Page 5

T he car purred along the winding road as Rosie fidgeted with the hem of her dress. My fingers twitched with the urge to still her hands, to feel her soft skin against mine again.

"We should discuss our story," I focused my attention to the task at hand. "Your family will have questions about how we met."

She turned those mesmerizing green eyes on me. "Oh! Right. I hadn't thought about that." Her nose scrunched up adorably. "We probably shouldn't tell them I summoned you in my living room."

A laugh rumbled from my chest. "While that would certainly be memorable, perhaps we should aim for something more conventional."

"We could say we met at work?" She suggested, then immediately shook her head. "No, that won't work. They know I was let go from my last job. "

My jaw clenched at that. I'd have to look into that situation later. Nobody mistreated what was mine.

"What about a coffee shop?" I offered, watching her expression. "It's cliché enough to be believable. I spilled my drink on you, insisted on paying for your dry cleaning, and wouldn't take no for an answer when I asked you to dinner."

Rosie burst into laughter, the sound making me hold back a purr of satisfaction. "You? Clumsy enough to spill coffee? Somehow I can't picture that."

I raised a brow at her. "I'll have you know I can be very clumsy when a beautiful woman catches my eye."

The blush that spread across her cheeks was worth the slight hit to my dignity. "Smooth talker," she accused but she was smiling. "Okay, coffee shop works. When did this supposedly happen?"

"Three months ago," I decided. "Long enough to be serious, recent enough to explain why your family hasn't met me yet."

"And what do you do for a living? I can't exactly tell them you're a demon lord who collects souls."

I smirked. "Investment banking." At her questioning look, I elaborated, "It's essentially the same thing and what I do with my business ."

Her laughter filled the car again and I found myself chuckling with her. She was dangerous, this mate of mine, making me feel things I hadn't in centuries.

"You know," she managed after her giggles subsided, "you're not what I expected."

"Oh?" I turned slightly in my seat to face her better. "And what did you expect?"

She gestured vaguely with her hands. "I don't know. More evil? Like, fire and brimstone, threatening to torture souls, that sort of thing. You're actually kind of.." she trailed off, biting her lip.

"Kind of what?" I leaned closer, catching the slight hitch in her breath.

"Nice," she finished lamely, though her eyes suggested she'd been thinking something else entirely.

I let my glamour slip just enough for her to see the glow of my true eyes, watching as her pupils dilated in response.

"Make no mistake, little minx," my voice dropped lower, letting some of my power seep through, "I am very much evil.

I've corrupted souls, started wars, and brought empires to their knees.

" I reached out, trailing one finger along her jaw.

"I simply choose to be selective about who sees that side of me. "

"And me?" She didn't pull away from my touch.

"You," I pulled back, restoring my human appearance, "I like. Which makes me even more dangerous, wouldn't you say?"

She swallowed hard and I watched the movement of her throat with perhaps too much interest. "Because you're trying to trick me?"

"Because I have no reason to trick you at all." I settled back in my seat, pleased with how affected she was by my proximity. "Everything I show you is exactly what I want you to see."

"That's not very reassuring," but she was smiling again.

"It wasn't meant to be." I winked at her. "Now, shall we discuss how madly in love with me you are? We'll need to be convincing for your family."

Her groan of embarrassment was music to my ears.