“I’ve been looking for you,” Saia’s cheerful voice hauled him back to sanity, back to her, and held him there. “Your suit’s here. I’ve sent it to your room.”
Suit? Fuck. The party! He exhaled harshly. He’d been gone so long? “I’ll be there in a moment.”
Riley glanced around, but he was alone. Nicor had vanished. He headed out of the drenched park. A wave of his hand and the photo came streaming back to him, damp from the rain and fog. He snatched it from the grasp of the wind and shoved it into his pocket then flashed to the mansion.
Back in his room, he stripped and stepped into the shower. His body too tense, his skin strung tautly over his bones. Those damn visits always left him a little unhinged. He needed to calm down fast before he met Saia.
Or he’d ruined everything for her with his glowing red eyes.
Chapter Seven
Saia smoothed the long sleeve of her fitted, deep blue, knit dress, belted low on her hips. The wide neckline slipped off one shoulder as she pulled on her black stiletto boots. She’d left her hair free, and smiled when she thought of Riley removing her beanie in disgust. No need for him to know she only wore them so her hair didn’t frizz in the wet weather.
But the conversation in the kitchen with her mother rattled around in her head.
Marriage to Piers? Gah! She’d rather join a convent.
A brief knock on the door, and Niki entered, a vision in her figure-hugging charcoal-gray dress, her dark chestnut hair piled into a topknot.
Saia flashed her thumbs up. “Sexy, Nik. On the hunt for fresh meat tonight?”
Her friend’s lips curled in distaste as she dropped on the white wrought-iron bed and crossed her booted feet. “With this constipated lot? Not on your sweet life.” Then she grinned and added, “Not the Sen-Grayson men, of course.”
“Of course, not.” Smiling, Saia turned to the mirror. Niki adored Saia’s brothers and father like they were her own since she’d practically grown up in their house.
Saia sprayed the anti-frizz serum over her hair and found Niki studying her. “What?”
She waved her hand over Saia’s ensemble. “Love that color. You look great—shit! No way. Is all that for Piers?”
“Good Lord, no!” Saia set the bottle down and pivoted, smoothing nervous hands down her hips. “About that, I’m here with Riley.”
Niki blinked. “That super deliciously sexy bartender from Satire with the earrings, tatts, and crazy hot bod?”
Saia rolled her eyes and laughed. “His name would suffice, barring all the adjectives. But, yes. Him.”
“Awesome! And your mother hasn’t thrown a tantrum?”
“Oh, she did her usual guilt trip dance, but I’m not giving in this time.”
Niki smirked. “Good for you. Back at the bar when you spoke to him, he looked annoyed. That is when he wasn’t looking like he wanted to…” Niki paused, searching for a word. “Well, you know, devour you.”
Heat crept into Saia’s face. She understood exactly what Niki was referring to. Riley had been provocative as hell that night.
Niki linked their arms as they left the room. “That’s why when you texted me he wasn’t interested, it surprised me. So, what’s changed?”
“I’m not sure...” She couldn’t tell her friend he’d only relented because a dangerous Caligo was after her, but she didn’t quite believe that anymore. The more time she spent with him, Saia grew more convinced that he felt a lot more than he let on—the way he watched her when he thought she wasn’t aware. Or how he stayed protectively by her side.
“That’s a look I haven’t seen before,” Niki teased.
Saia stopped on the landing of the staircase. A myriad of expensive perfume drenched the air. The soft murmur of voices and laughter drifted up from the foyer. She swiped back her hair with restless fingers and told her friend the truth. Well, a part of it. “He’s so different from anyone I’ve ever met, Niki.”
“Yes. One seriously sexy badboy, every girl’s dream fantasy,” Niki murmured, then glanced behind Saia. Grinned. “Here comes another contender for the title.”
Saia turned as Zayn loped toward them from the family wing. His overgrown hair brushed the collar of his tux, but he’d slung his bowtie around his neck. Zayn hated tying those.
“Well, if it ain’t one of the notorious Sen-Grayson twins.” Niki snickered.
“Wench,” Zayn drawled, planting himself beside Saia.
“Hoe,” Niki lobbed back. He smirked.
“Still getting my friend into trouble?”
“Me?” Innocent, tawny eyes widened. “My sister does that all on her own. Did she tell you who she’s tangled with now?”
“Don’t start, Zayn.” Saia cut him a dark look that promised pain. “I distinctly recall someone hogging Riley as his partner in a game of pool.
“He’s a bartender, has loads of practice—oomph!” He squeaked as Saia slammed her elbow in his ribs. “What did you do that for?”
“For being an arrogant, ass-butt,” she sneered. “And I’ll do it again. FYI, Riley owns Satire.”
Zayn straightened, trying to look manly, a streak of red on his cheeks at the hard jab she’d given him. “Good for him.” Then he grinned. “Ass-butt? Really, Sai? Did I not teach you any decent cuss words?”
“Since when are swear words decent?” Niki poked a finger in his ribs. She stepped back, ran her eyes over his muscular frame. “You look different, better in fact. Hmm, I wonder why that is?”
“Could be he has no bimbo attached to him,” Saia muttered. Yanking him down by his coat lapels, she worked on his tie.
His bright gaze leveled with hers. “Ah, sis, I’m a guy of simple needs.”
“Yes, ‘hello, sweet’ and the next morning ‘I’ll call you,’” she said drily. “We all know what that means. ‘You’re history, hoe.’”
“Sai, I’m shocked! Who’s been teaching you those terrible, terrible things?” His eyes gleamed in laughter.
She snorted.
Niki’s cell rang. Shaking her head, her friend stepped away to answer her call.
Zayn lowered his voice, his smile dropping. “Saia, be careful with Riley, okay?”
“I thought you liked him?”
“I do…” Zayn rubbed his neck, looking a little uncomfortable. “Sis, he’s not like us.”
Her heart tripped then settled. “I know what he is, it’s okay. Riley won’t hurt me.”
Those tawny eyes studied her, then Zayn nodded. “Good. Or else I’ll have to kill him.”
“Oh, give it a break.” She rolled her eyes. “We were talking about you and your morals.”
“I thought those were paintings on walls?” he deadpanned.
Zayn was never serious about anything. “Those girls must really like you, God only knows why.” She looped the ends of the tie into place.
“Because I’m charming.”
Saia huffed and tightened the bow. “There, all done.”
“Oh, be still my heart,” Niki sighed, putting her phone away and looking behind them. “That is one seriously hubba-hubba hunk of a man.”
“What?” Zayn’s brow climbed up in confusion. His gaze snapped around, then he pasted on a fake scowl. “I thought I was your number one guy.”
Niki patted his arm. “You are—you are.”
Saia whipped around. And stopped breathing.
The tall, lean man striding toward her from the guest wing carried off Tom Ford like he’d been born to do so. He’d slicked back his hair still damp from his shower. The small, twin loops in his ear glinted in the light. And those incredible emerald eyes were on her.
Her throat dried out. Thank God her mouth was closed and not hanging open like some drooling puppy.
“Come on, Zayn, escort me to the party,” Niki said, hauling him away.
As her footsteps receded, Riley stopped in front of Saia. His gaze swept down to her feet and up again in that look that made her chest expand and her body melt.
It
’s only pretend, Saia, only pretend.
Perhaps… For tonight, however, he was all hers.
“I wonder if I’ll ever see you without those.” He nodded at her black boots.
Saia laughed and tried to get her foolish heart to behave. “They keep my feet warm.” She patted the black silk tie he wore with the black shirt and smoothed the fine fabric over his hard chest. “I was right. You’re even more lethal in a suit.”
Amusement lit his eyes. He brought her knuckles to his mouth and glided his lips in a sensual caress over her skin. Saia’s heart skidded to a halt before starting up again.
“You look incredible,” he murmured. “I’m having an extremely hard time stopping myself from dragging you off to some dark corner.” The tiny hairs on her skin rose at the sensual promise in his low tone. Then that wicked gleam appeared. “But that would be a problem, wouldn’t it? With me being gay?”
Her mouth dropped open, then she burst out laughing.
Smiling, he lowered his palm to her waist. “Come on, little tormentor. Let’s get this show on the road.”
As Saia walked downstairs, she prayed Riley’s seductive teasing wasn’t all an act. She hoped that he was truly starting to feel something for her.
The recreational room looked like Christmas had exploded in there. Another sparkly fir tree with twinkling lights stood in a corner. Riley eyed the thing warily. But the rest of the room had an elegance that Jemima Sen-Grayson no doubt demanded.
Crisp, white, damask-covered tables and chairs took up most of the floor space. Tall candelabra with exotic red Christmassy flowers—he had no idea what their name was—were arranged at the base.
Black and white uniformed servers with bottles of champagne moved smoothly through the guests, topping off their glasses. There were several demon guests, too—guess the Sen-Graysons were liberated that way. A few stared at him. He ignored them. He wasn’t here for a meet and greet of his species, especially with Jemima watching like a hawk.
He stroked Saia’s back, unable to resist touching her. “What exactly is the party for?”
“It’s the annual Christmas bash where most people donate obscene amounts of money just to out-do each other, which Mother then gives away to charity. Her good deed for the year.”
Her acerbic comment made him smile. As they strolled toward their table at the front, silence fell. Eyes followed them, and then the low murmurs picked up again. The stares didn’t bother him. But they did, Saia, it seemed.
Though her soft mouth remained in a polite smile, the tension in her coiled around him like a boa. Riley followed her to their seats; unfortunately, at the same table as her formidable mother.
Edward nodded at them then smiled as Saia gave him a little wave.
Jemima glanced their way, and something flickered in her gaze. It made his psychic senses tingle. He found it strange that he couldn’t pass Jemima’s mental shields, no matter how hard he pushed.
At the next table, Noah and the twins sat separated by two females, along with Piers, who cast him a sullen stare.
“Saia, haven’t seen you in a while!” someone gushed. A skinny brunette and her band of followers surrounded them. “So, you’re home for the holidays? Your mother must be so pleased.”
“Hello, Amanda.” Saia’s response was cool. Polite.
The brunette glanced at him, and Riley realized he’d been the intended target. She gave him a full-on sultry smile. “I’m Amanda. We’re heading to Le Donjon, later.” She mentioned a place near Canal Street where something more carnal than dancing took place in the darkened corners. “Join us?”
Saia sat down, her soft mouth tightening at the female’s blatant invitation. Riley shook his head. “I’m busy.”
“Well, you know where to find me if you change your mind.” With a tiny smile, she and her troop glided off.
He sat beside Saia, picked up his glass and drank a little of the water. She said nothing, taking in the scene and smiling at people she knew. He wondered briefly if she’d care if he had accepted the date.
Putting his irritation aside, he asked, “She a friend of yours?”
“No.” Cool. Distant. “I have two I’d call friends. Niki, and Rania, who’s overseas right now.” Still, she didn’t look at him. More silence fell.
Riley exhaled roughly as he watched her.
Sure, he’d enjoyed females through the centuries. But none had touched him on a deeper level, until one evening three weeks ago, when a Corvette came to a squealing halt in front of him and spilled out a brown-eyed female who called to him like no other…
He went motionless at the thoughts rolling through his mind. No—no fucking way!
He’d heard the stories as a young boy, hell, he’d thought them a myth. Never believed that crap about demons and their other halves—about them finding their consorts—that once their paths crossed, nothing would keep them apart.
No matter what bullshit he told himself, no way he could disprove that theory now, considering, here he was, determined to keep Saia safe when he could have simply called her hunter family and explained about the Caligo.
Like the pathetic moth he was, he’d let her seductive flame draw him here.
What a fucking mess!
He and Saia could never happen. His life was messed up enough, burdened with a legacy he could do little about, one determined to haul his ass back to the Dark Realm and the bleakness of Stygia. Thinking of his meeting with Nicor soured his mood even more. His hand tightened on the glass.
“What’s wrong?” Saia asked softly, finally looking at him, her upset with him apparently over.
He reined in his dark thoughts and slanted her a bland look. “Why would you think anything’s wrong?”
Her shoulder lifted in a tiny shrug. “I don’t know, just a feeling. And I know it’s not Mother’s rabid stares that have you looking like you want to punch something.”
Because I want you so damn bad and it tears me up inside that I can’t have you.
“I’m good, but your mother terrifies me,” he deadpanned instead.
And that smile that was fast wrapping itself around his heart took life again. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because you’re born suspicious?”
She choked on her laugher, drawing Jemima’s attention back to them. This time, he saw the wariness there. Okay, got it. She didn’t like him. He didn’t care.
To keep his mind off impossible thoughts and needs, he glanced around the rec room rapidly filling with the elite inner circle of über rich. “So, tell me about the numbers. Why twenty-nine?”
“Every guy my mother reeled in as an appropriate match for me.”
“What about twenty-nine?”
“Piers?” Frowning, Saia picked up her champagne glass. “He’s harmless, but with Mother in his corner, he won’t give up.” She took a sip then choked. He handed her a napkin. She dashed at her mouth, cutting him a horrified look. “How do you know about the numbers?”
“I have exceptional hearing,” he murmured.
Color rushed to her face and deepened her tan. In a move born of pure embarrassment, one he’d rarely seen from her, she dropped her gaze. “You heard everything being said in the kitchen?”
Riley wondered if it was her tattooed butt comments that had her so uncomfortable. “Yes. Only if I choose to… I was worried about you. You appeared as if walking to your executioner.”
Red-faced, she squirmed in her chair and set the crystal down. “Yes, well, I meant every word.”
“I know.” He dropped his arm on the backrest of her chair and played with her hair. Unlike the others, Saia liked him. That’s why it felt like he was garroting himself with his decision to walk away. She’d probably settle for a fling, but he would take nothing less than forever.
“Why don’t you have a girlfriend?” she asked, pulling him out of his suicidal thoughts. He dropped his hand. “Your go-to, Pandora…she doesn’t count, does she?”
“Would you care?”
Riley wondered at his state of mind that he actually wanted her answer. Which, theoretically, was a waste of time. Their worlds were so far removed, nothing could breach the gap between them. She was human. He was demon, soon to inherit one of the deadliest sins and become the persecutor of damned souls if his sire had his way.
“You bet I would. If this was real.” Her eyes became lethal weapons. He almost felt the blade tip in his heart. A warning. “I don’t share. Ever.”
He savored her response for a moment then locked it in the deepest part of him. “Good thing then, that this is just pretend.”
She angled her head and studied him. “You don’t believe in a monogamous relationship?”
“What I believe in is irrelevant. This weekend is about you,” he said pointedly.
She bit her lip, didn’t say anything more, and turned away. The silence stretched between them, wide as the Grand Canyon, filled with unspoken needs and dark desires—ones that would have to remain unexplored. He couldn’t risk her. Ever.
She would never survive his life or his world.
Chapter Eight
What seemed like hours later, someone had put on music and the informal dance gathered momentum in the space cleared at the front of the room.
Saia rubbed her temples, trying to ease the dull ache building in her skull. Questions had plagued her all through dinner. Why wouldn’t Riley tell her if Pandora meant more to him?
He wouldn’t have agreed to this charade if they were serious, right?
She blew out a frustrated breath. Men! Why couldn’t they answer a question straight? A simple yes or no would have sufficed. She hated being unsure, and having no answer drove her crazy.
In her life, she barely had control over what she wanted. And then she had to fight for it.
She searched the bustling room for Riley. But couldn’t find him anywhere.
This was the twins’ fault. She’d find those two cretins and flay them alive if they’d hustled him away for more pool. Saia hotfooted it to the living room. Her mother and her cronies were there with a fat stack of checks on the coffee table. The treasurer of her mother’s charities yakked excitedly about an anonymous donation of over a hundred grand.
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