My spine straightened and I clenched my jaw while glaring at my hands cupping the glass of scotch. Why wouldn’t this human shut the hell up? Her charm wouldn’t work on me. Not like Emma’s and her bubbly personality.
“How is she doing?” Mia said, not reading the fucking room.
I finished the rest of my scotch and set the cup on the wooden bar. “One thing you’ll learn about me, Mia, is that I’m a private person.” I turned to her, and she sucked in a breath at my glare. If looks could kill, she’d be dead by now. “I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. Stop trying to wiggle your way in, hoping I’ll fuck you so you can get a raise.”
She blinked, then horror crossed her face as she quickly said, “S-sir, that wasn’t...that wasn’t what I—”
“Don’t be coy with me.” I curled my lip in disgust as I dropped my gaze from her chest to the tiny skirt covering her lap, then returned it to her face. “You’re dressed like a slut, trying to gain my attention. It’s not working and willneverwork.”
Turning to the bar, I held a finger to the bartender, signaling I was ready for another drink. I refused to allow this disgusting human woman to chase me off.
My demon rumbled in agreement and bared his teeth, hungry to sink them into Mia’s tender flesh. This was the first time a woman had thrown herself at me since being with Emma. Those types of women—including Emma—enjoyed the sense of danger. It excited them, not realizing they were dancing outside the mouth of a dark, dangerous cave where a monster watched from within. The only person who had tamed that monster was a woman with schizophrenia who was terrified of demons. But it didn’t mean we weren’t dangerous to anyone else.
The bartender exchanged the empty glass for a full one that sat on a clean napkin. I grabbed the drink and sipped it before placing it back on the bar.
Mia had quieted and sipped her cocktail while she scrolled on her phone.
I needed to get back home to ensure Emma was okay. I worried she would have symptoms while I was gone and wouldn’t have me there to help her. It didn’t matter that she’d been alone before me and managed without me. I still wanted to be the one she could lean on when she was at her most vulnerable.
My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket. Looking down at the screen, I read the text message from Lillian, who asked how Emma was doing. I responded with updates that she was still the same and didn’t remember anything.
“Hey, man, you got a light?”
I glanced to my other side. A drunk man with messy brown hair leaned against the bar, reeking of alcohol and sweaty balls. Glaring at him, I didn’t answer his question, hoping the filthy creature would remove himself from me.
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Did you hear me?”
“I heard you just fine,” I said.
“Whatever, dude. You didn’t have to be a dick about it.” He pushed away from the bar and patted my shoulder before he walked away.
I ground my molars together and watched the waste of space stumble back to his group of friends at a table. “He was such adick. Sorry, guys, we’ll need to ask someone else,” the man slurred out to his friends.
Narrowing my eyes, I debated whether I should kill them after they left, along with the bothersome woman who still sat beside me. I didn’t want a mess to clean up, so I turned back to finish the rest of my drink, then I’d leave.
After a few sips, the alcohol went to my head, which was new. It took a lot to get me into this state. Warmth flooded through me, and black bled into my vision from the corners.
“Hey, are you okay?” Mia’s voice sounded like it came from the opposite side of a long, dark hallway.
I got out of my seat and wavered on my unstable legs. Breathing a little harder, I pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and tossed it on the bar to cover my tab, along with a hefty tip. A delicate arm wrapped around my side, and the scent of musk and alcohol assaulted my senses. I looked down at the blurry Mia, who helped me stand up straight and not fall on my ass.
“Let’s get you home,” she said gently, leading me out of the bar.
My demon snarled in my head, then everything went dark.
* * *
At some point, I crawled out of the dark recesses of my mind. Everything was blurry, but I knew I was home because it smelled like Emma. The aroma of blood oranges and fresh spring flowers filled my lungs, and I held it there. I stumbled up the stairs and down the hall, pausing outside Emma’s bedroom.
My demon watched, feeling the same effects. I barely grasped onto the suspicion that someone had drugged me, but before I could do anything about it, it flittered off into nothing.
My fingers twitched, itching to open the guest bedroom door so I could go to Emma. Instead of giving in to that desire, I stumbled to my dark room and peeled off my clothes. I sat on my bed and carefully threaded my legs into a pair of sweats before I tumbled back, my head meeting the pillow.
Before I knew it, I was out cold.
“Mr. Volkov,” I breathed as I arched my neck and pushed my hips further out. My fingers rubbed faster on my clit, and more arousal dripped down my bottom and thighs. I squeezed my bare breast underneath my oversized T-shirt, imagining it was him touching me.
I’d started touching myself with the intention of him hearing me, but now it turned into the need to relieve all the tension and desire that had built since his birthday. Mr. Volkov had gone to bed an hour ago, and I was sure he was fast asleep. My box fan whirled in my bedroom, covering my breathy moans and the wet sound of my pussy as I fingered myself.
