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I lift my chin. “Or what?”
“I’ll rip every other man’s name from your lips.” His eyes drop to my mouth. “With my teeth.”
“Who are you?!” I snap. “There is nothing serious between us. NOTHING. And you go around massacring innocent people.”
His expression darkens while pulling me closer with an iron grip.
“Nothing serious?” His voice drops low. “Yesterday you fucked my hand like it was the only real pleasure you’ve got in months. Did your succubus boy scream when you poured your darkness into him?”
I stare at him and say nothing.
“Oh. I see.” His face lights up with savage satisfaction. I want to punch him again. “How did it feel? Finally not having to control yourself, to let it go?”
Heat floods my face. He presses closer, one hand sliding down my lower back, caging me with his hard body. The fever returns. No words come out. He searches my eyes for the smallest crack, the tiniest sign I’ll break and give in.
“I could fuck you even with your dark magic killing me,” he whispers. “Just say one word.”
My gaze traces the line of his jaw, the broad column of his neck where I’ve left teeth marks before, then drops to those full lips. I want them to devour me. I follow the marble pattern of ink across his throat, the angel statue wings hiding under the black t-shirt. My mouth goes dry, and my thighs go wet. I close my eyes like a little girl and think that’s enough to make him disappear. The last of my control tightens around me, shoving everything else deep beneath the surface. I’m not about to make the same mistakes my mother did.
“I don’t need you in my life,” I say.
Then I shove him back, rip my hand free and walk away before he can see how badly I’m shaking. I almost leave the club running.
The worst part is that he’s right. About me. About the way my body woke up under his hands like it has been waiting forever for that. I don’t remember the last time I felt anything more. Anything besides emptiness and loneliness.
CHAPTER 16
ON THE RUN
The loud buzz of my phone vibrating on the nightstand pulls me out of sleep. When I open my eyes, daylight fills the room. It must be midday. I check the display. Valerie. I almost let it ring out, but the Voss Institute never calls with good news, and ignoring bad news only makes it more expensive.
“Miss Voss. Please come quickly,” Valerie says the second I answer. Her voice shakes so badly I sit up. “ Someone is here, and they are looking for you.”
“Valerie, don’t panic. Who’s there?”
“Nyx Bank.”
Fuck.
“I’m coming,” I say.
“Miss Voss, please be quick.”
I hang up and stare at the black screen. I know what they want. Payment day was yesterday, and I don’t have enough. I have money left from dealing, but not enough to cover all three missed payments.
No, no, no.
I get out of bed so fast I almost fall on the floor. My hands are numb and useless as I pull on clothes. I could call Lex, but I won’t fucking do that. I pace barefoot across the bedroom, thinking through every option I have and hating all of them. How do I get that much cash in half an hour? Then I look at the time.
And I know. For a second, I just stand there.
“How did I let it get this bad?” I whisper to no one.
Sava drives me to a pawnshop downtown. Mike, the owner, knows me. I’ve sold him stuff before, bags, jewelry, clothes. This time I walk in with more dread than ever.
“Hi, Mike.”
“Hey, girl. What’s up?”
