Page 3 of Craving Demons

By the time I’d gotten to the elevators, I was just a little warmed through by all that attention. Something about how they’d looked at me made me think I could walk right back in there, pick any one of them, and take him home.

But I wouldn’t.

Really.

I needed to figure out who I was, first. Then I could hopefully have a decent and lasting relationship with a good man.

That meant all those bad boys back there with their lusty gazes would have to do without me. And I’d have to do without them.

Yeah, I can do that,I thought to myself as I repeatedly hit the down button, calling the elevator. I needed to leave before one of them came over here and—

The elevator pinged.

Thank God!

But when the doors opened, standing inside was the ultimate bad boy, the most gorgeous brute of a man I’d ever seen.

Six-foot-six of linebacker met gladiator met Mr. Universe. His thick, wavy, black hair was immaculate, with a poised curl over one eye. And those eyes! It would be so easy to drown in those twin pools of midnight blue. The rugged skin of a bronzed god was poured into a very expensive suit, straining against his shoulders and arms. That alone would have been bad enough, but then, as soon as he saw me, his eyes went wide with heat and desire.

Would it be too awkward to wait for another elevator?

I was fairly certain if I got in this one, with this man, we’d be all over each other by the time we hit the ground floor.

Of course, this was the top floor so heshouldbe getting out.

He didn’t.

Neither of us moved.

The door pinged and began to close, and he moved with lightning speed to stop the closing door and force it back. Then he reached out, caught my arm, pulled me into the elevator with him, and let the door close behind me.

He spun me around and pinned me to the back wall, massive hands on either side of my head as he leaned in close.

“What are you?” he whispered, his rough, deep voice like velvet over gravel.

“Adopted?” I said, trying my usual defense mechanism. But I was melting under his heated stare. I didn’t even know this guy, but he radiated power and sex and I desperately wanted him closer.

No. Get a hold of yourself, woman! You’re off men. Stop this!

But… I couldn’t. He was just too intoxicating. And the way he leaned in close made me think I was just as irresistible to him.

“What are you?” he repeated.

I didn’t know what he was asking.

“A bartender?” I tried again.

He shook his head, face turning dark. He was looking for something else, something specific, but I had no clue what.

His voice was low and lethal when he whispered, “What manner of Empyrean are you? And why are you unveiled?”

Empy-what-now?

Unveiled…?

What the actual fuck?

He pressed closer, body crushing against mine, lips dangerously close, eyes burning.

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