Page 22 of The Devil of London

Khaos’s hand pushed and pulled my hips, which had his tip thrusting into my body. My eyes opened with wonder as I felt him stretching me deliciously. A gasp burst from my lips as he released my breast, swearing as he shoved me away from him with enough force that I ended up toppling over the end of the bed. Blinking up at the shimmering ceiling, I felt tears of embarrassment and confusion scalding my eyes.

Lifting, I stared at him as he peered back with wide, horrified eyes. “What the fuck is your problem?” I demanded through the quivering of my lips. It made my words come out soft and broken.

“I told you long ago, slut. You’re not worth fucking.” Khaos rolled to the edge of the bed and bowed his head briefly. Snorting loudly, he rose and sauntered into the bathroom.

The moment I made it to my feet, I ripped the sheet free from his bed and entered the suite’s large front room. I found my purse, but nothing else—no clothing, no shoes—and headed back to the bedroom. The closet wasn’t much help, either, because an assorted array of sex toys were hanging from the hooks. So, I wrapped the sheet around me and used a length of rope as a belt to secure it.

I didn’t wait around for him to remind me how worthless I was again. Rushing toward the entrance, I yanked open the door and dashed down the short hallway to the elevators. Pushing the button, I heard the hum of a camera turning and glared at it with silent warning. The elevator doors slid apart, which had me entering them before they’d even fully opened. Stabbing the button for the main level, I exhaled a shaky whimper of relief as they closed, and it began moving.

The ding sounded, and I bailed from the elevator, stepping off into a buzzing room filled with activity. What the fuck? Didn’t these assholes ever sleep? A man’s shocked, rounded eyes slid over the sheet I had quickly wrapped around my body before he chuckled. The whistle left his lips as the woman beside him gripped his chin, forcing his attention back on her. Heat burned my cheeks as others began noticing me while I made my way toward the staircase leading outside.

Once I was clear of the unknown bouncers who’d laughed outright at my outfit, I released the sob I’d been fighting to keep in. Tears swam in my vision as I winced from the rocks and gravel that bit into the soles of my feet in the parking lot. When I reached my vehicle, I opened the door and slid inside. How the hell had I let this shit happen? I knew better than anyone how heartless the devil was. Yet, every fucking time, I fell for his charm.

I dug through my purse for the keys but discovered Khaos had taken them out. Screaming in frustration, I slapped the steering wheel repeatedly. A knock sounded at my window, which caused me to jump as my eyes flew to the asshole who’d thrown me from his bed like trash. Reaching for the handle, I rolled down the window while offering him a withering glower. Dangling in his fingers were my keys.

“Give me my keys.”

“Get the fuck out of the car. What the fuck are you wearing—is that my sheet?” Nasir asked softly. “Bloody hell.”

“I am not getting out of this car. I want my keys, Khaos. Give them to me, now.”

“Oh, you’re not, huh?” he asked with a dangerous look simmering in his angry, cyan depths.

“No—what the hell?” I demanded, as he yanked the door open.

Once it was opened, he snatched my purse from my lap before hauling me out of the car and over his broad shoulder.

“What the hell are you fucking doing?” I shrieked as people looked at us.

“What am I doing? I’m doing whatever the fuck I want.” The sound of my door slamming closed only drew more attention. It probably didn’t help that he was only in a pair of lounge pants. “You left my penthouse in a fucking sheet?”

“I wouldn’t have had to use your sheet if you’d not hidden my clothes,” I sulked.

“I fucking burned the dress, Aderyn. Sprayed gasoline on it, then watched it fucking burn,” he informed smugly.

“Why the hell would you do that? It was just a dress!”

“Nothing is everjustanything when you wear it.” His words left me silent, trying to figure out if he’d just insulted me, or if it had been a compliment. “That tiny scrap of fabric was a dick-me-down-daddy dress. I get that you got daddy issues, but I’m not your fucking daddy. I am your fucking king, little girl.”

“You didn’t think I was little a few moments ago when I was grinding on your—hey, Merikh,” I chirped as he appeared in front of me, or technically behind me.

“Hey, little bird. Nice toga.”

“Isn’t it? I think it is like a four-hundred thread count?” I returned.

“Six-hundred,” Nasir growled. At his comment, I rolled my eyes as the rope threatened to give and award all the onlookers an eyeful. Pausing as if he had some sixth sense about my plight, he chuckled. “Merikh, fix the fucking rope.”

Merikh’s emerald-colored eyes held mine as he closed the distance between us. Reaching around to my back with his face near enough to mine that I could kiss him if I’d wanted to, he held the rope together.

“It’s a hands-on deal, Nasir. She didn’t tighten the rope enough to keep it up in this position,” Merikh said with laughter filling his eyes.

“Indeed,” he snapped as Rue and Ryat laughed outright. “Something funny, gentlemen?” At his harshly asked question, the laughter only intensified.

“Just watching the show, brother. It’s like old times this morning,” Ryat called out as we marched past him. Stabbing the button once he reached the elevator, Nasir made an annoyed sound as we waited for it to open.

The moment the doors separated, Damaris’s confused voice spoke from within them. “What in the hell?”

“Lovely day, isn’t it?” Merikh asked before releasing his hold to step back and off the elevator. “Be a doll, Damaris. Don’t let anyone else on until they’ve exited the car? Aderyn’s toga is experiencing a malfunction.”

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