Hitting my hand to my face, I continued on to my bedroom.

  The one week I’d wished would have taken forever to go by seemed to have flown by. Scarlett had gone out on two more dates with Kieran, and I’d received a text this morning reminding me of our outing tomorrow night. When the message came across my screen from an unknown sender, I immediately knew it was him. How he got my number, I wouldn’t even try to guess with the way this man just seemed to know things. That day he’d given me the money to buy a dress, I’d counted it out after my conversation with Scarlett, and he had given me three thousand dollars to buy a freaking dress. Where the hell did, he think I shopped? Neiman-Marcus?

  “Are you ready to go?” Scarlett asked, bursting into my room, a bundle of excitement for an event I was dreading. At least my brain was dreading it, my body on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about how he smelled or made it light up when he was near. I needed to remember this man had threatened not only my life but Scarlett’s life as well. He was the devil, and I did not want to dance with him.

  “I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.” Shopping was my least favorite activity. It was like getting waxed for me.

  Painful.

  Walking into Nordstrom’s, we headed over to the formal ware and began shuffling through all the dresses. Picking out five that seemed like they could possibly work, I went and got a dressing room to try them all on. “Now make sure you come out here and model them all for me before you trash them, I know how you are.”

  She was right. I hated trying on dresses the most. “I know.” I rolled my eyes, walking into the room, shutting the door. The first one I tried on was a red one with spaghetti straps, low cut down the front and a huge slit up one leg. This dress was an automatic no for me. Too revealing.

  When I walked out to show Scarlett, she whistled. “Now that is one sexy dress. I would say buy it now, but I think you need a little more coverage to feel comfortable. The last thing we need is you walking around all night, covering your chest. Next.”

  Grabbing the next one, it was a blue/greyish silk dress, no slit, spaghetti straps again, and not quite as low in the front. I liked it but something about the color on me made me look washed out. When I showed Scarlett, she agreed. After two more no’s, I put on the last one. This one was a delicate, pinkish cream colored, spaghetti strapped dress that had a straight cut across the chest so there was more coverage and no slit up the side. I actually liked the way I looked in this dress. When I walked out to show Scarlett, the huge smile on her face confirmed that she definitely agreed with me on this one. “Oh. My. God. Reese, you look beautiful in that dress. It’s perfect. You have to get it.”

  Turning around, I gave myself another look in the mirror. “I really like it. This is definitely the one.”

  Paying for the dress, that was only two-hundred and forty-eight dollars I might add, we made our way over to the food court and grabbed some lunch. “So, are you excited about tomorrow night at all?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “A little maybe.”

  She leaned in closer. “Ok, seriously, what the hell is going on with you? You have a date with a guy any woman would die to get a date with, and you are acting like he’s walking you to your execution. It just doesn’t make sense.”

  Little did she know she’d hit the nail on the head with the last part of her statement. “I just don’t think anything is going to come of it. We don’t have anything in common, and I really don’t like how he went about tracking me down to ask me out. The whole thing gives me stalkerish vibes.”

  “So why the hell are you going out with him then?”

  Realizing I’d said too much, I didn’t know how to answer that. “I don’t know.”

  “Well that’s just a great answer, Reese. Do I need to worry about this date tomorrow? I can always have Kieran tell his friend that you’ve changed your mind and to back off.”

  “No!” I blurted out quickly before thinking better of it. “No,” I stated more calmly. “I’m just going to give him the one date and then I’m sure he’ll move on once he sees I’m not going to sleep with him. Besides, it's a dinner with the Mayor, I could use that kind of connection later for a job or something. Like you said there will be a lot of business men there to rub elbows with and possibly score a job offer.”

  She stared at me a moment, unsure whether to believe me or not, then shrugged her shoulders. “If you say so. Just make sure you keep your phone on you at all times and your location on. That way if something happens, I know where to send the cops.”

  It’s what we had always told each other before we went out on dates. I smiled. “Thanks, babe.

  Saturday night was here, and I stood there, staring at myself in the mirror, not recognizing the woman staring back at me. Scarlett had given me a lesson on doing my hair and make-up, and if I didn’t say so myself, I did a pretty damn good job. Hearing a whistling sound, I saw Scarlett, standing off to the side, staring at me. “You look so beautiful, Reese. Creed is not going to be able to take his eyes off of you.”

  Her words stirred a thrill inside of me, I’d been trying to bury since the day I met the devil himself. “Thank you for helping me.”

  “Anytime...” Hearing the doorbell, she instantly cut her words off and practically flew to the front door. “Ohhh, Reese! You have a gentlemen caller here for you,” she said in a sing-song voice.

  He’s here?

  He said he was sending a driver, not showing up himself. I wasn’t ready to see him yet, I needed more time to prepare my nerves for this. When I didn’t move to leave, I heard footsteps coming towards me. “Hey, didn’t you hear me?”

  Fidgeting with my hands, trying to grab my bag for the night, I dropped it on the floor, picking it up again. “Y-yes, I was just getting everything I need.”

  I could see the concerned look on her face. “You’re sure that you’re ok with going out with him?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.”

  She rubbed her hand on my shoulder in a soothing motion. “Ok, good. Don’t be nervous, he’s going to love this dress on you. His mouth is going to hit the floor so hard when he sees you, he’ll spend the rest of the night trying to pick it back up.”

  Reaching out, I pulled her in for a hug. “Thank you. Love you.”

  “Love you more. Now get on out there before he thinks you’ve stood him up.”

  Nodding my head, I forced my feet to walk to the front door. The moment I rounded the corner and spotted the devil at the door, waiting for me, it was my mouth that fell open at the sight of him. I didn’t think it was possible for this man to get any hotter, but he somehow managed to pull it off.

  As I got closer, he stepped into me. “You look,” he started, looking my body up and down as if he was searing it to his memory. “Absolutely stunning. I’ll be the envy of every man there tonight with you on my arm.”

  I didn’t quite know what to make of his complementary words, seeing as everything that came out of his mouth had been a threat since I’d met him. “Thank you. Shall we go?”

  “Absolutely.” He smiled down at me like a hungry tiger, ready to play with its prey.

  “Now don’t you two do anything I wouldn’t do,” Scarlett called out as we left, embarrassing me.

  “Well, that doesn’t leave a whole lot off of the table for tonight then.” Creed winked at her. “You forget I know Kieran.”

  When I looked back at Scarlett, her face was beet red. We would be having a discussion about this later, that was for sure.

  The moment he placed his hand on my lower back and guided me towards the car waiting for us, I could feel myself stiffen in his hold, and so could he. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on fucking you tonight,” he breathed into my ear, sending chills down my spine. His words and touch mixed with the smell of sandalwood he wore was doing something to me. I desperately wanted to act on it but then I remembered the reality of our situation and brushed it off.

  Removing his hand from my back, I turned around and faced off with him. “Let’s be clear on something. I am only doing this because you are threatening my friends life and that is it. There will be no fucking tonight, or any other night for that matter. I find you repulsive at best, Devil.” Turning on my heel, I continued to make my way over to the car, where his driver held the door open for me, then slid inside.

  Chapter

  Six

  Creed

  Fire. This woman was fire and I wanted to get burned. No, I needed to get burned. The moment she stepped out in that dress, I had to cover my dick with my hands, she made me so damn hard. And that mouth of hers. All I could think about was how good those lips of her were going to look wrapped around my cock later. I may have told her I wasn’t going to fuck her tonight, but that didn’t mean I would stop her when she tried to fuck me.

  And she would.

  Because I played dirty.

  By the end of the night, I would have her so hot and bothered that she’d be begging to ride me. She just didn’t know it yet.

  After all, she had constantly referred to me as the Devil. Might as well play the part.

  Walking over to the car, I slid inside, finding her on the opposite side of the car. “Here, now.” I pointed to the seat next to me as the car pulled out into traffic.

  The glare in her eyes promised a painful death if she had the ability to pull one off. “I’m not a dog you know. Besides, I’m just fine right here.”

  Having had enough of her backtalk, I reached over, grabbing her wrist and pulled her into me, causing her to fall into my lap. When she scrambled to get off of me, I held her firm. “Let. Me. Go,” she practically growled.

  “Why? I rather like you on my lap, and at my mercy.”

  Her body instantly tensed up at my words. Something I was noticing was a trend for her. If I was a better man, knowing I was making her uncomfortable, I would stop. But I wasn’t and she knew it. Pushing her hair aside so I could see her face, I gripped her chin firmly, making her face me when she attempted to look away. “I want to talk to you about something. I’ve noticed that you tense up a lot when I touch you. Could my salty little vixen be a virgin?”

  A look of surprise and disgust crossed her face. “Not that it’s any of your business, no I’m not. I tense up because your touch repulses me.”

  I shook my head in disapproval. “I’m disappointed.”

  “About what?” she snapped.

  “That we’re starting off the evening with a lie. Here I thought you were an honest woman.” I slowly began rubbing her exposed leg, inching my hand up higher each time.

  “It wasn’t a lie. You beat people up and probably kill them. What could possibly be attractive about someone like that?”

  Leaning forward, I whispered into her ear, “power. It’s all about the power, my little vixen. The power to decide whether or not to end someone’s life as they know it. The power to bend them to your will. Or the best part. The power to know you can get away with it all.” Shivers wracked her body at my words. She was turned on, even if she would never admit it.

  The ride to the event had been too short for my liking when what seemed like only moments later, the car was pulling up to the red-carpeted entrance to the party. Reaching my hand higher under her dress, I patted her on the ass. “Now smile and act like I am the man of your dreams. Scarlett is counting on you tonight after all.” When my driver pulled the door open, I slid out first, then reached back in for Clarice, helping her out. The glare in her eyes connected with mine just seconds before she painted on the biggest fake smile she could muster up. “Good girl,” I whispered in her ear, wrapping my arm around her, pulling her into my side tightly.

  As we entered the building, the Mayor instantly caught my eye and made a beeline straight over as if he’d been waiting for me to arrive. “Mr. Lennox, good to see you this evening. So happy you were able to attend. Who might I ask is this lovely woman with you?”

  “This is my girlfriend, Clarice.” When I said the word girlfriend, I thought she was going to choke on her own tongue with the way she looked at me.

  Taking her hand in his, he leaned down and kissed it, sending pure rage running rampant through me. Having to witness him touch what I had already deemed to be mine was causing an anger to build inside of me. But there would be a place and a time for that lesson to be learned later. The Mayor never knew the real man he was dealing with. He only knew I had the connection to Canon Church he needed. Little did he know the man he was so desperate to be in contact with was standing right in front of him in the flesh.

  “It’s lovely to meet you,” I heard Clarice say, snapping me out of my ill-tempered thoughts.

  I needed to get him far away from her before I ended up lashing out at him. “How about we let you greet your other guests and meet up for that discussion we had talked about yesterday a little later this evening.”

  “Yes, please do help yourselves to some drinks. Dinner will be served in just a bit.”

  “Thank you.” I guided Clarice over to the bar. “What would you like to drink?”

  “I’ll take an Old Fashioned. Actually, make it a double. I don’t normally drink but have a feeling I’m going to need it tonight.”

  “I do find it interesting how you work so hard to seem so disinterested in me when most women would do just about anything for a moment of my attention.”

  Her eyes, swung to mine and I knew by the look in them she was about to throw one of her spicy little insults my way. It seemed to be the only way she could convince herself that she wasn’t attracted to me. “Do they know you go around beating people up and threatening their families? Or that you blackmail women into going out with you?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. After we got our drinks, I guided her over to the table I’d been seated at for the night. The damn thing cost me ten thousand a plate just to sit at, but I was always happy to support my fellow crooks in this city. As long as it benefited me in some way, of course.

  Pulling out the chair for Clarice, she gave me an uncertain look. “I’m not going to bite you if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Not worried,” she snapped, taking a seat.

  It didn’t take long for the table to fill up as many other supporters of the Mayor showed up. It did however cut into my time in getting to know my little vixen, I’d brought here with me tonight. It seemed every time someone sat down at the table, they wanted to say hello or catch up like we were long lost fucking friends. I did, however, keep a close eye on her and who she spoke with. Even though she knew none of these people, she had a way of charming them when they engaged with her. She was the perfect politicians wife, and someone I believed was about to become useful to me in more ways than just the one I had planned for her.

  “Creed Lennox.” Hearing a woman say my name, I didn’t need to look to know who she was, but I still put on the act of a perfect gentlemen and stood up out of my seat to greet her with a kiss on her cheek. “Natasha.”

  She rubbed her hand up and down my arm. “It’s been too long, how are you?”

  There was one thing about Natasha I had truly loved and that was her hand rubs, preferably the ones on my cock before she replaced them with her mouth. Those hands and that mouth of hers made it almost impossible to give her up. But the rest of her wasn’t worth that small piece of heaven. This woman was a suffocating psycho at best. “I’m good, you?” I asked, feeling Clarice’s weighted stare.

  “Oh you know just jet setting around the world, helping my father with his business. It’s been fun but so exhausting. You know how it is.”

  “I do.”

  She must have felt Clarice’s stare as I did, because I noticed her eyes drift downward to find her. “And might I ask who this lovely lady with you this evening is?”

  Here was the first of many tests, Clarice, would either pass or fail. I needed to see just where I stood with her little green monster. Wrapping my hand around Natasha’s waist, I pulled her in and kissed her cheek once more. “This would be Clarice. She’s my assistant.”

  “Oh, hello.” Once Natasha had determined Clarice a non-threat, she turned in my arms towards me, stroking her fingers down my cheek before leaning in and whispering in my ear, “then I expect you’ll save a dance for me later this evening?”

  Leaning in, I really played it up for Clarice’s benefit. “Only a stupid man would say no to that.”

  Natasha, ate up my bullshit with a shovel. “Just like old times.” She winked, kissing me on the cheek once more.

  “Just like.” I smirked at her before she walked away. Sitting back down in the chair, I caught Clarice still staring at me. “Something on your mind?”

  “I’m your assistant now? What happened to girlfriend?” she questioned, glaring at me.

  I leaned in close like I was about to share a scandalous secret with her. “Not when it comes to a possibility of getting laid later by a beautiful woman.”

  “By the way she was practically petting you, I’d say you two have already been together,” she replied in that snappy tone of hers.

  “Actually, if you must know we have, and she came so fucking hard around my cock, that I thought I’d been shot dead and sent back home to hell. So, I’m thinking that another round with her sounds good to me.”

  “You’re a pig, you know that.”

  “I’m a pig that you want to fuck very badly but won’t allow yourself to admit it.”

  She surprised me when she leaned in close and began to run her hand up my thigh, drawing my attention to where her hand was headed. That was, until that mouth of hers ruined my fantasy. “I wouldn’t fuck you even if you held a gun to my head. I’d rather die than have you touch me. Now if you will excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

  When she moved to get up, I stood up with her and took her hand in mine before she had a chance to walk away. “Should I escort you to the restroom, so you don’t go walking in the wrong door again?”

 

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