Page 13 of The Devil and His Goddess (Sinners Do It Better #2)

Harper

MUSIC PULSED FROM THE SPEAKERS set up on the first floor of the home. As Aiysha had hoped, the house was packed with people from Silverlight, old friends, strangers, and people from the university Aiysha attended. You couldn’t walk through the house without nearly bumping into someone, but that was how Aiysha liked her parties.

Go big, or go home.

“Excuse me, Miss Ma’am.”

Speak of the devil.

I smiled and stopped my trek to the kitchen. Turning, I found Aiysha. Tonight, she’d let her curly black hair fly free around her head in a beautiful dark halo. She’d opted to wear a purple bralet and leather pants this evening, showing off every curve. Her shiny red lips widened, and she held her hand out for me. I took it, letting her hold it high so she could spin me in a circle, looking me over from head to toe.

“You still look as put together as you did when this party started,” Aiysha stated with mock outrage.

I ran a hand over my curled hair, which fell past my barely concealed breasts. The corset-style top and tight pencil skirt was, in fact, as pristine as when I’d first put it on.

“Your point?” I asked with a smirk.

She gave me an obvious eye roll and said, “You aren’t letting loose. If you’re still letting what Mandi did ruin your Saturday night, you’re going to force my hand.”

I hated to admit it, but an hour into the party and I was still wound up over the crappy ending to my workday. No amount of mingling or small talk was helping distract me from the messy situation.

Aiysha, reading me like an open book, pulled me flush against her and leaned in to whisper, “I think the perfect solution to your problem just arrived.”

I didn’t need her to clarify or elaborate. The amused, teasing lilt in her voice told me everything. Heart jumping into my throat, I slinked through the crowd with Aiysha right on my heels.

Sure enough, Perseus stood near the front door, and it seemed everyone else was trying to beeline from wherever they’d been in the house to the front of it. Perseus and the group of guys with him were being ambushed from every angle, and for the first time, I realized that Perseus—my boss, Peasant —was famous. Really famous. And these guys with him? They were the notorious Sinners Do It Better.

I recognized Zagan, who smiled at the people approaching, though I also noticed a slight edge to the grin as he tried to shield a brunette girl behind him, who had even more girls behind her. Perseus and two other guys with him beamed at the crowd of people begging for photos and autographs, while one lone guy in the group stared blankly at those who approached.

“We didn’t think this through,” I said with a sigh as I continued watching the celebrity-obsessed mob.

Aiysha laughed and nursed her drink. “No. But I’m sure it will calm down at some point. Honestly, I’m waiting for a chance to slip in and make a move myself.”

“On which one?”

“Any of them.” She bit her lip to fight a grin. “Minus Perseus, of course.”

I feigned indifference with a shrug. “Not sure why you wouldn’t include him in the running.”

“You’re so sexy when you lie,” she laughed before smacking a kiss on my cheek.

Shaking my head over her antics, I resumed my trek to the kitchen, which was absolutely clear now that everyone congregated at the front of the house. I grabbed a water and hopped onto the kitchen counter while Aiysha reorganized the drinks next to me, which had gotten cluttered during the party.

It was a long time before the crowd started spreading back out. Aiysha and I people-watched from our place, making and handing out drinks as people wandered by. Since dance season was underway, I wasn’t drinking any of the alcohol. I was content to sip on my water, which I’d just finished when a trio of girls came into the lightly-packed kitchen.

“I’m shocked they wanted to brave a house party,” a girl with pink-tipped blonde hair remarked to her friends.

“I’m not,” one replied with a laugh, flipping her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder. “This is them we’re talking about.”

Men and women moved around the kitchen, filing out as the new flow of people walked in.

“I agree with Eden,” the brunette I’d seen behind Zagan said. “Some of the guys love parties, and where one goes, they all go. I mean, just remember our first night meeting them. Is anyone really surprised?”

“My point exactly,” Eden laughed.

“Did you see Coldin, though?” the pink-tipped blonde asked the girls as they reached the island just as others moved away. “He looks miserable.”

“He always looks like that, Addie,” the brunette laughed.

Addie pursed her lips and looked at the ceiling like she was contemplating the suggestion. Finally, she shrugged. “True.”

“I see you girls made it past the ambush.”

My breath stilled in my throat as I recognized that deep, playful voice. Perseus appeared in the kitchen with his charming grin on full display.

“No thanks to you guys,” Eden shot back with her hands on her hips.

Perseus shrugged. “You know you love the chaos of it, Eden. But I think the worst of it is over. Should be smooth partying from here.”

Perseus’s green eyes magnetically found mine through all the people coming and going through the expansive kitchen. His smile deepened as he crossed the room to where I still sat on the counter, one leg crossed over the other. He braced a hand on either side of my hips and leaned against my bare legs.

“Goddess,” Perseus greeted quietly so that the name was for our ears alone.

I just barely fought my mirth as my chin tilted ever so slightly higher. “Peasant.”

“That must be Harper.”

He glanced over his shoulder where the brunette girl in the group watched us with a teasing tilt to her lips.

“You know Harper?” Perseus asked.

The girl’s cheeks grew rosy as she tucked some hair behind her ear. “I know of Harper. Zagan told me about how … close you seemed at work today.”

Aiysha barely stifled a laugh beside me, and despite my cool facade, my ears grew warm. Perseus didn’t seem embarrassed about being caught with this strange tension between us. He just rolled his eyes and stepped away so I could clearly see the brunette and her friends.

“Harper, this is Iyla,” Perseus introduced with a gesture at the brunette. “She’s Zagan’s—” He paused with a purse of his lips. “Well …”

Iyla’s cheeks somehow grew even pinker, and she came over to shake my hand. “I’m Zagan’s friend.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said, recalling that morning.

Zagan had made a joke about running home to fuck someone named Iyla. I supposed the relationship between the two was complicated, and I suddenly felt a kinship with Iyla. If there was something I could understand, it was a complex relationship with one of these guys.

“I hope it’s okay that we came with them,” Iyla said while nervously shifting on her feet.

“Of course,” I reassured her. “The more, the merrier. Isn’t that right, Aiysha?”

“Hell, yeah!” Aiysha cheered with a raise of her glass from next to me.

Iyla introduced the other girls in her group, both of whom were just as friendly as Iyla. Aiysha drew closer, and soon, the pack of girls we’d grown pushed Perseus aside so that the five of us could talk.

“You’re a ballerina?” Eden gushed with bright green eyes. “I’ll definitely be coming to your shows!”

“We’ll all have to,” Iyla said. “I’ve never seen a real ballet before.”

“They’re amazing,” Aiysha said. She nudged me and added, “And this one is just spectacular to watch. Seriously. The best ballerina you’ll ever see.”

“You’re gonna make me blush,” I laughed, covering my hot cheeks with my hands.

The girls laughed at my sheepishness before moving on to tease Addie, who accepted the praise of her line of clothes with a wide smile. That’s when I realized what gift to humanity stood before me, and I nearly fell off the counter.

“Shut up! You’re Addie Parkland?” I squealed. “I love your clothes! I literally have your entire nightwear collection!”

Addie’s blue eyes brightened, and she clapped her manicured fingers. “Oh my gosh, really? Thank you! I have more coming in my nightwear collection soon.”

“I hope some scandalous lingerie is included in that,” Eden teased with a bump of her hip against Addie’s.

The conversation continued just like that. It was easy, as if we’d been friends forever and not strangers who’d met twenty minutes ago. By the time the rest of the Sinners Do It Better members got into the kitchen, I’d forgotten there was even a party happening around us, too busy exchanging numbers with the girls and planning a date to all get together.

Zagan came up behind Iyla, grabbing her around the waist and leaning down to whisper something in her ear. I could practically see the adoration in his eyes as he stared down at her, waiting for her to nod, before he pulled her away toward one of the rooms we’d set up for people to dance.

“I’ll be back!” Iyla called over her shoulder to us.

“We’re dancing now?” Addie asked excitedly. She grabbed Coldin’s arm, who’d been staring blankly at the wall, and practically dragged the begrudging man in the same direction. Xander grabbed Eden’s hand, and she twirled in his hold as the two of them followed the group. Dante, with a smoky grin, offered his hand to Aiysha, who didn’t hesitate to take it and follow.

Suddenly, our large group had dwindled to just two.

When I looked at Perseus again, I found his gaze not on mine but tracing every inch of my body. He stepped into my space once more. Heat spread under my skin as he looked his fill, and part of me wished it was his actual hands on me instead. That part was the girl who clearly hadn’t learned her lesson earlier today.

Mandi’s immature behavior stemmed from jealousy over … whatever was happening between Perseus and I. So did I really want to make the situation worse by continuing to entertain the idea of him? Mandi wasn’t at this party—thank God—but plenty of others from Silverlight were. Word could easily get back to her that I’d been spotted with the boss yet again. And it wasn’t just her. What kind of look would that create if I gave into what I was feeling? The mess it could create for me at work would be a disaster. Ballet, Silverlight—that was my home . That was my safe space.

I didn’t need drama at work.

I didn’t need to like my boss.

Not only that, but I’d just been reminded of his celebrity status. Even still, people all around the room had their eyes glued to Perseus, practically drooling and holding their phones eagerly in anticipation of getting a photo. Perseus was an idol to people, which would no doubt create a whole other world of issues.

There were too many things stacked up against us. Even if it was just sex we indulged in, the problems that could come from that alone weren’t worth it.

Mind made up, I placed my hand on his taut stomach, fighting to ignore how hard and wonderful he felt beneath my palm. I pushed him gently to hop off the counter, and he moved back only enough for me to get down. He still towered over me, the two of us corrupting each other’s space.

I wet my suddenly dry lips, and I didn’t miss when his eyes zeroed in on the act. Liquid fire coated my insides, which was further evidence that I needed to end this now.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I whispered, letting my lips curve into a haughty grin. “My date is here.”

His green eyes widened slightly, and I hoped they followed me as I crossed the room. A group of guys stood to one side of the room, and I locked in on one. The tall man spotted me coming, and his eyes immediately glittered with appreciation, which was perfect. He’d play the part I needed.

I wrapped my arms around his neck when I reached him, and he didn’t hesitate to place his hands on my hips.

“Wanna dance with me?” I purred with a salacious grin.

“Fuck, yeah I do,” he answered breathlessly.

I grabbed his hand to pull him toward the living room, and somehow, I managed not to look at Perseus on my way out. I smiled over that little victory.

The living room was pretty full, and upbeat pop music played overhead. I carved a little space among the guests for myself and my new dance partner before turning to wrap my arms around his neck. I swayed and swiveled my hips to the music, and he eagerly joined in with his hands on my hips and face moving to hover over my ear.

“What’s your name, gorgeous?” my dance partner asked.

My unobstructed view over his shoulder nearly choked me, and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to react when I saw Perseus posted up against the wall behind this guy. His toned arms were crossed, stretching the fabric of the black long-sleeve tee he wore, and strands of his curly golden hair fell into his eyes as he tilted his head at me in silent challenge.

Watching.

Waiting.

Seeing what my next move was.

“Harper,” I finally answered sweetly, averting my gaze from the greek statue of a man to this one. I trailed my nails up the back of his neck as I continued to move against him, and he groaned when I lightly tugged on the rust-colored hair at the nape of his neck. “You?”

“Bradley,” he answered in a breathless rush against the side of my throat.

Bradley’s cock thickened against me before he could adjust his stance to hide it, and when he pulled back to gaze down at me, his cheeks had gone red and eyes hazy with lust.

“Nice to meet you,” I chirped, flashing him a wide smile and pressing my breasts further into him.

Bradley was fairly attractive with his combed over red hair and blue eyes. His skin looked like it spent a lot of time being kissed by the sun, and his hands were soft.

“Are you a student at Bridges?” I asked him, referring to the university Aiysha went to.

“Nah. I work for a construction company. I came with some buddies who are students there, though. You?”

“I used to be. I work at the Silverlight Ballet Company now.”

His gaze gave me an appreciative sweep. “A dancer. Very nice. You definitely look it.”

My attention drifted over Bradley’s shoulder on its own accord. Perseus hadn’t moved from his spot. Not only that, but his eyes had narrowed slightly, and his jaw ticked like his teeth were grinding hard. The irritated expression had my own amusement spiking, and the bratty part of me wanted to push his buttons even more.

I moved to the music, letting every curve of my body show off with the seductive movements. I trailed my hands over Bradley’s shoulders and chest while rolling and grinding against him in a way that spelled out wicked intentions, and he eagerly matched me with a hiss under his breath that sounded like, “Fuck, yeah.”

Somehow, in our sensual sway, we got turned around, which put my back to Perseus now. I didn’t let that stop me. I added some more swivel into my hips to put the attention on my butt, and I could only imagine the look he made when Bradley’s palms traveled down my back to squeeze my ass.

Picturing Perseus and his frustration made the already hot thrumming in my veins grow, settling between my thighs. I leaned my head back, letting Bradley shower my throat in attention with hungry kisses and nips, and I closed my eyes to pretend it was a different hard body against mine. The mental image of Perseus rubbing against me or peppering my skin in kisses had my pussy growing slicker by the second, and I bit my lip as my nipples hardened in response.

In fact, I was so keen to see Perseus’s reaction that I raised my arms and circled with a swivel to my body, pressing my butt into Bradley’s obviously hard dick. I didn’t stop moving or grinding back on him, even as my eyes flitted up from Bradley’s hands—which roamed up my sides and close to my breasts—to Perseus.

My peasant’s chest rose and fell hard in what I could only assume was a mixture of aggravation and desire. That last part was obvious from the way his green eyes traced every bit of my body, lingering on the tops of my breasts in the corset or falling to where the hem of my skirt had risen up.

I felt everywhere his attention went, and that heated my blood and sent my own desires into overdrive. I now ached between my thighs, and it had nothing to do with my dance partner and everything to do with the man watching me from across the room.

Bradley’s head suddenly leaned down near my ear, and he croaked, “Want to get out of here, Dollface?”

The meaning in his words was unmistakable, and my now-aching pussy was absolutely ready for that. The molten hot gaze of my boss had driven me to a near-maddening point, and I needed relief, which I couldn’t get from the source of the burn. That was a line I wanted to cross but refused to.

So Bradley would have to do. Hopefully, his sex game was better than his flirting.

“Follow me,” I smirked. “Luckily for us, I live here.”

“Oh, hell yes,” he croaked as I took his hand and pulled him along with me.

The two of us walked right by Perseus on our way to the stairs, and I could practically feel his need to reach out and grab me. His crossed arms tensed as though he fought the urge to stop us, and again, the twisted part inside of me took pleasure in denying him what he wanted.

A hard back momentarily blocked my path, so I quickly said, “Excuse me.”

When the dark man looked over his shoulder at me, I realized it was Dante. His brown eyes bounced from me, to the man I towed behind me, to Perseus wherever he now was behind us. His lips twitched like he was fighting a grin, and when Dante met my eyes again, he stepped aside and swept his arm out for me to continue my trek.

“Thanks,” I mumbled. Running into Dante when I was trying to get away from Perseus was just a reminder of the golden man, and it annoyed me. I needed to distract myself.

The minute I had Bradley in my room with the door shut, he pounced. He grabbed either side of my head and smashed his lips against mine with a deep moan. My back slammed into the door as his tongue swept into my parted lips. He ground his hard erection against me, and I opened my legs wider for him to access where I burned.

“God, you’re so good,” Bradley gasped as he showered my throat in wet kisses. “So fucking good, Dollface.”

Was I horny? Hell, yes.

Was Bradley’s nickname making me wild with want? Not by a longshot.

In fact, every time he talked, the flame started to die. But I didn’t want it to die. I didn’t want Perseus and his stupid attention to be the sole reason my core hungered for more. So I really needed Bradley to cool it with the “Dollface” nonsense—hell, with talking in general.

I pushed on his chest to guide him toward my bed, and I yanked his shirt off on the way. His body wasn’t bad by any means, and when I scraped my nails down his pecs, a delicious shiver traveled up my spine.

Until he spoke again.

“I bet you’re so wet. Right, Dollface? You want this bad?”

That slickness between my folds threatened to dry up like the fucking Sahara desert. Eager to salvage what I could of this potentially gratifying moment, I smiled salaciously at him and asked, “How do you feel about being tied to the bed?”

His face shuttered in pleasure like the mere suggestion nearly made him cum. “I’m so down.”

Since my headboard didn’t have any poles or slits to tie his hands to, I had him lay with his head at the foot of my bed. I grabbed some rope I kept in my kink drawer, and I bent over his face to tie his hands to each of the two foot posts. His hips dry humped the air as he whispered profanities about my pussy and tits, which he playfully tried to bite at as they hovered over his face. It was getting hard not to outwardly roll my eyes at him, so with another plastered-on smile, I grabbed my blindfold and slipped that over his eyes.

“Oh God baby. You’re killing me,” he heaved, tossing his head side-to-side. “Sit on my face. Please. Sit on my face and let me have that sweet nectar.”

Thank God the blindfold was on, because I actually gagged. Nectar ? Did he think that was hot? His dirty talk was about as appealing as fucking a cactus. He clearly loved talking, so maybe he’d surprise me and put that tongue to some actual good use.

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” I teased.

I straightened to slip my skirt off but froze when my phone buzzed on my nightstand. With a quick glance at the writhing guy on my bed, I grabbed my phone to find a text from one of my newest contacts. My stomach flipped when I saw the name “Peasant” lighting up the screen, and the heat that had dwindled to a mere simmer reignited into a full-on inferno when I read his message.

If only he knew that while you were dancing on him, you were dancing FOR me. Make sure he knows that while he’s fucking you, you’re pretending that’s me, too.

I bit my lip as heat slicked through my core again. All because of his stupid message.

“Baby, please,” Bradley begged, drawing my attention away from my phone.

I quickly put the device down and finally stripped out of my skirt. I wasn’t wearing any underwear, so that cool air immediately engulfed my hot center, which, thankfully, grew hotter as I climbed up Bradley’s body to straddle his face.

He made an indecipherable sound as my damp pussy brushed his lips, and he shook beneath me seemingly with anticipation. I didn’t have anything in front of me to hold onto, so for now, I relied on my own core and leg strength to hover above him so that he could toy with me without smothering him.

And toy with me he did, because this was maddening.

His tongue lapped at my core like a dog at their drinking bowl, and no matter how I tried positioning myself where he could access my sweet spot, the idiot still missed it. I even closed my eyes and really tried to focus, clinging onto the brief seconds where he’d find what I liked, but he kept licking at nothing.

“I bet you like that,” he mumbled between my legs and in between his tongue flicks. “I bet you’re eating this up.”

I groaned, and he mistook the sound for one of pleasure instead of what it really was—absolute frustration .

“That’s right, Dollface,” he encouraged. “God, grind on my tongue.”

I bared my teeth as my brows slammed down in aggravation. I couldn’t take it anymore. This guy sucked. My eyes and mouth snapped open as I prepared to tell him this wasn’t working, but as soon as I did, I froze with a sharp gasp.

Because we were no longer alone.