Page 6 of Payne's Envy

Something was different that night. And I knew it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with me. My senses sharpened, so it made it seem like her aroma became bolder, beckoning me. I heard the rustling of her sheets as she tossed and turned. I swore sweat clung to her perfect skin because I smelled it. When I heard her swallow and groan, I did, too.

Oh, fuck.

Joy was aroused. And alone.

My pulse hammered, and saliva pooled in my mouth. I ascended the stairs, chest heaving.Joy…She needed me. I sensed that. Suddenly, it was all I cared about. My cock ached as it strained against my jeans.

“Payne.”

I froze at the sound of Grim’s voice, chilling some of the heat crawling over me.What the hell am I doing?Was I about to go to Joy’s room? To break her heart the hundredth time because I couldn’t get a grip on my emotions?

With a raging hard-on, I did nothing more than look over my shoulder at him. Arms crossed, brows furrowed, Death’s gaze flicked upward toward his daughter’s old room. The only daughter he’d ever asked me to stay away from.

As my erection went away, I faced him, walking down the steps with ease as if I hadn’t lost all sense of reason for a moment.The fucking heat.As Grim’s eyes narrowed on me, ice filled my veins, further chilling the heat.He knows.Grim would ask me to leave again. Only I couldn’t that time. Not with Joy’s safety on the line.

My shoulders stiffened. Words failed me. I knew Grim meant well, but a sudden urge had me circling around him once. The hair on the back of my neck raised. I stopped when he narrowed his eyes.

I exhaled. “You never said where I should sleep while I’m staying here.”

“Payne,” he said again.

“I’d like to be the one to watch after Joy,” I gritted the words out. While the rest of the family believed what they wanted about my feelings, Grim knew the truth. He witnessed and learned far more than I wished he did.

“I’m sticking you with Prudence.”

“Grim—”

“I believe you’ll approve of who I’m putting with Joy.”

“Grim.”

“We need you now more than ever. Don’t make me send you away. But tell me, Payne. Why now? After all these years of ignoring Joy, you want to get close to her? You know why I can’t let that happen.”

“You asked me to leave. I did. This time is different. Everyone’s life is at stake. I can’t concentrate if I think Joy’s in danger—”

“Have you forgotten the threat inside ofyou?The risk you become because of Joy?”

My mouth felt dry, like cotton. My heart raced thinking about the last time that fire inside me, burning bright for Joy overcame me.

“I’ll never forget,” I murmured.

“I’m not only protecting Joy. I’m trying to protect you, too. Have you figured out what you are yet?”

I gritted my teeth, not wanting to admit the truth. “No.”

“Until you can control yourself… Until you know what it is you did to my daughter back then, I can’t allow the chance of you doing it again.”

Anger coiled tightly inside my stomach. Balling my hands, I stood straighter, wanting to lash out at Grim. I’d done everything that man had asked of me over the years. Anything to appease him, going the extra mile even when his sons didn’t. I thought highly of the Grim Reaper. In that moment, however, I wanted to strike him down. He was an obstacle between Joy and me, much like the heat building inside me. The evil lurked beneath my skin. Everything fucking drove me crazy.

I’d done everything possible to find my way to Joy, but I couldn’t ever catch her. She kept falling, hurting, and breaking right before my eyes. And yet, even without her father blocking my path to her, I still wouldn’t cross over and reach her. Not yet. Not until I could embrace her.

My heart couldn’t handle another repeat of the past.

Chapter Four

Joy

Maureen waited for me in the ballroom with a man I’d never seen before.

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