Page 6 of Demon Touched (The Demon Syndicate #2)

Nova

N ova hadn’t expected him to treat her like nothing had really changed. It felt like a huge weight had been removed from her chest, and she felt like she could truly relax around him for the first time ever.

Not that things weren’t complicated.

If Nova let things happen the way they seemed to be going, she’d have to figure out what to do at the end of the mission, or the ninety-day contract, whichever came first.

But Dex was an addiction she couldn’t seem to kick. He was the only person in the world who seemed to understand what it was like to be her and he wasn’t intimidated by her which was a huge plus.

So, she’d given up on trying to resist whatever this was.

Nova followed him through the door and into the alley behind the barcade. She zipped up her jacket and cleared her throat. “Now what?”

“Okay, just hear me out.” Dex was smiling down at her, flashing some canine and his eyes were twinkling.

Nova still had a hard time looking directly at him. Every time she saw him, he was wearing something that made her thoughts stutter. Tonight, it was a deep purple, button-down shirt that was open at the neck to show off some pecs if she dared to look.

Did he realize it was almost the same color as her hair? What if she just…slid her hand inside his shirt?

The peek at his cleavage was making her stupid, but it was the rolled-up sleeves, the tight black jeans, and the silver chains hanging from his belt that had her drooling. The black combat boots and the chains turned his preppy look into something a bad boy would wear.

It would never cease to amaze her how he could go from flirty and dirty, to a little murder-y.

“There’s somewhere I want to take you,” Dex told her. “But we have to fly there.”

Nova glared at him. “I’d rather we didn’t.”

Her heart had literally stopped when he’d flown her to the roof without warning. Nova had been sure she was going to die until her feet hit something solid again.

“I won’t drop you,” he promised. “There’s no other way to get there.”

He looked so earnest that Nova almost gave in. “I’m not worried about you dropping me.”

No, it was a completely different issue.

“Then what’s wrong?” Dex asked in confusion, clicking his tongue ring against his teeth as he studied her.

Nova tucked her hair behind her ear, ignoring the sound as much as she could. “Look, it has nothing to do with you specifically. I just don’t…” She sighed, knowing how fucking ridiculous this was going to sound. “I don’t like when I’m not in control. It’s terrifying.”

Surprisingly, Dex didn’t laugh at her.

“So, you trust me to fly you and not drop you?” he asked, tilting his head slightly, as if he were trying to understand.

Her stomach flipped, but she nodded. “Yes.”

“Okay, so what if we just try it? If it’s too much then I’ll land immediately.” Dex slipped his hands in his pockets and waited patiently.

Nova wondered if this was a good idea.

They’d have to be really close for who knew how long. She eyed him from head to toe, wondering if he could really carry her while flying for an extended period of time. She wasn’t light.

“If you take off your scent charm, I’ll be able to respond faster,” Dex murmured with a shrug.

Clearly, he didn’t expect her to agree, but he already knew her scent, so it didn’t really matter anymore.

“Okay fine,” she huffed. “But I’m still hungry.”

He gave her a grin that flashed his fangs and she hated how much she liked them. “I’ve already ordered. I’m going to take you there and then grab the food.”

Nova froze with her fingers on her earring. “You’re going to leave me somewhere you can only get to by flying?”

His smile dropped when he realized why that might be an issue. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but it would be quick.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest and Nova knew then that this was the moment. This was where she would have to decide if she trusted him—trusted him enough to let him fly her somewhere, and then leave her there until he came back.

Gently she slid the charms from her earringsn even though she knew he would hear and scent a million things she didn’t want him to right now.

Dex’s nostrils flared and his eyes dilated to pinpoints. “Why are you taking them out if you’re that afraid?”

Sliding them into her pocket, she zipped them up and took a deep breath. “I want to trust you.”

As stupid as it was, this would be a good test. Go big or go home, she supposed.

“I’m afraid you’ll leave me there,” she told him. “Not of you.”

Dex narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t necessarily make it better, but you seem determined. So Nova, you agree to this? I have your consent?”

Her heart started beating faster and Nova nodded, grabbing a hair tie. “Yes, I agree.”

He watched her tie up her hair and then scooped her up so fast she gasped in surprise. “Put your arms around my neck,” he said as he wrapped an illusion around them.

Nova did as he asked, but now she was conflicted. Part of her was fucking terrified, but the rest of her couldn’t stop thinking about how he was holding her.

Wings sprouted from his shoulders, and she gripped her wrists tight to keep from touching them.

The black feathers were inky and gorgeous and irresistible, but she would never forget the way he’d shuddered the last time she’d touched them. Whether it had been out of disgust or lust, she still didn’t know, but it wasn’t something she’d ever do again without asking him first.

“Ready?” he asked, his lips brushing against her hair.

She was pretty sure she was going to throw up, but if she could jump out of an airplane and go skydiving, she could do this.

Tightening her grip on him, she took a deep breath. All she had to do was remember to breathe and hold on. “I’m ready.”

He launched into the sky, and it felt like being shot out of a fucking cannon. Nova gritted her teeth and buried her face in his neck. She didn’t have the guts to look yet, not when it felt like they were going a million miles an hour.

The black wings beat the air once, twice, and then they were coasting.

“Could you loosen your grip, just a little?” Dex asked, his voice sounding choked.

Immediately she released him. Then they banked and she gripped onto his shirt so tight she was sure it would rip right open.

“I’m going to land,” he gritted out. “We can try this some other time.”

“No.” She took a shuddering breath and let go, gently wrapping her arms around his neck again. All she could smell was him, which was helping, but it was still awful. “Just give me a second, I’ll get it together.”

“Nova, you don’t understand.” That voice.

She looked up and saw his eyes were blazing.

Then she saw the stars.

Every thought in her head emptied when she stared at the night sky, the moon, and the glittering city underneath them.

It was beautiful, but not as beautiful as his wings.

They were darker than the night, and she could see flashes of red on the tips. Nova didn’t understand how angel wings worked, but his were glorious.

“Are they black because of your demon?”

He took a deep breath and then she saw the muscle in his jaw flickering.

“What’s wrong?”

Dex slid his gaze to hers. “I didn’t anticipate the potency of your emotions. You’re still okay?”

“I think so.” Nova held completely still so she didn’t make things worse. “Are we almost there?”

“Yeah, hold on.” Another massive beat of his wings and they went straight up.

Nova held on tight. It was freezing, but it was almost over.

He landed softer than he had when he’d blasted into the alley to inspect the bodies.

“You can let go now.”

Her heart rate was still astronomical and she couldn’t let go if she tried. “Where are we?” It took way too much effort just to let go of her wrists.

“Take a look.”

“Give me a fucking second, geez.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you want me to keep holding you.”

Nova pushed off of him with a glare, annoyed by his smirk.

Dex grabbed her arm hard enough she winced. “Look where we are before you run off.”

She turned and then felt her stomach drop again.

Backing up, she smashed into him and wrapped her arm around his waist. If she fell, he was coming with her.

“We’re on top of the Space Needle,” she whispered. “You’re going to leave me here?”

“Only for three minutes. I promise it won’t be a second longer.” Dex wrapped his arms around her, breathing deeply. Nova knew he was scenting her, but she couldn’t be bothered to care right now.

“This is so high,” she whispered. “What if I slip?”

“I’ll catch you.”

Nova looked up into his eyes, trying to figure out if he really could or if he just thought he could. “You’re that fast?”

“Yes, I am.” His gloved hand wrapped around her face gently and his thumb caressed her cheek. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Looking down at the city streets far, far below them she nodded once. “Okay fine. But if I die, I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life.”

He snorted and pulled her to the top, pushing her down so her back was against the actual needle. “Sit here and don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Sitting cross-legged, Nova placed her hands on her knees and tried to ignore the freezing cold.

Dex dove off the Space Needle and she would have screamed, but he looked so graceful there was no way he could fall to his death.

Those wings snapped open and she could see the line of red at the very bottom like the black hadn’t quite made it to the ends. Those red feathers were all she could see when the black blended into the night and the shadows.

Dex was a fucking angel.

But she’d seen the hellfire in his eye. She’d seen his rage and chaotic tendencies. He was also a demon. That was part of who he was, but she knew demons weren’t inherently monsters no matter how much she hated them.

Sometimes it was hard to remember that.

Not even a minute later, Dex was back. “I brought food.” He sat down next to her and Nova her muscles relaxed just a fraction.

“Thank you.” She took the burrito from him and scooted closer until she was practically on his lap.