Page 49

My crawler pinged. A deleted X post from Jessa, night of the bridge stunt. Vague rant about “reckless friends.” Not damning, but enough to keep my demon edgy.
Vivi’s footsteps broke my focus. Bare feet on hardwood, emerging from the bathroom. My black T-shirt swallowed her frame, curls damp from a shower.
She looked like trouble. Like home. My cock stood at attention instantly.
“You’re staring, Cipher,” she said, grinning, voice a velvet blade.
“You’re making it hard not to,” I said, voice rough, standing to meet her.
She stepped close, hands sliding up my chest, scent wrapping around me. I kissed her, slow, deep, tasting her, needing her.
“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” I asked, hands on her hips, anchoring her.
Her eyes were fierce. “I need to do this alone. Jessa’s my mess, not yours.”
I didn’t like it. Nodded anyway. “You’re coming back after,” I said, a demand, not a question.
Her grin widened, wicked, promising. “Oh, I’ll be back, Cipher. Don’t worry.” She leaned in, lips brushing my ear. “Keep the bed warm.”
The demon roared, wanting to drag her to the sheets, fuck her until she forgot Jessa, forgot the world. But she moved, grabbing her phone, slipping into jeans that hugged her ass like sin.
I watched, mind spinning with tomorrows. Her in my life, every night, a future I’d never dared want. New, this longing, this hope. A crack in my armor I didn’t want to seal.
I walked her through the house and out the front door. We waited at the gate until the cab arrived. Vivi turned, bag slung over her shoulder. “See you soon,” she said.
Before I could answer, she stepped close. Her hand slid down my pants, fingers wrapping my cock. Three slow, smooth strokes, grip firm, eyes locked on mine, green and blazing.
My breath caught. Body tensed. No words, no fucking words.
She smirked, pulled free, kissed the hand that’d just been on my cock and sauntered to the cab. The driver gawked, jaw dropping as she slid into the backseat.
She blew me a kiss. The cab pulled away. I stood there, hard as steel, mind a mess of lust and awe.
Vivienne Laveau was a storm. I was caught in it, willingly, hopelessly. For the first time, wanting more than the moment.
I turned back to my suite. Silence heavy. Obsidian’s eyes watching like she knew.
My screens glowed, Jessa’s data waiting. All I could think was Vivi—her touch, her laugh, her fire.
Tomorrow was coming. For once, I was ready to meet it.
Before I settled in, I scooped Obsidian and returned her to her enclosure. She slithered through the coiled warmth of her habitat, unbothered, content. I watched the lid lock into place—a soft click, like a secret sealed.
17
VIVIENNE
The text came just as the cab turned off King Street, my phone buzzing with Jessa’s name.
Meet at your place. Easier for everyone.
Everyone?
I stared at the message, brow furrowing. She didn’t elaborate, didn’t offer the usual soft emoji or nervous follow-up. Just those four words, flat and final.
But honestly? That worked for me.
Fine. Need to grab a bigger bag anyway.