Page 39

Air seemed to gush out of his lungs in relief. “Good.” He scratched at his nape, awkward. “Listen, I . . . I’m sorry. For everything I said and did over the past several months.”

Naomi didn’t respond. Both she and her entity were watching him intently, not liking the hint of desire in his gaze that he couldn’t suppress, or the note of resentment mingled in with it.

“When I look back on how I acted, it feels surreal. Like it was a dream. Because those things I insisted on believing despite all evidence to the contrary . . . I just don’t see how I couldn’t have seen the truth.” He swallowed hard. “I wasn’t myself.”

“I know.” She shrugged. “Apology accepted.”

He gave her a tremulous smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Konstantin materialized, fixing a hard glare on Iain.

His throat bobbing, the psi-demon backed away from her. “I’ll, uh, I’ll see you both around.” He melted into the crowd.

Konstantin looked down at her. “What did he say?”

“He swore that he hadn’t followed me here, and he apologized for how he acted when caught up in my song,” she replied. “That’s it.”

The guard gave her a quick head-to-toe inspection. “You all right?”

“My dear Kon, it isn’t the first time I’ve come face to face with a previously obsessed suitor, and it likely won’t be the last.”

“It’s Konstantin .”

Naomi smiled. “I know.” She made her way back to her table, finding that the mess had been cleared up – and that Piper had fallen asleep. Aw.

Staring into her glass like she was trying to read tea leaves, Ella said, “There’s something in my drink. I think it’s alive.”

Naomi peered into the glass. “Looks like a cherry stem.”

“Could be a bug, though,” Khloe chimed in. “Ooh, Ella, it could have had babies in your glass, and you could have drunk them.”

“Hit her,” Ella told Devon, who promptly obliged. The redhead grinned. “Thanks.”

Devon’s lips curved. “Any time. Really .”

Naomi nabbed a stray shot from the tray and knocked it back. Yup, tasted like ass. It worked a treat, though. The alcohol went right to her head and brought back the buzz she’d lost at seeing Iain.

Ella eyed her curiously. “Something’s wrong.”

“I guess I’m a little irritated,” Naomi admitted.

“How come?” asked the redhead.

“Iain’s here.” Naomi relayed her little conversation with him.

Ella’s eyes narrowed. “Do you buy that it’s a coincidence he’s here?”

“Yes. But I don’t know if I buy that he’s sorry about what he did.

” Her demon certainly didn’t. Could they really blame him for that, though, when it was only natural he wouldn’t feel that the fault lay squarely with him?

It wasn’t like he willingly got ensnared by her song.

But it wasn’t her fault either—she couldn’t help what she was.

“Well, coincidence or not, I don’t believe I’m wrong in thinking that Luka will show up any moment.”

Naomi frowned. “Why?”

“Konstantin will have told him what happened.”

“Yeah, but Iain hasn’t done anything.”

“I don’t mean Luka will come here for him. I mean he’ll come here to check on you; make sure you’re okay.”

“He might telepathically reach out to—”

“Nope, he’ll show up. And he’ll probably take the opportunity to cozy up to you right where Iain can see. He’ll want to get the message fully across that you’re in his bed now, just in case Iain gets any dumb ideas.”

Naomi snatched the last shot from the tray and downed it—again, the alcohol went straight to her head. She double-blinked as her head swam. “There’d be no point in doing something like that. This place is packed. Iain likely wouldn’t even notice Luka’s here.”

“He would definitely notice, because he’s looking right at you.”

Naomi stilled. “What?”

“Yup. Don’t look now. Don’t give him the satisfaction of knowing you’re talking about him.

He’s not close, but he’s in a prime position that gives him a clear view of our table.

It’s hard to read his expression because of the dim lighting, so I can’t say if he looks feverish and your song might have him in its thrall again. ”

“I’d need to be around him for at least an hour for that to happen. I don’t intend for it to ever happen.”

Khloe leaned in, her eyes bright. “What are we talking about? Seems interesting. Share, share, share.”

Instead, Naomi asked, “Khlo, are you ever going to take that coaster off your head?”

The imp’s brow creased in confusion. “Coaster?” Moments later, her eyes went wide with remembrance. “Oh, coaster!” She snatched it off her head and returned it to the table.

“You forgot it was there?” asked Larkin.

“Kinda.” Khloe rubbed at her scalp, again looking the height of confused. “Why did I put it on my head again?”

“Something about a dare,” said Larkin. “Again, I wasn’t really listening.”

Khloe shook her head. “You’re a super tough audience tonight, Lark.”

Sensing a presence at her side, Naomi twisted her head and slowly looked up. Her heartbeat kicked up, because there was Luka. As her feminine parts snapped to attention, she felt a lazy smile curve her mouth. “Ella said you’d show up.”

“Did she?” An idle question. He took Naomi’s hand and gently pulled her to her feet. Just like that, a bubble of sexual tension seemed to form around them, bringing them into their own little cocoon.

His eyes delved into hers, concerned. “Are you okay?”

Arching into him, she locked her arms around his neck. “Uh-huh. I’m riding a nice buzz right now. Don’t ruin it.”

He slid a proprietary hand down her back. “Iain didn’t say anything more than what you told Konstantin?”

She pouted. “I said don’t ruin it. Talk of Iain will ruin in.” She nuzzled his neck. “You smell really, really good. Makes me wanna take a bite.”

He let out a throaty hum she felt against her lips. “Come home with me, and you can do whatever you want,” he said, pure sex coating every word.

A burst of anticipation hit her bloodstream. “Mmm, okay.” She didn’t feel like staying now that she knew Iain was here anyway.

Satisfaction moved over Luka’s face. “Good. First, though . . .” He kissed her. Slow. Hard. Deep. Greedily. The kiss went on and on and on—a loop of drugging, sensual delight. At last he pulled back, need darkening his gaze. “That should do it. Let’s go.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” Khloe turned to Luka. “No, no, you can’t take her. She’s the only person who listens to me. The others zone out. I mean, look at them.”

Naomi glanced at the rest of the girls. Ella was singing out of tune, her eyes closed.

Devon was doing some kind of weird arm-dance.

Raini was using a cocktail stick as if it were a flute.

Larkin was balancing pretzels on the head of a still sleeping Piper.

And Harper was trying to fish a dollar out of her glass.

“See?” Khloe asked him.

“I do see,” Luka told her. “But I’m still taking Naomi with me.”

The imp sighed. “You both have sex in your eyes, so I can see you’re not gonna be reasonable here.”

Feeling her lips curl, Naomi waved at the girls. “Later, people!”

Kisses were blown, goodbyes were called out, take-cares were said.

It was only when Luka turned her that she saw Daniil and the twins were nearby, who had been joined by Konstantin.

The teleporter dropped her and Luka off at the den in his home before disappearing with the others. She and Luka were finally alone, one measly foot separating them as they locked gazes.

He stood still and watchful. A jungle predator rearing to pounce. His dark eyes were twin pools of lust, so many demands gleaming there. Excitement gripped her insides and twisted.

The sexual tension of earlier tautened, heightened, stretched like an elastic band.

With quick, deft movements, he tugged off his tie and threw it on the chair. “I haven’t fucked you while you’re smashed before.”

She licked her lower lip, her belly fluttering. “I do hope you intend to rectify that here and now.”

He grabbed her hips and hauled her to him so abruptly she crashed into his chest with a gasp. “Oh, I do.” He dropped his mouth down on hers.