Page 11 of The Devil of London

“Khaos, I am two hundred and ninety-nine years old. That’s three thousand, six hundred, and four months, but I can go into weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds if you need me to do so. I’ve been yours since I was seventeen years old, and not once have I felt true love or had someone to go home to who couldn’t wait for me to arrive. I’ve never created life. Hell, I have never slept in the arms of a man who actually loved me. When will you let me go to live some semblance of a life? One without you hiding in the shadows to monitor my every move?”

“Never,” he stated as he ground the hardness of his cock against me. “You’ve been on your own too long, darling. I’ve been too lenient with you again, haven’t I? It shows in your lack of self-preservation when you taunt me or repeatedly ask for your freedom. You forget why you’re mine.”

“Because in a moment of lunacy, I used magic I hadn’t even known I’d had. Finding out I had magic wasn’t nearly as terrifying as realizing I had no idea how to stop it from burning down your establishment. You’ve punished me enough for something out of my control.” The tremor in my voice belayed the pain I felt at asking him to free me.

Why did the thought of him freeing me send me into a downward spiral of panic? I’d wanted my freedom for as long as I could remember. It wasn’t what scared me. No, losing him and those I’d considered my family terrified me. I’d tasted what it felt like to be cut off from them and alone, and I’d hated every moment.

“Your freedom isn’t up for discussion. I’ve told you my remedy to your loneliness.” He lifted me by my ass, sending me careening forward. My hands planted on his broad shoulders as he buried his nose in my hair. “Pastèque, limonade et lavande. Après tout ce temps, tu es toujours mon parfum préféré. Tu es mon âme, Aderyn. J’ai envie du goût de tes lèvres douces. La sensation de ton corps magnifiquement souple contre le mien, et ton essence flottant dans l’air alors que tu murmures mon nom alors que tu trouves du plaisir.” He said in French, knowing I could not speak it, or understand a word he said.

“English or any other language but French, Khaos.”

“Your inability to understand French is concerning. You’ve mastered all other languages, and yet, French eludes you?” His fiery lips dragged over my thundering pulse as he nuzzled my throat. “I find the language beautiful. You should learn it, love. I think you would enjoy cursing me to the pits of hell with it.”

“I’m sure I would. Unfortunately, I cannot master it,” I admitted. I’d tried and failed several times, and still, I was hopeless. It didn’t stop Nasir and Merikh from speaking to me in French though.

“Tell me about the issue today,” he ordered. Sitting up, he forced me to hold on to him as he shuffled out of his suit jacket.

“A tall Nordic prick and his friends came in today as I was closing. When I asked them to go, he was rather enraged over it.” He set his jacket aside and leaned back in a relaxed pose, staring at my hardened tips pressing against the bodice of my dress. A cocky smile flittered over his lips before he raised darkening eyes to clash with mine. “Their tattoos were ancient runes, older than the ones on the men who fucked with us in Salem, when you told them I was a witch after I’d tried to have you burned at the stake. You remember that, right? Anyway, the wards around my shop alerted me to the danger but didn’t work past warning me of it. He was either immune, or under your protection, but tonight was not the first time he’d been inside the store causing issues. This time he promised to return and ensure I know my place, which is serving him like a good whore should. You warned never to harm those beneath your protection. He told me he’d been given your blessing to do as he wanted to anyone in your town. So, no. I did not wield my magic against him since it could’ve been seen as a slight against you if I had done so.”

“You forgot the part where he put his hands on you,” he murmured before nipping at my collarbone, which sent pulses of lust shooting to my clit.

“When I told him to leave, he shoved me back against the counter. When I fought him, he backhanded me, which knocked me down, and I ended up hitting my head on the counter. I wasn’t out for more than a few seconds, but when I opened my eyes, I was on the floor, and he was trying to get my pants off. Something outside caused his friend to stop him.”

“What was outside?” he countered raspily.

“I don’t know.” I’d peeked outside briefly before calming the other girls down. “Do you know who he is?”

“No.” Khaos grabbed my ass, palming my cheeks as I tried to keep a safe distance between my lips and his.

“No? Then I am done here. I’ll handle it myself,” I snapped.

“Who the fuck do you think you are, love?” he hissed before he grabbed my bound hair and jerked my head down as his mouth pressed against my ear. “You’ve forgotten your place. I assure you, I have not.”

“Looks like Nasir found a whore to warm his bed tonight, fellas,” a heavily accented voice stated behind me. Nasir released my hair, which allowed me to turn toward the owner of the voice. The moment my eyes clashed with the arctic ones, I stiffened, and an uneasiness rushed through me, which Nasir noted. “Well, look at what we have here, boys? Looks like the little witch is being taught her rightful place without my help. You’ll make a pretty cock sleeve, cunt. Once you’ve finished with her, send her my way. She and I have some unfinished business, and I don’t mind sloppy seconds.” The prick laughed at himself as if he found his statement funny. Slapping his friend on the back, they started toward the Devil’s Lounge.

Dropping my head forward as my eyes closed, I exhaled a calming breath before noticing the weight of Nasir’s hand had lessened. Peeking in his direction, I found his focus on my face. Shrugging off his touch, I pulled my skirt down as embarrassment flooded through me.

“Him?”

“Yes,” I whispered through the embarrassment slicing through me. “I guess you should’ve told him I wasn’t good enough to warm your cock as a sleeve, huh?” I teased through the humiliation stinging my cheeks.

Khaos pushed me aside, then began to slowly roll up his sleeves. Frowning, I rose with him as his disconcerting calmness sent an uneasiness rushing through me. I’d only ever seen him like this once before, and it was when he’d gone abroad, returning with the head of the Spanish Prince in tow. Tonguing my cheek, I crossed my arms over my chest until he sauntered toward the doors of the lounge.

“Nasir?” I called to his back.

“Sit down, brat. I’ll be back shortly.”

Chapter Five

StaringattheentrywayNasir vanished into, I fretted over what to do. If I was right, which I normally was, the asshole was part of a much larger crew. Biting my lip, I grabbed Nasir’s jacket and pulled out his phone to message Merikh and warn him of the bloodshed about to unfold. Murder was rather messy, and if his boys didn’t step in to end it, there’d be another body to add to the pile tonight.

The moment I did, a message flashed over the screen and the phone vibrated in my palm. After entering the code, which was the same he had always used for his safe, it brought up the home screen. On it was the image of a beautiful blonde with startling blue eyes. Then, before I could think better of it, I opened the message.

Vanessa: I haven’t heard from you in hours, lover.

Creasing my brow, I felt my stomach twisting.

Vanessa: What do you think about the pink dress I modeled for you? Daddy says everything looks perfect on me, but I need it to be better than perfect when we announce we are to be wed and join families. You always pick out the perfect dresses for me to wear. I know! How about you choose one for me to wear and surprise me?

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