Page 5 of Demon Touched (The Demon Syndicate #2)

Dex

“ S o, I’ve bulked up the security,” George told him as they walked through the storeroom. “And everyone’s been staying within the borders like you asked. Is there something I should know about?”

Dex grabbed a bottle of vodka on his way out and slapped the witch bartender on the shoulder in greeting. “How’s A.J. doing?”

“Better. We have her training again.”

“And everyone else is back at it too?” Dex asked as he scanned the barcade.

It was pretty busy for a Thursday night. And why was Trever playing this weeb song?

“Yo, isn’t that your girl?” George asked, pointing at the pool tables.

His stomach dropped and Dex spotted the purple hair from across the bar. The way she bent over the pool table in those leather pants that made his fucking mouth water. “She’s not my girl.”

“Okay, sure. Whatever you say, man.”

“Not yet anyway,” Dex muttered under his breath.

He listened to the song and grinned, realizing why it was playing. Dex looked over at Trever and the wolf blushed, shrugging slightly. Nova had definitely charmed her way into that one’s heart already.

Not that it was hard for her to do.

“Hey, Dex.” George nudged him. “She’s with a human.”

He turned back to Nova just in time to see some random guy lean over her to point at one of the balls, his hand on her bare back.

Dex tasted hellfire.

“I can handle it,” George muttered. “We don’t need another body to deal with.”

He grinned at the bear and handed him the bottle of vodka. “She’s allowed to do whatever she wants.”

Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to present opportunities to her and hope she’d choose the one he’d also enjoy.

The crowd moved out of his way as he made his way through the bar. His gaze fixed on the hand she refused to move away from.

Making sure he kept to a slow, human pace, he stood a polite distance away from the table to watch and crossed his arms over his chest.

Nova could do whatever the fuck she wanted, and he’d meant that, but Dex had to wonder why she’d come here and request a song she knew would get his attention just to let this human put his hands all over her.

Then glanced back over her shoulder, finding him instantly. They stared at each other for a moment and Dex tried to decipher the expression on her face.

Had something gone wrong? Was that why she was here?

He inspected her from head to toe, relieved that she seemed to be okay.

Worrying about her every night was really fucking with his head, but she was more than capable. He just didn’t like the idea of her out there alone without backup, doing the work he should be doing.

“Need help, sweetheart?” the human asked.

Her gaze whipped back to her opponent and Dex smiled.

This should be fun.

“I think I got it.” Nova studied the table and then went around to the other side, leaning over and taking careful aim. She lifted her head and locked eyes with Dex. Without looking, she took her shot.

The sound of every single ball hitting a pocket except the eight ball was the sexiest thing he’d ever heard. Then she took the final shot and it slammed into the pocket, right where the human stood. He flinched and looked at her with shock.

Nova picked up the two twenties on the table with a grin. “Thanks for the game, but my friend is here.”

So, she was looking for him.

He watched as she walked around the table toward him, brushing past the human like he didn’t even exist.

Something deep inside Dex settled and he tried not to look at it too closely.

Nova leaned against a nearby table and grinned. “Do you like the song I picked for you?”

“You know I think Levi is hot as fuck,” he told her, returning the smile.

The human came around and threw an arm around Nova’s shoulder. “Is this your friend?”

Dex didn’t look away from Nova. If he did, he’d kill the human. He arched the eyebrow she’d done for him instead. How do you want to handle this?

Nova stood and let the arm drop from her shoulders. “I appreciate the game, but I’m not interested in anything else.”

Holding out his hand, Dex stood there and waited for her to take it. He needed to get her away from this guy before he lost his shit.

Surprisingly, she took his hand and he yanked her close, wrapping an arm around her.

With her body against his, he could finally trust himself to consider the asshole. “The table is all yours,” he drawled.

Dex turned and walked away, only able to because Nova came with him without a single protest.

“You’re terrible,” she muttered. “You know I can take care of myself.”

“You’re in my territory right now,” he snapped. “Can you just let me have this?”

Nova slipped her arm around his waist and squeezed. “Sure, but don’t let it go to your head.”

All he wanted to do was slam her into the wall and make her his.

Releasing her, he put a safe distance between them. Dex made for the booth in the corner away from most of the people and she followed.

At least she was here because she wanted to be. That was something.

Dex sat down in the corner and patted the spot next to him. “So, what are you doing here?”

“Nothing in particular.” Nova sat exactly where he wanted her to which pleased him, and then she picked up one of the napkins.

She started tearing it into tiny little pieces and Dex eyed her. Was she nervous?

“Nothing in particular, huh?” He grabbed her thigh and yanked her closer. “I don’t believe you.”

Nova blushed and Dex hid his surprise. She was the one who’d come looking for him and now she wanted to act shy?

“Should I be concerned about something?” he asked, trying to temper the worry he could feel building.

Days of hearing nothing from her crashed back into him, and Dex tried to ignore it. Reacting before he knew the actual problem wouldn’t help.

“Not really,” she said, her voice soft yet still husky. “I just…missed you, I guess.”

He closed his eyes and wrapped an arm around her. Dex pulled her even closer, unable to resist kissing the top of her head. “I missed you too.”

Nova finished tearing the napkin into a million tiny pieces and sighed. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me when I look like this.”

He pulled back and studied her face, tucking the hair over her purple eye behind her ear. No one could see it but him, and Dex kind of liked that. “I never said we couldn’t be friends if you didn’t work for the Grim Corp.”

Her small shrug made him wish he’d reached out sooner, but they were still figuring out this new situation they were in.

In some ways this was easier because they didn’t have to hide anything, but at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the fact that one day, they might not be on the same side.

“I would have understood if we couldn’t be friends otherwise,” she finally said. “It’s not like things aren’t complicated.”

Dex didn’t disagree. “They’re definitely complicated, but I don’t really care. Are you hungry?”

Nova scooped the napkin pieces into her hand and then blew them into his face.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” He couldn’t believe she’d just done that.

But then she smiled.

“I’m starving. Want to play a game of darts or something?”

Dex couldn’t help but grin back at her. “I have a better idea.”