Page 20 of Hooked on a Demon (Leeside Witches #3)

Eliana

“K aia, his hands were on me. Like on me,” she flops onto her couch, placing her phone on speaker before laying it on her stomach. “And the way he slid his hand onto the back of my neck… goosebumps.”

“Holy Hecate, that’s so hot.”

“Right!”

“So what now?”

That’s a good question. They agreed to figure things out, but Declan hasn’t reached out to her yet. Granted, she hasn’t messaged him either.

“I don’t know. It’s only been twenty-four hours,” Eliana says.

So it’s not unreasonable that they haven’t talked yet.

But that fucking kiss has been on replay in her mind ever since.

Well, that and the size of the bulge in his pants.

“I don’t know,” she repeats, deflating a little from the high of retelling Kaia about her super hot encounter with the demon daddy.

Well, not literal daddy… as far as she knows. “Oh, goddess. What if he has kids?”

Kaia laughs. “Where in the flying monkeys did that come from?”

“Right, sorry. You’re not privy to the thoughts in my head.” Eliana laughs. “I thought of him as a hot demon daddy, but then had a verbal freakout that he is a literal daddy. He’s not a daddy, right?”

“I mean, if the rumors are true…” her friend replies, leaving the words hanging in the air between them.

Eliana jolts herself into a seated position, catching her phone before it hits the floor. “What rumors?” she nearly screams.

“I’m kidding!” Kaia exclaims, laughing at Eliana’s expense. “I have heard rumors, but it has nothing to do with him being a father.”

Eliana picks at a fluff in her pants. “What rumors have you heard?” she says, hoping she comes across as more curious than desperate.

“Someone has a crush.”

“Shut up. What have you heard?”

“Some rumors are going around about him being a bit of a playboy and a jackass when he ends things. If he even does. Apparently, he’s a fan of leaving before his partner wakes up and then refuses to respond to follow-up messages. Really, general douche canoe stuff.”

“Oh.” That sounds like the guy Charlie was talking about at brunch. Could Declan be who she was referring to?

“But I’m sure it’s not true,” Kaia says quickly, trying to soften the blow. “People in this town like to talk, and we know how jealous they can be. Especially when it concerns someone connected to the council.”

“True,” Eliana replies, though she doesn’t believe it. Rumors only become rumors because there is at least some truth to them. The question is how much truth there is to what’s being said about Declan.

“I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, and who knows how much of it is true, but protect yourself, Ellie. The demon may be hot, but it doesn’t mean he’s good for you.”

“I know, and I will.”

“And if he hurts you, I have plenty of connections who owe me some favors,” she says, laughing dangerously.

“Thanks.” Eliana knows Kaia comes from a good place, and they always have each other’s backs. “Anyways, I gotta go get ready for work. Dinner on Friday?”

“Absolutely. Love ya!”

“Love you too!”

Eliana disconnects the call, and as much as she knows Kaia means well, she can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding.

* * *

The smell of sawdust and the sound of tools banging and whirring greet her as she enters the theater. The staff of Hellbent Motors is hard at work and has been quick to start the building process. Which is probably good, given the showcase is now about a month away.

It doesn’t take long for her gaze to find Declan. A very shirtless, glistening in sweat, Declan. His back is broad, the muscles underneath his skin flexing and moving with each shift in position he makes. When he stands, the sweat shines on his bare skin like a beacon. For her tongue.

Swallowing, she pushes down the urge to lick her way up the corded muscles in his arms and steps toward them.

She’s only here for a daily check-in. That June asked her to do.

Because his team is being kind and building their sets, that’s the only reason she’s here.

Her presence has nothing to do with the hot demon who notices her approach and flashes her the brightest smile.

Her stomach flips with his eyes on her. She tucks her hair behind her ear and looks away, unable to handle what a look from him does to her. There must be a draft in the building, causing goosebumps to go up her arms. That’s the most reasonable explanation.

“Good afternoon, Miss Oaks,” Declan says, facing her. A light fuzz across his bare chest looks soft, and Eliana forces her hand to stay at her side despite an insatiable need to run her fingers through it.

His stomach is softer than that of other guys she’s dated. He’s not ripped, with stacks of abs. Instead, he’s like a cozy teddy bear, with some squish and give. Honestly, he looks like he’d be the perfect cuddle buddy.

A flush moves up her neck, her hand moving up to try and cover it, hoping to disguise that her mind was wandering to places it shouldn’t be. However, it doesn’t appear as though she has hidden much. Declan smirks at her knowingly before alternatively flexing his pecs and making them dance.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Grace. It looks like you all already have a great start on the sets,” she says, trying not to smile.

“Yeah, it ain’t been so bad. Nice to get out of the shop, really,” says one of his staff members, who she believes is named Humphrey. Declan introduced everyone to her yesterday, but the names are still a bit fuzzy.

“Well, thank you all the same. We really do appreciate you volunteering your time. I hope the shop isn’t suffering because of your efforts here,” she replies, looking up at Declan.

“Nah, we’re good. The shop has enough staff that we can swap in and out as necessary.”

“That’s good.”

He has watched her every step and continues to do so as she moves closer to the stage and to the stairs leading up.

His gaze is like a caress of her skin, taking in whatever he can.

“That. It. Is,” he says. Eliana catches the double meaning of his words and blushes again.

She’s going to have to get that under control if they are going to try and do this dating thing.

Or fooling around. Or whatever it is they agreed to.

It’s been two days since the make-out session, and they still haven’t discussed it. Or made plans to see each other again. In trying not to appear needy, she’s maybe played it a bit too easy, and instead of messaging him to arrange something, she’s anxiously sat back, waiting to hear from him.

It’s been torture.

Standing on the stage, she finally raises her eyes and meets his. And the way he’s looking at her now… pure heat. It warms her insides in the most delicious of ways.

But if he’s so hot for her that his look could set fire to this entire building, why hasn’t he reached out? Is this part of his game? To tease and taunt and leave her guessing? Is that a game she’s willing to play?

Declan works his way toward her, stepping over tools, feet, and cords as he does. The rest of his crew return to whatever task they are doing, ignoring the hulking demon as he traverses the short distance to where she stands.

“You alright there, Oaks?” he asks. He glances over his shoulder, making sure no one is watching, before bringing his hand up to brush her arm lightly.

Why is it so hot when he calls me by my last name?

“Yeah. I’m… good,” she replies, hoping it comes out more confident than she feels. His touch is brief, but it makes her toes tingle with anticipation as she wonders what it feels like elsewhere.

He leans in, and she can smell the musk of hard work on him.

It’s delectable. Her hand moves as if of its own volition, linking her pinky finger with his as it rests at his side.

Casting her eyes to his face, she catches a slight quirk of his mouth.

The subtlest of movements as the right side of his perfect lips picks up, creating a wonderful dimple that she wishes she could put her other pinky into.

Her eyes meet his, and his gaze dips briefly to her lips before locking with hers again.

The entire interaction lasts mere seconds but feels like an eternity to Eliana; all the while, she hopes the others in the room continue to pay them no mind.

If they continue to do this, this secret they have surely won’t be a secret much longer.

“Would you like to get together tomorrow night?” he asks, breaking Eliana out of the haze she has fallen into. Any prior concerns she had about him not texting her vanish.

An eager smile fights to cross her lips, but she fights it back. As well as the urge to jump up and down, shouting her acceptance. Instead, as calmly as possible, she replies, “That would be nice.”

“Great. I can come pick you up at seven?”

“That’s perfect.” She can’t fight the smile any longer. Squeezing her pinky finger on his, she hopes it conveys her excitement.

He squeezes hers back before letting go and winking at her. “I can’t wait.” He steps back, putting distance between them, leaving her feeling unsteady. “I’ve gotta get back, but thank you for stopping by and checking in, Miss Oaks,” he says more loudly.

“It’s looking great! I can’t wait to see the final product,” Eliana responds, both playing along with the little act he’s instigating and wanting to make sure the others know their efforts are appreciated.

She walks off the stage, waving to the crew as she does, and heads back to the dance studio for her next class. However, she has no idea how she’s going to teach when Declan has now filled her mind with the anticipation of tomorrow.