Page 45 of Make Me Lie (Rich Demons of Darkwood 1)

His gaze swept up and down my body, and instead of feeling intimidated, the sight of how he drank me in hungrily made me feel powerful. These men thought they had the upper hand, that they could control me.

Silly boys.

“Evening, Cain.” My voice came out sultry. “I heard you’re my ride.”

Desire flared in his eyes. He slid a finger under the strap of my black bikini. “I like seeing you wear the things I gave you. I guess I can take it back any time I want.”

I reached up to pat his cheek, the movement bringing the two of us as close together as a kiss. Maybe that dark energy should have scared me, but instead it seemed to speak to my soul, and my soul seemed to answer in kind. I felt lighter, reckless, free when I was near Cain. “It became mine when you gave it to me, buddy.”

He caught my wrist with his hand, pulling me taut against his body. My nipples, suddenly sharp, collided with the hard planes of his chest. “I like it better when you call me sir.”

“Then I guess you’d better earn the title.” My voice came out in a purr that surprised me, and Cain’s gaze sharpened.

He suddenly spun me around, his hand drifting up my spine to cup the back of my neck. His fingers squeezed just faintly, controlling and sexy at the same time. “Come on. I’d better get you in the car before we end up any later.”

I tried to ignore the thrill that shot through me every time Cain touched me. “You know, normal men offer a lady their arm.”

“I’m not a normal man.” His voice was a growl in my ear, and just like his touch, I felt it all down my spine, felt the heat of his words pooling low in my stomach. “And you’re not a lady.”

I knew it was a dangerous game that the two of us were playing. I knew I might get hurt.

And I knew that might be why I liked this so much.

Maybe The Demon had broken me in ways I hadn’t even seen yet, or maybe—like him, but in entirely different ways—I was born broken.

Cain steered me out the door to his waiting car, a low-slung McLaren Speedtail, the cockpit a sleek glass bubble as if it were a fighter jet. He opened his door for me and nodded his chin, making me climb in over his gear shaft. Maybe I should’ve walked around, but instead I obeyed, watching the way his eyes heated as my thighs spread to climb over the shaft.

I settled into the narrow leather bucket seat and pulled my seatbelt over my lap. The way he jetted off forced me back in my seat, but I didn’t mind the speed, or watching his competent, broad hands on the wheel.

“Where are we going?”

I almost expected him to refuse to answer, just to fuck with me, but he said, “The Elder Pointe Yacht Club. We’re taking out Remington’s yacht.”

“Remington has a yacht?”

“Doesn’t everyone get a yacht when they turn eighteen?” Cain’s voice was light. “Oh, right, you probably got a bone saw for your birthday.”

They already knew who I was, there was no point in pretending. “I got my first bone saw long before eighteen.”

I flashed him a bright smile, and for the first time, there was a flicker of thought in his eyes that I couldn’t quite read.

We pulled up at the yacht club, and he checked the glovebox was secure before he handed the keys to the valet. What did he have in there? A gun?

We walked down the damp dock under sparkling fairy lights strung along the way. The dark water made a lump lodge in my throat, but I ignored it, focusing on the details around me. Yachts and sailboats rocked up and down on the soft waves which lapped against the shore with gentle sounds. It was almost relaxing, if not for the bright lights of the party on the yacht at the end of the dock.

Cain grabbed my elbow to steady me as I stepped onboard, his grip firm and commanding. But I didn’t need him—that’s why I hadn’t worn heels. I stepped lightly onto the deck, and away from the peace of the night into the crowd.

There were a few dozen people wandering around on deck, plus several crew, wearing white, who walked around offering drinks and snacks. I was very interested in snacks. But everyone had stopped to stare at Cain and me, and I froze at the sensation of their eyes crawling over me.

I moved away from them, trying to get the layout of the yacht so I’d be prepared for anything that happened tonight. I did a quick circuit around the deck, keenly aware of Cain prowling behind me. Even with some distance between us, my body seemed to tense when he was watching me, always waiting for his warm palms to press against my skin. There was a lounge area in the front of the yacht, with a hot tub full of giggling girls spilling champagne and white sectionals where several people were making out, having decided that even bikinis and board shorts were too dressy for this event.

I turned away from the tanned, writhing bodies and made my way below deck, where I found a big lounge space being used as a dance floor. Beyond that was a hallway with bathrooms and the doors to what were probably two bedrooms; I heard the moaning and decided I was done exploring.

I turned back from the hallway toward the dance floor and my gaze met Cain’s, even across the throb of music and gyrating bodies and roaming lights. I licked my lips, wishing I could press my body against his and dance with him, that we could move together—without it being another step in some game.

A man stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Cain. He stared down at my breasts, a lascivious grin spreading across his face. A prickle of disgust raced across my skin, as fast as his gaze.

“Hey there, beautiful,” he said. “You want the grand tour?”

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