Page 41 of Devil's Game

I chuckled at that, already knowing Merrick was probably pissed that Spade had whisked me away.

“Is that so?” I had to remember to tease him about it later tonight. I knew he was particularly grumpy that Sophia had joined our sessions, especially since there was no way to break the palpable sexual tension with her around. But we both knew that her training was one of the most important things we had to do right now.

“What about you?” I asked, needing a diversion. “Did I sense a bit of a spark between you and Zane?”

“Zane?” She scoffed, her voice jumping an octave, betraying her lie. “As if. He’s the last person on this earth I’d ever be interested in.”

“Sure. he is,” I agreed, doing my best to keep a smile off my face, despite my lips twitching.

“I’m serious.” She huffed, yanking a dress from the rack and flinging it at me.

I caught it just before I choked on the soft fabric, giving it an appraising look before slipping it over my arm. Even if she was mad at me, she still had a good eye for clothes.

“He was such an asshole. He just barged into my apartment, and he wasn’t any more pleasant on the drive here.” She gave me a stern look, probably trying to convince both herself and me. “I could never be interested in someone like him.”

“That’s a valid point,” I agreed again, handing her a dress this time. I could tell that she wanted to slam it down on the rack out of principle, but she didn’t, instead subtly tucking it under a few other items she had strewn over her arm. “But sometimes attraction isn’t logical.”

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine, did I want to run my fingers through his thick black hair, and maybe have him fling me over his large, muscular shoulder, caveman style? Sure. But I wouldn’t.” She crossed her arms over her chest as she pinned me with a glare.

She was trying so hard to look pissed off, but I couldn’t hold back my snort of laughter, since she’d shifted the clothes in her arm to the center of her chest, making her look like she was wearing a laundry basket of mismatched fabrics.

Sophia groaned, giving me a scathing look as she realized just how ridiculous she looked, but gradually, her frown twitched up into a smile, and we were both giggling. I clapped a hand over my mouth, attempting to muffle the sound, but it was no use as Sophia doubled over, dropping half of the clothes clutched in her grasp along with her.

We drew more than a few amused glances as we both laughed, the lighthearted turn helping to ease some of the anxiety that had barely let loose its buzzing grip in the last few weeks.

The chime of my phone ringing broke through our fit, sobering our mirth.

Merrick’s name flashed on the screen, and I accepted the call. “I heard you were giving Sophia a hard time during her training,” I teased, needling Merrick with a sing-song tone.

“Don’t tattle on me,” Sophia hissed, shoving my shoulder.

“I’d rather be giving you something else that’s hard,” he growled, the vibration of his voice sending shivers of desire straight through my body, making my toes curl in my sneakers. “Tell Sophia she just earned herself another hundred jumping jacks next session.”

I snickered but decided not to relay the information just yet. I’d never hear the end of it if I told her now.

“I’m assuming you’re calling, since your men let you know that I spotted them?” I grinned as I looked through the glasswindows out to the concourse, still noticing the same four men attempting to look as inconspicuous as ever.

“I had no doubt you’d spot them sooner or later.” He chuckled, the throaty sound making me wish I could sprint out of the store and fly home. “I honestly thought it would’ve been sooner.”

He must be in a good mood.

“Careful,” I warned. Suspicion sparked at his playful tone. He was definitely up to something. “What has you in such a good mood?”

I resisted the urge to check the caller ID and make sure this really was Merrick.

“Sebastian called,” Merrick said, completely throwing me off. Before I could ask how that was supposed to be a good thing, he continued. “He called in his favor. I’m scheduled for a fight at the club—tonight.”

A grin slowly spread across my lips. Normal women wouldn’t be excited by the prospect of the man that they loved fighting, but I’d known for a while that I wasn’t normal.

“I know how much you love watching my fights, little devil.” He growled the pet name, the sound causing heat to creep down my neck, my skin suddenly flushing as I pictured the last time I’d seen Merrick in the ring.

“You know me so well, babe,” I purred, loving his groan that echoed through the phone.

“I would tell you to get your ass home, but it might be more fun to watch you squirm until after the fight.”

“Really?” I gasped and took a few steps away from Sophia.

“Oh, yeah.” His voice darkened, lust lacing his words. “In fact, I think I’ll head over to the gym to warm up.”

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