Page 18 of Protected By Monsters (Everwood Demons 1)

I glanced around the room and frowned. I wasn’t used to not seeing at least one of them hanging around. And it bothered me. Where were they?

A knock on the door made me stand up and narrow my eyes.

“It’s open,” I called out. Who had Dezikiel sent to collect me for breakfast anyway? Could they answer some of my questions?

The door swung open, and a rather tall, lean man stood in my doorway, giving me a lopsided smile that made my breath catch.

Damn, he looked mighty good. With that strong jawline, straight nose, dark, arched brows and piercing black eyes. His dark brown, nearly black hair was slicked back in a stylish manner, and that light sprinkling of stubble looked hot as all hell. I was practically swooning at the sheer sight of this stranger.

“Lily, breakfast is ready,” he said, his voice low and velvety smooth. Crap. He was devilish, and his presence was making me giddy.

He rolled up the sleeves of his long-sleeved nay tee, and I quivered. Men looked so good like that. And his arms were muscled and lean, along with the rest of him I’d imagine.

“You done staring?” he smirked as he raised an eyebrow at me.

Fuck.

I had been staring. And not just because he was hot as fuck, but because I felt like I knew him already.

“Do I know you?” I asked as I headed towards him, trying to figure out where I knew him from. Why did he feel oddly familiar?

“Kind of,” he smiled, revealing his dazzling white teeth. His canines were rather pointed and longer than most people, but it only added to his attractiveness in my opinion.

I mentally slapped myself for drooling over him.

Now was not the time. I had a million questions that needed answering now that my initial shock had worn off. And that meant finding Dezikiel.

“Are you coming?” the man cocked his head at me. Hell, he couldn’t have been older than me.

“Yes, what’s your name?” I asked as I strode over, brushing past him as he held the door open for me. I couldn’t help it as I drew in his unique scent. A little musky, and a little… burnt. It reminded me of camping with a fire-pit, but ten times better. I had gone on a few camping trips with my mom, which would surprise most people. A woman going camping with her young daughter with no man was always looked at as unique.

He closed the door and stepped up beside me to lead the way.

He towered over me, making me feel small in comparison, but there was just something about him that drew me to him. Not just the fact that he was hot as hell and clearly worked out.

He probably wasn’t single either, not looking that good.

“People call me Jack,” he chuckled, and my heart skipped a beat as I came to an abrupt halt.

“What?” I muttered, turning to stare up at him. He wasn’t—

“But my real name is Jorkan, you can keep calling me Jack though,” he smirked knowingly at me.

My eyes just widened as my mouth fell open, and I knew I looked stupid, like a poor little goldfish.

But it couldn’t be possible.

“My Jack?” I blurted, then mentally facepalmed.

“Well, I didn’t realize you’d laid claim on me, but yes, your Jack, I s’pose,” he chuckled as he cocked his head at me.

“My monster Jack…” was my follow-up, and I wanted to head-butt the wall for my stupidity right now. I was not choosing my words carefully.

“Yes, and no. I’m actually a hellhound,” he continued smirking down at me.

This was Jack? My Jack?

The Jack who’d clawed my arms open and blocked me from leaving the house a number of times and cost me quite a few jobs?

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