Page 34 of The Devil's Waltz

The corner of his mouth kicks up. “Oh?”

I nod slowly, chewing my lower lip for a moment before asking, “Take me home?”

ELEVENXANDER

The monster in me wants her almost as much as I do.

The risk of losing control with her, to being exposed when I can’t keep my demon side caged, should give me pause. Instead, I snake an arm around Camille’s waist the moment we step off the elevator, pulling her against my side as we walk toward her apartment.

She laughs softly as she fishes out her keys.

I don’t let go as she unlocks the door, and as soon as we’re inside with it shut, I cage her in between my arms.

She pulls in a sharp breath, her eyes flitting across my face as her heart pounds like a steady drumbeat. Her eyes are wide, unsure, but her body tells me she wants exactly what I do.

Her pulse thrums and the heat between her thighs has me biting back a growl as my nostrils flare at her sweet scent. It’s a delicate mix of arousal and fear—I’d enjoy nothing more than to drown in it.

I drop my hands to her hips, tilting my face to speak low in her ear. “We should take this slow.” I’m mindful of the fact that being with a new partner can be overwhelming. As much as part of me wants to take her against the door, I’m going to move at a pace she’s comfortable with.

Camille reaches up, draping her arms over my shoulders, and turns her face to press a soft kiss against my cheek. “What if I don’t want slow?”

Well, I’ll be damned.

I pull back to look in her eyes, tucking a bit of hair behind her ear. “Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

She cups my cheeks in her hands and seals her mouth over mine, kissing me hard as she presses herself against me. Her fingers slide into my hair, and I close my eyes, reveling in the feel of her body flush with mine.

My own pulse kicks up as my body fills with warmth. I tip her head back to claim her mouth, nipping her bottom lip, then tease it with my tongue.

She makes a soft sound at the back of her throat, and my grip on her tightens instinctively as we move toward her bedroom.

I kick the door shut behind us, guiding Camille closer to the bed with my hands on her hips.

In seconds, we’re lost in each other’s touch.

The darkest parts of me light up for her.

For a tragically fleeting moment, I allow myself to set aside the reason I’m here. To pretend we’re different people than we are. To forget I won’t ultimately hurt her.

When she pulls back to catch her breath, I dip my face to pepper kisses along her jaw until my lips reach her ear, and I murmur, “Still with me?”

“I’m here,” she breathes, fisting the front of my shirt, as if to steady herself while keeping me close.

I’m about to kiss her again when a flash of something akin to panic in her gaze makes me pause. Fear flies off her in dark red sparks, and a muscle feathers along her jaw.

“Maybe we should press pause?” I suggest, despite it being the last thing I want. I won’t push her if she doesn’t want this. I may be a monster, but there are lines I will not cross. I have my father to thank for that shred of humanity.

“What?” She shakes her head. “No, I just—Sorry, I’m a bit out of my element here.”

I nod. “Being with someone new is usually nerve-racking.”

Her cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink and her gaze drops to her feet. “Right. Well, I think it’s probably more intense the first time.”

There’s a stretch of silence before I say, “You’ve never been with anyone?” My voice is gruff and filled with disbelief.

She presses her lips together, shaking her head, her cheeks tinged pink. “I, um…I understand if that changes things for you.”

Fucking hell. I’m the last person on earth who deserves to be her first.

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