Page 33 of Deal with the Devil

Knox fixed his collar and checked his clothing for stains from their investigation before they headed for the pub. On the other side of town, lit up with lights and music pumping from the pub, it was night and day from the place they left. Life poured out of the pub and warmth invited them in. Knox held up his invite at the door and watched it fizzle into dust as the pair passed through the front door.

A two story, wooden pub filled with the divine aroma of hot food and frosty beer. A pair of Kattos stood behind the bar, serving glasses while a ginger-haired human dished out food alongside triplet pixies. The owners, Minx and Eloise Mumford were stood at the back corner, talking with someone shrouded in the crowd. Knox knew all the big business owners in town. He made it his business to know who was likely an ally and who would be an enemy. Minx Mumford was neither. He was an honest, retired adventurer who settled in King’s Fall and built a pub.Can’t do much with an honest man who stays out of other people’s business.Rumor was he bought the bookstore that Amelia worked in as an engagement present for Eloise. Which would be the pink, curly-haired owner Knox saw countless times in his illusioned window talking with Amelia.

The crowd parted by the bar, and he was able to see who the couple spoke with. Amelia leaned against a bar, wine glass in hand, under the arm of a tall orc. The orc in beige slacks and an open, floral button down was laughing and raising a glass to the pair. Minx clinked beer steins with him.

As if Amelia could sense him, she glanced away from the conversation to Knox. She ripped the very air out of his chest. Slipping away, his pet excused herself from the couple. Her blue hair was loosely curled and pinned with shimmering gems. She wore a ruby dress that made her legs look endless. It clung to her chest while flowing out directly under her bust. The strappy heels around her ankles made Knox feel dangerous. They were the perfect height to get caught on the lapel of his jacket when he threw her legs over his shoulder. Her hips swung like pendulums, and he was mesmerized.

“Mr. Zrazduel?” She stepped up to the pair still loitering in the pocket of space near the front door.

“Ms. Armstrong…or shall I call you Darkwater tonight?” His lips curled mischievously.

Amelia rolled her eyes, chuckling, “Amelia is just fine. I’m not a masked vigilante, just an author with a day job.”

“Then Knox suits me just fine,” He retorted, leaning onto his cane. His eyes flickered up, past her head to the others watching her. “Your audience is staring?”

“That’s Martin, my editor, and I’m sure you know the Mumfords.” She twisted to Maevin, “Maevin.”

“Girlie, the drinks free too or just the grub?” He winked at her.

“First drink’s on the house, foods free.”

“You know, I always liked you.” Maevin sauntered past her, making sure to hip check her tenderly on his way to the bar.

Amelia returned her attention to Knox, “And for you?”

He tenderly took ahold of her wine glass and reveled in the flash of rage in her face when he took a quick swig of it. “I prefer water.”

“Presumptuous.” Amelia glared at him, taking her wine glass back.

“I assume nothing. You asked a question, I answered,” He winked at her. The red returned to her cheeks. He leaned inclose, whispering near her cheek seconds before he kissed it. “Though, if that’s where your mind is?”

She let out a bark of a nervous laugh and ripped away from him. Knox followed her like the lovesick puppy he was to the bar. She bent over it and addressed one of the bartenders. A frosty glass of water was produced for Knox. He took it with an appreciative nod to the bartender. Amelia was staring at the wood beneath her fingers. Knox reached a cool finger to her chin and brought her gaze back to his. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” she sighed heavily before fully facing him. “Knox, I’m sorry about the book. I didn’t even think about how you would feel about it, I just…I just immediately started writing it and…”

She trailed off, leaving him sucking in a sharp breath.This was his chance.Knox did his best not to let the rattle in his lung show on his face. He pressed a thumb to her lower lip, holding her chin hostage with his fingers. “Pet, I don’t care about the book.”

Amelia shuddered, “But you said I’d been naughty?”

“I was looking for a reason, a good enough reason, to break my promise,” he confessed with a single breath. He stepped the small inch till their bodies were pressed, her eyes darkening as she stared up into his hungry stare. “I swore to you I’d stay out of your life, that you were done when you left, but I have been waiting for a reason, hoping you’d slip up and do something, begging the gods for some intervention that would end up with you at my feet. And here you are, pet…back in my hands again.”

Amelia’s mouth moved like she wanted to speak, but the only thing that left her lips was air. He leaned in, feeling her body melt against his. She was putty. He could feel her give in. Her eyes fluttering shut as their lips brushed. Her wine was set against the bar and her hands wrapped around his jacket lapels.She’s mine.And then, with a gasp, she ripped back from him.

“I…I…”

Amelia glanced at him once, her eyes lingering on his mouth before they jumped to his eyes. She jolted out of his grip and away from him, darting toward the bathrooms.Oh…you want a chase pet, I’ll gladly chase you.

Chapter fourteen:

Amelia

She slammed the bathroomdoor shut behind her and locked the single stall. Her heart tossed itself against her ribcage angrily as she stumbled back into the cool wood of the bathroom walls. Amelia clenched her eyes shut and put her palms over them.What am I doing?Her legs trembled as she tried to fight off her panic. Amelia was always a fighter. Yet, ever since she met him, she’d done nothing but run from him. Her brain was a scrambled mess.

He was really here and confessing he’d never stopped wanting her. It was everything she wanted and nothing at the same time. Amelia Armstrong knew if she went back out there and he asked her to come home with him, she’d say yes. It was weakness. It was desire. It was wrong. She’d just started to get her life back. Work was good, her writing was taking off…and here she was having a panic attack in the bathroom of her boss’s pub.

“What the fuck is wrong with me?” she hissed under her breath, pushing off the wall. Amelia twisted to the sink and mirror and stared into it. Was she really ready to just throw itaway? If she followed Knox, she’d be throwing away her regular, safe life.

Before she had another moment to pick at her life choices and what she was doing with them, the door the bathroom clicked open. She gasped, stumbling back. “Occu—…Knox? I fucking locked that door.”

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