Page 55 of Demon's Desire

“Not at all.” She grinned and walked off with the money.

Onyx killed time showering the dancer on stage with the rest of his cash, too fidgety to enjoy it. Seeing Nico again so soon wasn’t good. He should have blown this off. Who cared if the vampire wanted to see him? He didn’t come when called.

But Onyxwantedto see Nico. That was the whole problem. He was a Nico addict. Onyx had spent the afternoon daydreaming, imagining showing up at the witch’s apartment and harassing him until he bent Onyx over and fucked him.

“Here’s your drink.” Jade appeared and handed him a glass. “I’ve got to get ready to go on stage, but it was good to see you.”

“Likewise. I can’t wait to check out your portfolio next week.”

Her cheeks flushed. “I’ll try not to hyperventilate in the meantime.”

“There’s no need. I swear, I’m not worth worrying over. Have a good night. I’ll probably be gone by the time you get on stage.”

She nodded and hurried off.

Onyx turned toward the door and came face to face with Nico.

“Good. Right on time. Here.” Onyx handed him the bourbon.

“Thanks.” Nico’s brow furrowed. “This is exactly what I needed.”

Onyx’s heart swelled. Fuck, he was hopeless. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to make Jade uncomfortable if I’m going to meet her at the gallery.”

“Jade?” Nico looked around. “What are you talking about?”

Oh, right. Onyx pulled Nico toward the door. “She’s an artist. I like her paintings, especially the sapphic ones. I gave her my card last time I was here and wasn’t planning to see her again until we met at the gallery, but then Rowan had to be a pain in the ass, and I’m concerned about giving off creeper vibes.”

“You met an artist that you want in your gallery here?” Nico sounded surprised.

Onyx paused to stare, nose lifted. “Yeah, so?”

“So, nothing. That’s cool.” Nico knocked his drink back and handed the empty glass to a bouncer at the door.

They headed out of the club and up the stairs.

“Rough day?” Onyx asked.

Nico waved him off. “Na, nothing like that.”

Onyx didn’t believe him. Nico liked to call Onyx a liar, but he wasn’t the only one hiding things. Nico usually sipped his drinks slowly. Surely the bouncer wouldn’t have minded them taking something upstairs.

But if Nico didn’t want to tell him what was up, it wasn’t Onyx’s job to get it out of him. Under no circumstances was Nico allowed to catch on to how much Onyx cared.

They bypassed the casino and headed to Rowan’s office, where the door stood open. Nico walked right in, and Onyx followed.

Rowan rose from his desk. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. Shut that, will you, Nico?”

Nico closed the door.

Rowan approached, a grim expression lining his fine face. Onyx would have taken a jab at the dramatic atmosphere if the suspicion that this was actually serious hadn’t crept up on him.

“Are you happy to discuss everything with Nico present?” Rowan asked him.

“Since I don’t know why I’m here, how can I decide?” Serious or not, Onyx wouldn’t completely change his attitude. “You’re lucky I showed up. So, spit it out. I’m busy tonight.”

Rowan slid his hands into the pockets of his suit pants. “There’s a bounty out on the Hounds.”

Shit, not what Onyx expected. He let the use of the offensive term go. “Who’s dumb enough to put a price on our heads?”