Page 30 of Craving Demons

I expected him to shout something like “She’s mine!” to everyone here, but instead he just stalked back to me and leaned heavily on the bar. “Your shift is over. You’re coming with me. Now!”

I didn’t need to fake my shocked surprise. “Ah…”

“Get your things. We’re going out.” There was no room for debate.

“O-okay,” I stammered and fled to the back room to grab my things. Harmonia met me there.

“This was part of the plan,” she reassured me. “Don’t worry, we’ll cover your shift tonight, go.”

“Do you know where he’s taking me?”

“Nope, but remember my rules, no funny stuff unless you instigate it.”

I nodded.

I’d only actually worked for maybe an hour and now I was done. If this was what all my shifts were going to be like, I could live with that. I grabbed my things and rushed out to meet a huffing and hard-eyed Grey, who actually scooped me into his arms and carried me to the elevators.

Once we were alone in the elevator, he sighed and put me down.

“How was that?” he asked.

“Intense.”

“Good.” He laughed and actually smiled. “That was a ton of fun. Especially the punching Ramsey part.”

“Ah, yeah… sure,” I murmured, just a little scared of the large man next to me. Also, had only ‘punching Ramsey’ been fun? What about that intimate moment with me? Well, I shouldn’t be upset, this was supposed to be a charade after all.

Still…

He reached over and placed his hand on my exposed back and suddenly I was stiff but melting all at the same time.

“Don’t worry, I’d never hurt you.” His voice was soft and soothing. His hand stroked up my back to my neck, his thumb shifted up behind my ear. I shivered and leaned into it and, yup, my traitorous voice moaned again.

Oddly, his hand jerked back at that.

Oh… right, Harmonia’s rules.

“Sorry,” he said stiffly, and all the lightness and fun were gone.

Well, fuck.

FEN

It had beena long day at the demo site, but the job was done. The crew could take a couple days to recoup, then we had a complete building demo starting early next week. I’d rushed home, showered, shaved, and dressed, then hurried to Elysium.

As I arrived at the high-rise hotel, I found Ramsey exiting one of the elevators. He looked like he’d been in a fight with a few new bruises on his face, and even though I knew he was the Lord of Strife, this was odd for him. Usually, he kept his fighting to underground Empyrean fight clubs.

“What happened to you?” I asked. Then knowing he wasn’t one to lose a fight added, “And how dead is the other guy?”

Ramsey looked up at me and smiled. “What? This? It’s nothing. It was a bit of an act.”

An act? Ramsey, the Lord of Strife was play-fighting? That was odd. I didn’t know what to say to that, so just stepped past him to hit the up-elevator button.

“Don’t see you here often? What’s up?” he asked me. “And actually, now that you’re here, I’ve got a job for you, if you’re interested.”

“A job?” That was curious indeed. Most of Ramsey’s “jobs” were illicit missions to punish the rich and powerful who were causing undue strife in the world. Then I added, “I’m here to see a woman. She works here. I’ve only met her once, but I think I’m in love.”

Ramsey squinted with suspicion. “Which woman?”