until now. I slowly get off the bed and stand. His haunted eyes are pained like I was hurting him. My heart cracks for him. Does affection really hurt him that badly?

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