Page 174 of Dancing with the Devil

Her eyes slowly traveled up my body and I couldn’t help but rub my tongue on the inside of my cheek. “Done checking me out yet?” I asked and she swallowed hard.

“No. But I have a pretty good description to hand over to the police,” she shot back, trying to steady her voice but I could hear the nervousness in her tone.

I hummed in response, and she narrowed her eyes at me. As taken aback as I was, I didn’t show it. She was a feisty little thing.

“Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in here?” she grabbed the remote to turn down the music.

I tilted my head to the side, pushing myself off of the door frame and watched her eyes grow wide. I walked inside and noticed she was a bit more on edge.

“No, no, no,” she shook her head as I walked over to her bed. I fell down, propping myself up on both elbows.This is going to be fun. “What are you doing?”

“Getting ready for my lap dance,sweetheart,” I answered, and she looked at the door before looking back at me.

She scoffed. “You can’t just waltz in here and demand a lap dance,sweetheart,” she shot back. “Are you insane?” she asked and I raised a brow at her.She’s brave. I like that.“Did you escape from a mental asylum or something?” she frowned. Ironic, sinceshe’sthe one who escaped. “Oh God, you’re here to kidnap me, aren’t you?”Yes. I am.

I watched panic take over her entire body as her hands lifted to her neck.

“No,” I looked at her wearily. “You were doing so well, I wondered if you’d like some company,” I lied and she looked puzzled, as well as surprised.

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take her, much lessforceher to do anything. And, something told me that no one could force this girl into anything she didn’t want to do.

She’d proven to not only be fearless, and brave, but she also had a smart little mouth too. And, I hated to admit it, but I fucking liked it. It was then that I knew, I was going to have fun with her.

After I left her bedroom, I ran a frustrated hand down my face. As soon as I got to the bottom of the stairs, Miguel jumped up in fear but then confusion took over when he saw that I was alone.

I knew he wanted to speak. But he didn’t. He knew better.

“You’re going to leave,” I said, making his face scrunch up in confusion.

“I don’t—”

“I don’t care where you go, but you’re going to tell her that you’re leaving,” I said and he shook his head.

“I can’t leave her—”

“Yes, you can. And you will. If you’re not gone by midnight, tomorrow, I’ll orphan her,” I warned him.

The muscle in his jaw ticked. “I’ll be back, and I’ll get her back too. She’ll never love you,” he drawled.

“Well, for her sake I hope she does. Because I only have so much patience before I move on to a new woman.”

His eyes grew wide as he stepped back, falling onto the chair and I watched his body go numb in fear.

Stepping back, I made my way to the front door before leaving the house. I slammed my car door shut, gripping onto my steering wheel.

I’ve always been able to takewhatI wanted,whenI wanted. Nothing ever stopped me.

Not only was she beautiful, but she was pretty fucking tough too. She would take me on all by herself, even if she knew she had no chance. Oddly enough, that attracted me to her. I wanted someone like that. I wantedher. Somehow, she’d be mine soon.

Nirah Joy Valentino would be mine, whether she knew it or not. She’dwillinglybe mine.

* * *

“She said that?” I asked and Samantha nodded, falling down onto the chair in front of me in my office. She lifted both legs onto my desk, crossing her feet.

“She’sexactlywhat you said she’d be,” she grinned, swirling her coffee. Her dark gaze lifted to me.

“She’s gorgeous, no?” I grinned as I roll down my sleeves, buttoning them up.