Page 3 of The Demons We Hide

Knock. Knock.

I step back as the last lock clicks free and grab the knob, pulling the door wide and letting it swing open. Juliet stands there, her hair hanging in straggly strands around her beautiful heart-shaped face. I swallow roughly.

“Baby?”

Brilliant blue eyes lift and meet mine. All the excitement, all the hope and beauty of finally having her come to me evaporates in an instant. The deep ocean color of her gaze is wreathed in rage. A soul-deep anger that I’ve only ever seen in one other person on this Earth.

Me.

I reach for her. Does she know about Gio? Almost as soon as that thought occurs, I toss it out. If Nolan had found her long enough to tell her about Gio, then he would’ve driven her here himself.

Juliet doesn’t resist as I pull her into my house and my arms, pressing her to my chest as I lean down and inhale her natural scent, except … my nose wrinkles.

“Why do you smell like smoke?” It’s not cigarette smoke either, but like the kind of smoke from a big bonfire. Where the hell has she been?

Juliet mumbles something against my chest, but it’s too muffled for me to make out. I back up and grab her shoulders, holding her away from me as I look down at her. The fabric under my hands is damp—not by much, but it’s obvious that she’s been in the rain at some point.

“I need you, Lex.”

Oh, God… I’ve waited for this day. Wanted it. Craved it. Dreamed of it. Little Lex jumps a bit, reminding me that he’s waited too.Fucker.

“You have me,” I tell her. “I’m yours.” Whatever she’s angry about, I can fix it.Wecan. Juliet is safe with us. She’s ours.

Those cool azure eyes shift upward and linger on my face. “You’re mine?”

I nod emphatically. “Yes.”

Her lips part and she leans closer. My stomach flips and desire burns in the back of my throat.

“What would you do for me?” The question is spoken in a low, almost seductive tone.Fuck me.

“Anything,” I swear.

Slowly, her lips curve, but it’s not a happy expression. Not a real one. It’s barely even a grin, more like a sad imitation. The sight of it has my earlier desire waning. Something is very wrong with that smile of hers.

“What’s going on?” I ask her. “What’s happened?”

Instead of answering, she presses herself into my chest. “Swear it,” she demands.

“Swear… to do anything for you?” I clarify, my hands hovering over her shoulders as her tits brush against me. The hard points of her nipples scrape against my front and despite my unease, I can’t help the throb in my cock.

She nods, her head bobbing up and down beneath my chin. “If you want me, then I’m yours,” she whispers.

I close my eyes at her words. My fingers flutter over her shoulders and drift down her spine. She’s so cold. Her skin is like ice against mine. Those words are everything I’ve wanted to hear for the last thirteen years. Despite that, I can’t help but feel as if her claim is too good to be true.

My shoulders slump. “You’re still mad about the ride to Hansgard,” I guess. “I’m so sorry, baby. I swear, we?—”

Her hand comes up and I stop talking as she presses her fingertips against my mouth. “No,” she murmurs, her eyes dipping to my lips. “That’s not what this is about.”

I shift on my feet as my cock threatens to burst past the waistband of my jeans, a demanding creature wanting her attention.Kiss me,I silently urge her.Kiss me and let me take you to bed and make you forget all the reasons you hate us.

“I’ll keep my promises to you, baby,” I say against her fingers. “I’ll take care of you.”

Her hands drift down over my chin to my throat and then lower. My lips part as I lean closer. Her head tips back and she goes up on her toes. I sway closer, my hands finding her hips. The scent of smoke burns the inside of my nostrils, but I can’t stop myself from lowering my head and dragging her against my front until there’s no question of whether she can feel my erection.

“Then I need you to do something for me…” she whispers.

“Anything…” I breathe my oath.

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