Page 31 of Deal with the Devil

“You broke a rule, so I’m clearly owed payment for you breaking the agreement.” He shrugged nonchalantly, like he wasn’t playing with her emotions.

“I didn’t break a rule! I didn’t do anything wrong,” she spat back.

“Mmm, I beg to differ,” he growled under his breath, stepping closer. She inhaled sharply through her nose and regretted it. Leather, clean laundry, and a hint of spiced cider filled her nose, reminding her of his home. The horse ride through the trees, his crackling office, the feel of his arms wrapped around her in the night, it tugged at her heart strings.

“What do you want?” she breathed, unable to get her lungs to cooperate after she spoke.

He closed what little distance there was between them. His fingers and slightly damp thumb were back around her chin. “Don’t ask me that, pet.”

“Too bad,” she huffed. “I’m asking. Knox, what do you want? You came here for a reason, I know you did so…what is it?”

Her heart teetered on a very dangerous tight rope as he tilted her chin. Their lips brushed, just a breath away from kissing.Just like he knew she liked.He teased her lips with his, stealing all her air. Her eyes fluttered closed. His lips curled in that smug,I’ve caught you,smirk as he pressed their noses together. “What are you doing later?”

“What?” she whimpered.

“After this, what are you doing? I want to know.”

Amelia’s eyes fluttered open, finding him staring directly into her soul. Her hands fell to her side, clenched fists in order to clear the haze that was Knox Zrazduel from her veins. It didn’t work. All she wanted to do was kiss him. Have him drag her to the back room and show her hownaughtyshe’d been. All the dark, needy thoughts returned, and she knew for sure she’d never gotten over him.

“If you did your research, you would know that answer.” She slipped from his touch.

Chase me.

“Correct me, if I’m wrong, but there’s an after party tonight? At Mumfords. The whole bar was booked out earlier this week under the name Darkwater?”

Caught me.Her heart skipped a beat. “You’re correct.”

“However, I think it’s invitation only, correct?” He cocked his head.

Don’t. Do it. Don’t do it! Give him the fucking invite! Don’t do this to yourself!

Her insides battled it out for dominance as she stared at him breathlessly. One moment, she considered how bad this would be for her mental health, the next, she rummaged through her purse and ripped out an invite. She handed it over to him, practically shoving it into his chest. He grunted. She stepped away from him, pulling her purse up onto her shoulder.

“It’s at six pm, snacks and food are free. That invite is for you and one other.” She glanced at Franny, already fully packed up.

Knox reached out and her body tensed. Brushing the back of his fingers across her cheek, he tucked hair behind her ear. She gasped as he traced her jugular down to the crook of her neck. When his fingers fell away, Amelia wasn’t sure what to do or say. They stared at each other, neither one ready to move.

Then, she decided, it needed to be her. “Hopefully, you’ll tell me what you really want there.”

She stomped from the spot and booked it for the backroom. Not caring who was behind the swinging doors, she stumbled into the hall and collapsed against the shelving unit holding the paper towels. As much as her heart was screaming to go back out there, demand he come with her…her head was screaming to rip that invitation out of his hand. Amelia hadn’t gotten over him and she surely wouldn’t now!

Heaving for air, she stared up into the rafters of the back room. When did her life stop being an average existence? How cruel was fate for giving her Knox, ripping him away, thendangling him in front of her to see if she’d give in or if she’d do the right thing and let him go.

This would be so much fucking easier if he wasn’t Knox!

Chapter thirteen:

Knox

“You heard the woman,”Maevin teased, leading the pair out of the bookstore. Knox leaned on his cane more as they stepped out into the evening sun. He replayed the encounter over in his head. She was there, she was real, she was within arm’s length. Like they’d never spent a moment apart, that spark was in his chest once more. This time, he wasn’t letting it get away. Not if she wanted him too, not if she felt the same spark. Fuck being a good guy, when had that ever gotten him anywhere? Knox wasn’t a good guy, and he wasn’t about to take the moral high road on this. Tonight, at the after party, if she said she felt it too…if she even gave him an inch, he was taking it.

“We’re going to the after party, but first…” he sighed, pulling out his phone. They had business to take care of first.

“Right, has Zavros found anything?” Maevin whirled to face the bookstore and watched as it began to lock up for the evening.

“Not yet, all of her records indicate he spent money on food. Just a whole bunch at grocery stores getting supplies, medical supplies, sheets, mattresses, etc. I had him look into Kyle’s house for those items but didn’t find anything. If he boughtthem for our vampire, he wasn’t staying at Kyle’s and we know Rick wasn’t buying it for Penny or the child, none of those items ended up at their house.” Knox scrolled through the updates Zavros had sent him. “I had him check for any housing or living spaces bought with Sandy’s identity, but I doubt it will be that easy.”

There was, however, one thing that bothered him. He pulled up Sandy’s home address and grabbed directions for it. Maevin furrowed his brow. “Why are we going to her place?”

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