Page 30 of Hooked on a Demon
“Kaia, his hands were on me. Like on me,” she flops onto her couch, placing her phone on speaker before laying it on her stomach. “And the way he slid his hand onto the back of my neck… goosebumps.”
“Holy Hecate, that’s so hot.”
“Right!”
“So what now?”
That’s a good question. They agreed to figure things out, but Declan hasn’t reached out to her yet. Granted, she hasn’t messaged him either.
“I don’t know. It’s only been twenty-four hours,” Eliana says. So it’s not unreasonable that they haven’t talked yet. But that fucking kiss has been on replay in her mind ever since. Well, that and the size of the bulge in his pants. “I don’t know,” she repeats, deflating a little from the high of retelling Kaia about her super hot encounter with the demon daddy. Well, not literal daddy… as far as she knows. “Oh, goddess. What if he has kids?”
Kaia laughs. “Where in the flying monkeys did that come from?”
“Right, sorry. You’re not privy to the thoughts in my head.” Eliana laughs. “I thought of him as a hot demon daddy, but then had a verbal freakout that he is a literal daddy. He’s not a daddy, right?”
“I mean, if the rumors are true…” her friend replies, leaving the words hanging in the air between them.
Eliana jolts herself into a seated position, catching her phone before it hits the floor. “What rumors?” she nearly screams.
“I’m kidding!” Kaia exclaims, laughing at Eliana’s expense. “I have heard rumors, but it has nothing to do with him being a father.”
Eliana picks at a fluff in her pants. “What rumors have you heard?” she says, hoping she comes across as more curious than desperate.
“Someone has a crush.”
“Shut up. What have you heard?”
“Some rumors are going around about him being a bit of a playboy and a jackass when he ends things. If he even does. Apparently, he’s a fan of leaving before his partner wakes up and then refuses to respond to follow-up messages. Really, general douche canoe stuff.”
“Oh.”That sounds like the guy Charlie was talking about at brunch.Could Declan be who she was referring to?
“But I’m sure it’s not true,” Kaia says quickly, trying to soften the blow. “People in this town like to talk, and we know how jealous they can be. Especially when it concerns someone connected to the council.”
“True,” Eliana replies, though she doesn’t believe it. Rumors only become rumors because there is at least some truth to them. The question is how much truth there is to what’s being said about Declan.
“I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, and who knows how much of it is true, but protect yourself, Ellie. The demon may be hot, but it doesn’t mean he’s good for you.”
“I know, and I will.”
“And if he hurts you, I have plenty of connections who owe me some favors,” she says, laughing dangerously.
“Thanks.” Eliana knows Kaia comes from a good place, and they always have each other’s backs. “Anyways, I gotta go get ready for work. Dinner on Friday?”
“Absolutely. Love ya!”
“Love you too!”
Eliana disconnects the call, and as much as she knows Kaia means well, she can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding.
* * *
The smell of sawdust and the sound of tools banging and whirring greet her as she enters the theater. The staff of Hellbent Motors is hard at work and has been quick to start the building process. Which is probably good, given the showcase is now about a month away.
It doesn’t take long for her gaze to find Declan. A very shirtless, glistening in sweat, Declan. His back is broad, the muscles underneath his skin flexing and moving with each shift in position he makes. When he stands, the sweat shines on his bare skin like a beacon. For her tongue.
Swallowing, she pushes down the urge to lick her way up the corded muscles in his arms and steps toward them. She’s only here for a daily check-in. That June asked her to do. Because his team is being kind and building their sets, that’s the only reason she’s here. Her presence has nothing to do with the hot demon who notices her approach and flashes her the brightest smile.
Her stomach flips with his eyes on her. She tucks her hair behind her ear and looks away, unable to handle what a look from him does to her. There must be a draft in the building, causing goosebumps to go up her arms. That’s the most reasonable explanation.
