Page 25 of Bound to Death

I stole a look at Thanatos, still having a hard time breathing, but his expression gave nothing away. It took me nearly a minute to notice he was in an expensive-as-shit suit, too. Then another minute to realize he’d put me in a dress that showed every fucking curve—and all the red marks he’d left on my chest.

It was a gorgeous black lace that cinched at the waist and barely reached mid-thigh. By the looks of it, it was beyond expensive. Definitely nothing I could afford with my meager salary. By the very unsubtle onceover Mark gave me after bowing to Thanatos like we were in some weird period drama, he’d noticed it, too.

“Oh, Ash?” Thanatos replied, using my name intimately. Mark definitely noticed by the little glance he gave me. “Yes, she did. I asked her to show me around since I’ll be overseeing operations for the next couple weeks. If I remember correctly, this was meant to be…my office.”

Mark’s eyes widened, and it was the first time I’d seen him act like he didn’t own the fucking place. “Yes! Of course. Father explained everything. You can have this one…and any of the staff you deem worthy to assist you.”

To say I was having a hard time following would be an understatement, but it wouldn’t be any weirder than shadows and ravens attacking shapeless things with glowing eyes or a gorgeous killer who reaped souls for a living.

Such a weird fucking day.

“Ms. Bailey will do. She’s available to assist me for however long I need, yes? And I expect she’ll be paid extra for all theovertimeI’ll require her to work.”

Mark’s eyes wandered over to me, but after Thanatos edged closer to my body, my boss combed shaky fingers through his sandy blonde hair and nodded. “Absolutely. Overtime. Better pay. She’s one of the best. She’ll give you everything you need.”

“I’m counting on it,” came Thanatos’s saucy reply full of double meaning.

Fucking hell.

“This is the new consultant you mentioned last week?” I pieced together, trying to appear as though I wasn’t still riding the bundle-pack orgasm he’d given me only a minute ago. Thanatos might’ve dressed me, but I could still feel liquid leaking down my thighs, and I clenched them together in horror, worried my overtly oblivious bastard boss would choose today to be observant.

“The very same. Smart girl.”Patronizing asshole.“See, she’ll be a great help to you, sir. She’s always working here on the weekends.”Yeah, thanks to you, you fucking lazy buffoon.“Grandfather tells me you’ve worked miracles for other companies. I had hoped to pick your brain and learn all your secrets over dinner. Are you free now?”

It didn’t take a genius to gather that Thanatos had already worked some supernatural sorcery on both Mark and his grandfather, but why was what I truly wondered. Did it have something to do with what happened earlier in the alley?

The little sideways smirk the impossibly tall man offered me meant my thoughts were likely projecting on my face again. “I’m afraid I have a prior engagement with Ash. She and I need to discuss our next steps. You understand, of course.” The smile hegave my shameless boss who couldn’t pick up on subtlety to save his life was nothing like the little grins he’d always give me.

So, of course, Mark replied, “Then I can join, yes? Let me grab a few things. We’ll get Ms. Bailey to clean out my office for—”

“No need. I’ll do it myself. Wouldn’t want Ash to spend her precious weekend cleaning house when I’m fully capable of doing that much myself. And I’d prefer the dinner to be with her,and her alone. Your father gave me everything I require to perform my duties, so you can go.”

I’d never seen Mark minimized to just another employee with quite as much ease as Thanatos accomplished in a few sentences. And I’d never been so turned on watching the arrogant asshole bite his tongue before taking his leave without another word. When the door shut behind Mark’s swift exit, probably horrified he was dismissed by someone he hardly knew, Thanatos offered me his hand.

Giving the sleek bastard an eyebrow, I placed mine on his. “So, I guess this means you’re sticking around?”

“Suppose it does. Upset I won’t leave you alone?”

“Does it matter what I think?”

His glittering blue eyes met mine, and the twitch of his mouth told me he was amused by me again. “More than you know.”

I threw him a bone. “Guess it doesn’t bother me as much as it should. But should I expect what happened in the alley to be a more frequent thing? And do you ever plan to tell me why I’m now the target of demons and angels?”

His jaw worked in an uncharacteristically candid gesture. “It won’t change anything, so no.”

I scoffed at his non-answer, expecting it. “Thought so. Twenty questions it is. I’ll get it out of you one day.”

Finally, he smiled. A genuine smile that reached his eyes. “That’s what I’m worried about, little raven, and it’s why I can’t seem to leave you alone.”

Smug, I walked out of the office with my chin up, ignoring some of the sideways glances the other girls working overtime gave me on our way out. Fuck, I hoped no one heard me. Their cubicles were pretty far from Mark’s office, but sound carried in this damn place. I’d likely be questioned come Monday morning, but not before everyone drooled over the new hottie who’d dethroned our asshole boss.

Chapter Thirteen

Asha

Emily sat across from me at our bar-style table, her chin on her hands and a devious grin splitting her face. “I knew this would be a thing.”

“Shut it,” I hissed, looking over at Thanatos cooking dinner for the three of us.

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