Page 12 of Carnal Heart
If he needs a Black Hart, why the hell didn’t he stick around and tell me? Then again, he probably assumes I’m one of my father’s little puppets.
Suddenly, it hits me. Zaiah might have the information I need to free my mother and sister.
I need to know what he knows.
“Do you think Devyn is guilty, too?” Lana asks.
I lean forward, observing Zaiah’s face. He bites his lip. My heart pounds a frantic rhythm in my chest as I wait for his answer. I don’t know why it’s so damn important to hear the next thing he’s about to say. I’m not a good person. How can I be when I have all these dark, primal desires?
But, for a moment back there, when Zaiah was kneeling in front of me, submitting, I felt seen. I wasn’t someone to be feared. I saw that subtle change when he realized who I was, and in that instant, with Zaiah on the floor, he trusted me.
Finally, he shakes his head. “I’m not sure. I’ve known Devyn for about two years, and he doesn’t strike me as the type to do something like this.” My eyes widen with shock as his words register. What does he meanhe knows me? Only my fellow Black Harts know me.
Lana’s lips part. “I didn’t realize you two were that well acquainted.”
Zaiah fidgets in his seat and blushes again. “We had chemistry class together. At first, I didn’t realize he was a Shio. Back then, he was just Devyn. Stoic and smart. A little mysterious and so fucking handsome. He took my breath away.”
I blink.
I don’t think anyone has ever described me like that.
“Did you know I used to tutor his little sister?” Zaiah asks suddenly. I knew he tutored students during his free gap in his schedule, but since I had a class during that time, I never paid attention to who he helped. I had no idea Lillie was one of them.
“No, I didn’t even know he had a sister.”
Zaiah nods. “Their father is an overprotective asshole,” he laughs. “Her words, not mine. Anyway, she didn’t really need any tutoring. She’s always at the top of her class and probably knows more than me. She used to tell me all kinds of stories. Hemight keep some things hidden from his sister, but something tells me, deep down, he’s still good.”
“Oh, poor naïve, Zaiah,” I tsk to myself.A good man wouldn’t be willing to kill a man just for looking at you. Plus, you have no idea about all the depraved shit I want to do to you right now.
The rest of their conversation is short, and I’m shocked to find out Zaiah wants money for his information. He wants enough money to get him off-planet.
Like fucking hell am I letting my fire leave Usurn without me. Looks like I’ll have to make things very clear from now on. Zaiah is mine. Whether he likes it or not.
I don’t miss the way Zaiah scans the different corners, as if looking for his stalker. Looking for me. I smirk.Pretty Zaiah, already desperate for more.
A part of me mourns the time I missed with my pretty little doll. But maybe things were meant to unfold like this. Maybe Zaiah needed to be with that piece of shit, Remy, to help me put my father away.
I tap out one last message in the group chat. If I can’t get Zaiah to give me the information about my father, I need a backup plan, just in case.
Devyn: Looks like I might need one more favor. Let me know if anyone is free in the morning.
Light, my brothers are going to give me so much fucking crap when they realize just how obsessed I am with Zaiah Ruca.
Chapter five
Devyn
Like red stars in a dark sky, dozens of glowing red pins shimmer on the dimly lit dance floor. Zaiah sways to the beat, eyes closed, and arms high in the air. The sultry music highlights his beauty, especially as more of his midriff is revealed. Bringing my drink to my lips, I take a sip from my glass right as someone approaches Zaiah.
Jealousy slides down my back. An overwhelming sense of rage fills me at the thought of some random man dancing with my prey.
I walk onto the dance floor, knowing he has no idea I’ve been stalking him for the past thirty minutes. I kept myself completely hidden, listening in on his conversation with his friend until they finally decided it was time to dance.
When I violently shove the other guy away from Zaiah, he opens his mouth to say something, when he spots my obsidian pin and scurries off. Stepping up behind him, I place my handson Zaiah’s hips, encouraging him to continue his seductive dance. He still doesn’t realize it’s me, still lost in the music.
“Fucking Black Harts,” he yells loud enough to be heard. “At this rate, I’ll never find one.”
I chuckle low in my throat because I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m Lana. I press the front of my body against his back as my hands begin to explore his body. I push against him, letting him feel the hard outline of my angry cock. Zaiah freezes as I continue my exploration of my roaming hands until one reaches his throat.
