Page 24 of Toying with Monsters

“What’s new?”

I strangled the shriek rising in my throat and shot a glance at the man sitting in a chair beside the bed.

“Thorn.”

“Elena.”

“Fuck. How do you sit so quietly I didn’t notice?”

Thorn shrugged. “It’s one talent of my kind that allows us to encourage self-destructive acts by humans.”

“Is that your evil plan for me?”

Thorn shook his head. “I have other uses for your talents.”

Uses.Nice to know I’m valued and loved.

I scoffed.

“How long have you been sitting there?”

Thorn stood and smoothed his suit. “The entire time you were out.”

“How long?” I pull the covers up to my chin. Surprisingly, my shirt lacks blood, mud, or shit to clean.

“About twenty minutes, but half was just a nap.” Thorn flashed me a smug grin. “Get sorted, then meet me in the office. We’ve got more to talk about.”

“I healed this fast by virtue of the mark?”

He nodded. “You may have already noticed some other minor changes, too. I can now visit your dreams and communicate with you more easily without words.”

“You mean like telepathy?”

“Not exactly.” The look on his face didn’t change, but suddenly dread filled me as if the wolves yapped behind at my heels. Then the feeling faded.

“Oh, fuck.”

Thorn chuckled, supremely pleased with these transformations.

“Often, our communication is just a shared perception or feeling. Soon, you’ll find it more efficient than forming words. And,” he paused, “It will work both ways.”

My mouth twitched involuntarily. “How long will that take?”

Thorn snorted. “Why worry about what you can’t change?”

I shot an incredulous stare at the man with my stomach sick at realizing the full import of working with the devil. But he powered on, unconcerned with my discomfort.

“Clean up, then meet me in my office. Unless you desire I join you, first?”

He’s not—

“In bed?” Embarrassingly, I squeaked these words.

Thorn grinned with eyes gleaming in a predatory fashion, communicating he would enjoy our association more if I invited him between the sheets. I mean, what does a demon do in bed? My imagination ran rampant with all sorts of kinks making the Fifty Shades guy seem like a choir boy. Things that would make me shiver with desire when the demon wasn’t touching me. Was making love with hell spawn addictive?

Oh, shit. Thorn grinned even wider. Was the bastard reading my mind?

“I don’t see that as a perk of our—”

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