Page 89 of The Devil's Weakness

“Hey, did you find me in your phone?” Blade asks, a little too loudly with a smug smile on his face.

“I sure did.” I smile sarcastically back at him. “But you spelled your name wrong, so I changed it for you. Now you’re under ‘A’ for ‘AnnoyingMotherfucker.’” I whisper the second word so none of the other customers can hear me.

The three of them break out in laughter. I try walking away, but Blade grabs my hand before I get the chance. My eyes dart around the dining room as I pull my hand from his and cross my arms over my chest. I don’t want the attention, and that’s exactly what Blade is.

An attention grabber.

He may be scary-looking, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s hot as hell—handsome, muscular, tall. AndGod, the talent he has.

The fact that he’s a bad guy shouldn’t come second to his sex appeal. But when his sex appeal leaves you standing in the middle of the room like an idiot who can’t remember what they were going to say, because every time you look at his fingers, you remember how they felt when they were inside of you…

Earth to Sasha.

“What’s wrong?” he asks me.

He looks hurt that I didn’t want him to touch me, and part of me feels bad about it.

“Do you even remember us texting this morning? It’s as if you were never part of that conversation.”

“That’s not it,” he tells me. “There’s something else.”

My eyes dart between Hawk and Cap, unsure of how open I can be in front of them. I sigh and walk to the other end of the dining room with Blade hot on my heels.

“Look, it’s bad enough that I was just out of work unexpectedly forfourdays. Now, on my first day back, hereyouare again after I specifically told you I needed time. I need this job, Blade. I can’t have you in here intimidating me or annoying me or whatever the hell it is you’re doing here.”

“We’re just here to eat lunch, Sasha. That’s all.” He holds his hands up as though he’s surrendering, with a pained look on his face. It makes me feel like a grade-A bitch. “I thought, after last night, you might have felt a little differently about our situation.”

“I do, but I hope that’s not the only reason you did what you did.”

“It’s not.” Now he’s the one shooting daggers at me.

I didn’t think it was, and I don’t know why I said that.

“I didn’t realize you needed more time apart, especially after agreeing to a relationship with me this morning. I didn’t forget our conversation. Though, it seems likeyoumay have.”

“Look, when we’re together, in private, I feel differently. As much as I’ve tried to fight it, it’s getting harder and harder. God, I hate that I just admitted that to you.” I put my head in my hands for a second before I continue. “However, I don’t think a real, public relationship could ever work between us. We’re from two different worlds, Blade. No matter how good the sex is, I don’t feel like there’s a place for either one of us in the other’s life.”

“You can think that all you want, but there’s already a place for you in my life. There’s been an empty spot for a long time, and I never came across anyone worthy enough to fill it. Until you. You challenge me. You make me question myself and my values. You drive me crazy,” he jokes through clenched teeth.

He cups my cheek in his hand, and I don’t know whether to pull away or melt into it.

“You drive me fucking wild. And I’m going to be here, in your life and in your way, in private as well as in public, for as long as it takes your stubborn ass to see that we’re going to be together. I meant every word in my texts to you this morning.”

I remain still and quiet, not wanting to confirm what he’s just said, as he turns and walks away. On his way back to the table, I watch as Toni and Elena look on from the kitchen. Elena’s head moves from Blade to me, and the scowl on her face is noticeable all the way across the dining room.

At that, irresponsible Sasha resurfaces and is ready to rumble.

Fuck those bitches.

“Blade,” I call out behind him. The expectant look on his face kills me. “What do you want to drink?”

Chapter Twenty-Six

After we finished eating lunch,I left the diner and went straight to Sasha’s apartment to wait for her. Using my key, I unlock the door and immediately see Michael in the kitchen. He whips around suddenly, as if he’s doing something he’s not supposed to be doing.

“Who the fuck are you?” he questions.

I have to give him credit; he’s got a lot of balls talking to a Skull like that. Especially since he looks like he weighs about as much as my big toe, and I can throw him across this apartment without breaking a sweat.

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