Ripper (Hunter #1)(121)

He was the ultimate bad boy. Grayson Sloane was a half-demon who had lied to me, used me, and had potentially tried to trick me into going to Hell with him. And I was shaking at the thought of his hands on me. I was also resolute. No matter how much I was attracted to the man, I was going to resist because I knew the score. Marcus was good, and Gray was bad.

Gray was also observant. He stood up abruptly and looked curiously at the new girl, namely me. He stalked across the room just as another big man moved to intercept me. He was shorter than Gray, though he still towered over me. He didn’t have great control over his form. His eyes gave him away.

“New girl, huh,” the demon said. His 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.

“This one is for my brother,” Matt said, attempting to dismiss him.

“Oh, it’s you,” the man said. “I didn’t recognize you, sir. 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 will have a problem. Do you understand?”

Kall bowed from his waist and murmured, “Yes, my lord.”

Kall slunk away, pulling his girl behind him. Gray’s face was tight. “Explain yourself, brother. How dare you bring her here.”

Matt looked perfectly innocent. “I thought you would be thrilled, brother. This is the woman who has 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. I think 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 spoke to Matt, but his eyes were on me.

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, Sir,” she begged prettily.

Gray looked 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.”

“You *. How am I supposed to get home in this?” How was I supposed to explain being more than half naked to my trainer?

“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?”

“I’ll think of something, Tristan. And tell the colorist your hair should be a bit lighter to get it just right,” Matt said, turning the young man’s face up toward him. “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, little puppy somewhere private to play our games.” His face turned serious as he regarded Gray. “I’m making due 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 it 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.

“You’re supposed to be in Italy,” Gray said and he made it sound a little like an accusation.

“I just got back yesterday,” I replied, wishing I had more clothes on. 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 a little gratitude. “I’m on a case.”

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

I hated the fact that I felt tears welling in my eyes. 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 had 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 drew me close to his body. “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. Do you remember?”