Page 36 of Unholy Vows

Layla

M alachai in a suit was positively mouthwatering.

The sharp lines of his tailored jacket clung to his broad shoulders, and the dark fabric highlighted the dangerous edge that always simmered just below the surface.

His tie was loose at the base of his throat, and it drew the eye down the firm line of his chest. Even his cufflinks, obsidian and understated, gleamed like rare diamonds against his masculine wrists.

His hair was lightly tousled, and his intense blue eyes scanned the room with precision.

Forever the predator on the hunt for his prey.

His beauty didn’t soften his menace. It sharpened it. But that did little to deter the watchful gazes now studying him.

All around us, women gasped and began whispering. Their hushed voices carried across the space, all curious theories and wild guesses about the stranger in their midst.

Clearly, they weren’t churchgoers.

The corner of Malachai’s mouth twitched as he fought to contain his smirk. Honestly, I couldn’t blame them. The man looked like trouble, wrapped in temptation, ready to make sin feel like salvation.

“Layla,” a male voice sang out, and I groaned.

Malachai stiffened beside me. He tugged me against his chest, holding me so tightly it was almost difficult to breathe.

Reece bounded over to us, stopping a short distance away as his hungry gaze drank in my appearance. His attention made me shiver, and not in a good way.

“You look…” he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence as he licked his lips.

“Like mine,” Malachai growled, and Reece jerked back as if he’d been struck.

“Forgive me. Where are my manners?” Reece stuck his hand out toward Malachai and said, “Reece Carter.”

Malachai stared at him for the longest time before he finally took his outstretched palm. Judging by the look on Reece’s face, Malachai’s grip was more than a little firm.

“Malachai.”

Reece’s confident grin faltered. He tried to play it off, rolling his shoulders and letting out a breathy chuckle.

“That’s quite the grip you’ve got there.”

Malachai remained impassive. He didn’t even blink as he continued to stare at Reece.

“Malachai,” I hissed between clenched teeth.

He turned to me, his eyes sliding over my face. His gaze softened just enough to make my stomach flutter — then sharpened again as he returned his attention to Reece.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Malachai said, though his tone suggested it was anything but.

When Malachai finally released his hand, Reece cleared his throat and took a subtle step back. His usual swagger was long gone, replaced by a lingering tension that felt ready to snap.

“Right. Well, I won’t keep you two. Only came over to say hello.”

Malachai’s hand rested on the small of my back, deceptively gentle, yet unmistakably possessive.

“And you did.” Malachai’s voice was razor-sharp.

“Right,” Reece repeated. “I’ll just be heading off then.”

“Bye, Reece,” I said, sending him a smile.

Reece winked, and Malachai’s fingers flexed against my lower back.

With one last look, Reece turned and walked away.

Once he was out of hearing distance, I rounded on Malachai.

“What the hell was that?”

Malachai’s arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me flush against his body.

“If he ever looks at you like that again,” he murmured against my ear. “I’ll snap his fucking neck.”

“Malachai, you promised you would behave yourself.”

“No, I didn’t. I promised to do my best. And I did. In any other circumstance, I’d have cornered that prick and severed his femoral artery before stuffing him in a nearby trash can.”

Malachai spread his arms wide. “See. Best behavior.”

I rolled my eyes. The worst part was that I knew he meant every word.

“He probably thinks you’ve kidnapped me and was searching for any silent pleas for help.”

Malachai chuckled and pulled me back into his embrace.

“It’s not far from the truth.”

His breath fanned against the shell of my ear before he sucked the lobe into his mouth.

I shivered; this time it was for all the right reasons.

“Keep doing that, and I won’t be held accountable for what happens next.”

“And what might that be?”

My voice came out huskier than I intended.

“You should know better than to play games with me, Little Sinner,” he warned. “I don’t care if we’re in a room brimming with onlookers. I’ll still lay you out on that buffet table and gorge on your pussy until I’m satiated.”

Heat banked in my core, and I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from saying something stupid like, “Yes, please!”

Malachai’s eyes darkened, and he tugged my swollen lip from between my teeth. Before he could act on his threat, Malachai’s phone rang, but he ignored it, his gaze remaining locked on me.

Malachai crowded my space as he gripped my chin with his thumb and forefinger. He lowered his mouth to mine, his tongue sweeping over the seam of my lips, demanding entrance.

Then his phone rang again, and he groaned.

As he pulled the device from his pocket, he glanced down at the screen and frowned.

“Hold that thought, Little Sinner. I need to take this.”

Malachai placed a chaste kiss on my lips before he headed toward the balcony overlooking the corn maze. The attraction had been set up for the annual Halloween treasure hunt, and I had already overheard more than one couple planning a clandestine rendezvous among the tall stalks.

Letting my gaze wander over the room, I took in the guests I should mingle with but had no desire to join. I caught Reece’s attention, and he scanned his surroundings in search of Malachai. When he found no sign of my overbearing brute, he raised a brow in question as if to say, “ Are you alright?”

I smiled, waving him off, which seemed to pacify him. He turned back to his companions, eager to rejoin the conversation.

As much as he was a pain in my ass most days, I had to admit, it was nice to know he cared enough to check in on my well-being, despite the very obvious threat Malachai posed.

Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

Someone threaded their arm through mine, and I looked up to see Tanya beaming down at me. As another freelance editor, Tanya and I often stuck together at these events, not having the safety net of an office full of co-workers to fall back on.

“Girl, spill. Who is that dreamy slice of sin, and why does he look at you like he’s ready to devour you whole?”

I giggled and pointed toward the bar.

“Shall we?”

“We shall!”