Addict (Hunter #2)(34)

“New girl, huh?” The demon’s shirt was off and he had a girl on a leash trailing behind him. She didn’t look terribly upset to be on a leash. I wondered how much she was getting paid. I hoped it was a lot.

“This one is for my brother.” Matt attempted to dismiss him with an imperious wave of his hand.

“Oh, it’s you,” the man said, bowing at the waist. “I didn’t recognize you, My Lord. His Lordship has enough pretty brunettes, don’t you think? This one looks practically angelic. That’s really not his style.”

“I’ll decide what my style is, Kall,” Gray snarled at the smaller demon. “Go away and don’t look at her again or we’ll have a problem. Do you understand?”

Kall bowed from his waist again, his head down as he murmured, “Yes, My Lord.”

Kall slunk away, pulling his girl behind him.

Gray turned to Matt, his face tight. “Explain yourself, brother. How dare you bring her here.”

Matt’s eyes had rounded as though shocked at our reception. “I thought you would be thrilled, brother. This is the woman who caused you such distress, is it not? Here she is. I didn’t even have to threaten her. The moment she heard you were in trouble, she was scrambling to get here to you. There’s no doubt she still cares for you. You know I can’t stand to see lovers kept apart. I know the feeling too well myself.”

“I’m not in trouble.” Gray finally turned my way, his eyes starting past my knees and working their way up. I felt his gaze like a caress along my flesh.

The woman who had previously had her head in Gray’s lap crawled across the room and attached herself to his leg.

“Don’t leave, master,” she begged prettily.

Gray shook his head, staring down like he’d already forgotten she existed and wasn’t pleased to be reminded. “Go. Now.”

He pointed to the elevators and she crawled off, her head hung low.

It was a disgusting display, and I wondered if that wouldn’t have been me had I stayed with him. “Well, if you’re not in trouble, then I’ll feel free to get on with my life, Sloane. Matt, where are my clothes?”

The demon with the upper-crust British accent waved his hand. “Probably in the incinerator by now.”

“What?”

He gave a negligent half shrug. “Well, they didn’t suit you, dear. It looks like some old man picked them out, perhaps trying to de-tart his ‘much too young for him’ girlfriend.”

Matt apparently didn’t like my current lover. That was no reason for him to leave me without pants. “You *. How am I supposed to get home in this?”

“That’s your problem, dear. I’ve done my level best to help. You can’t expect me to solve all of your problems.” Matt’s mouth turned up in a slow smile. “And now my date for the evening is here.”

A thin, young man with curly blond hair and blue eyes was walking toward us. He kept his eyes downcast and sank to his knees when he reached us. “My Lord, how may I serve you this evening?”

Matt studied the young man, his lips thinning as he reached out to touch his hair. “I’ll think of something, Tristan. And tell the colorist your hair should be a bit lighter to get it perfect.”

Tristan didn’t look up, merely kept his head down. “Of course.”

“Come along, now. I know public sex is all the rage here, but I prefer a bit of discretion. I’m going to take my sweet puppy somewhere private to play our games.” Matt’s face turned serious as he regarded Gray. “I’m making do tonight, brother, as I have every night for the last ten bloody years. The object of your affection is in your grasp. I suggest you don’t let her go.”

With that I was left alone with the man who had lied to me. I was left alone with the first man I ever loved. With the man I couldn’t get out of my head.

“You’re supposed to be in Italy.” Gray made it sound like an accusation.

“I just got back yesterday.” I really wished I had more clothes on. There was something super weird about standing around a foreign place wearing thigh highs, a bra, and a thong. It was a little like a nightmare I used to have. I noticed that the man Gray had been talking to was watching us now.

“So it only took you twenty-four hours to get into serious trouble,” Gray complained.

It wasn’t how I expected the reunion to go. I was the injured party. I was the one who had come to save him even though he’d treated me like crap. The least I expected was some gratitude. “I’m on a case.”

“That’s your excuse for everything, sweetheart,” Gray said flatly.

Tears welled in my eyes and I f*cking hated that. Only Gray ever made me lose control. That mask was coming in handy. I should have been happy. He was making it easy on me. I could go home to Marcus and cuddle up and know that I was in the right place with the right man. The time I spent with Gray had been a huge mistake. “Then it can be my excuse for leaving. I can see you have everything under control here, Sloane. I won’t bother you again.”

His hand wrapped around my upper arm and he drew me close to his body. Every inch of my skin came to life the second he touched me.

“You bother me every second of every day, Kelsey mine, and it’s far too late for you to leave.” He pulled me into the confines of his muscular arms. His mouth went straight to my ear and he whispered. “I’m undercover, sweetheart, and now you are, too. You know how to play this role. Keep your mouth closed and look submissive. Please don’t fight me on this. I’m trying to keep you safe. You have no idea what you’ve gotten into. Play along with me and I’ll explain everything in a while.”