Page 38 of The Devil's Waltz

“You know that was the first time I was ever with someone like that, but I’m thinking it wasn’t yours?”

There’s a split second of pain that crosses his features, but it’s gone so quick, I wonder if I even saw what I thought I did. “I wish it had been,” he murmurs.

I reach for him, and he meets me halfway, kissing me slowly, as if he wants nothing more than to take his time memorizing the taste of my lips. He tastes like coffee and the promise of pleasure as his mouth moves firmly against mine, making the butterflies in my stomach flutter to life.

The sound of my phone chiming from the other room breaks us apart. I groan, not wanting to get up. “I should check that. It could be work needing me to come in.” I slide out of bed and pad through the apartment. I retrieve my phone from my purse on the bench near the front door where I left it when we got back last night, opening the new text.

I spoke with your father and would like to see you to discuss something. I have time at 2 p.m. today. Can you come to HQ?

I sigh at her request, wanting to immediately deny it…or ignore her altogether, but that has never worked in my favor in the past.

Okay, but I have work at 3 p.m. so I can’t be long.

That’s a lie, but I need an out that she can’t argue with if I’m going to force myself to go there. It’s probably going to be a lecture about notreporting the demon attack over a week ago, and I can only tolerate so much of what I’m sure will be a colorful tirade from my mother.

When I return to the bedroom, Xander is exactly where I left him, and the sight of him in my bed makes the dark cloud of dread over going to hunter headquarters a little less heavy.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

I exhale a deep breath, shrugging. “I’ve been summoned to HQ,” I tell him, checking the time on my phone. It’s a little after eleven, so I still have a few hours to overthink the meeting.Great. “I’m kind of surprised it took my mom this long to question me about the attack, considering it happened outside my work.”

“I’m sorry.” His brows tug closer, and he frowns. “I know that puts you in a difficult position with her. I’ll take you there, if you want?”

A small smile blooms on my face, and I nod, plopping onto the end of the bed and reaching for another croissant. “Thank you.”

We pull up out front of the commercial building downtown a few minutes before two.

Xander shifts his Camaro into park and turns toward me. “Do you want me to go in with you? I can explain what happened that night, and maybe that’ll take the heat off you?”

My chest swells at his offer, and I wish there was a way I could express just how much it means to me. “I appreciate that—you have no idea how much—but I won’t ask you to do that.”

He reaches over and takes my hand. “You’re not asking.”

I exhale a soft laugh. “I think I need to do this on my own. But maybe we can hang out later and you can make me feel better about the shit show I’m undoubtedly walking into?”

Xander chuckles, lifting my hand to his lips and pressing a soft kiss across my knuckles. “It’ll be my pleasure. Do you want me to wait here for you?”

I press my lips together against a smile and shake my head. He doesn’t need to wait around for however long this meeting is going to take. “That’s okay. Thank you, though.”

“Are you sure?”

I squeeze his hand before letting him go. “I am.”

“Okay,” he says softly. “I’ll see you soon.”

I do my best to cling to the warmth his words elicit as I get out of the car and step onto the sidewalk.

After he pulls away, I stare up at the tall glass building with disdain. The memories associated with it still unsettle my stomach.

When I was in training, I was on track to become one of the most esteemed and skilled hunters affiliated with the organization. Nowadays, Harper has taken that spot and will graduate at the top of her class if she has her way—which she usually does.

I push through the revolving door and step into the marble-floored lobby. It’s empty save for the middle-aged blond woman behind the mahogany reception desk.

She looks up, and when recognition passes over her features, her smile turns almost sad. Evidently, my black sheep reputation is still known around here.Awesome.

“Your mother is waiting for you in her office,” she says softly. “I’ll let her know you’re on your way up.”

“Thanks,” I say with a nod.

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