The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(17)

“What, exactly, do you think you know about me?” Now he just seemed vaguely curious.

She licked her lips and tried to figure out what to say. And what not to say. “You rule the dark.”

He waved his hand vaguely in the air. “Go on…”

Mina glanced over her shoulder. Oh, but the temptation to run again was strong. She could get down to the dock, dive into the water…

“And find yourself surrounded by sharks.”

She gasped. “You can read my thoughts!”

He laughed again. A low, rumbling laugh that she shouldn’t have found sexy, but she did. Dammit, she did.

“No, Mina.” He glanced over his shoulder at her. “But I am starting to figure out the way that you think. You might fear me, but I learned you fear the sharks even more.”

“They have a lot of teeth,” she mumbled. “Sharp teeth.”

“So do I.”

She frowned at him.

“Come take a look at the view. You’ll enjoy it.”

Well, okay, fine. She took her time sidling up to the balcony. The wind hit her again, coming strong off the ocean, but she still had her death grip on the robe, so she didn’t flash anymore skin. Her breath eased out as she looked at the sun. At the waves. At the beauty all around her. “Incredible,” the word slipped from her, but it was true. The view, the scene—it was as if they were thousands of miles away from everyone else. The water just stretched. The waves rolled. She’d never seen anything so gorgeous.

“I agree,” he said, his voice a rasp.

Her head turned and she found Luke staring at her, not the view. He wasn’t smiling. Just…watching her.

Her heart stuttered. “You’re still angry.”

“Because you lied to me, manipulated me with your power, locked me in a cell and gassed me?”

Mina nodded.

He leaned toward her. His fingers slid under her jaw. A delicate touch, one she didn’t expect from him. “No, sweetheart, I’m not angry. I’m impressed. There’s a difference.”

He was—Mina frowned. “What now?”

“How many people…” His fingers slid down her throat, pausing over her frantically beating pulse. “Do you think have ever managed to get the drop on me like that?”

“Probably not many.”

“Only two. You and…” He stopped, clearing his throat. “Well, my * of a twin, but we won’t talk about him right now.”

Oh, no. He had a twin? “That part of the story is true, too?”

His fingers stopped their gentle caress. “You’ve heard about him?”

His touch made her feel funny. Hot. Shivery. Weird. “Could you move your hand?”

His brows lifted.

“Please?”

“Am I hurting you?” His fingers were still around her throat.

“No.”

“Then why move?”

Her eyes closed. “Because I think you’re turning me on. And it’s weird…wanting you when I’m scared. Wanting you when all you’re doing is touching me on my throat.”

He’d gone silent.

“I think you’re using your power against me now.” It was easier to speak when she didn’t have to look him in the eye. “Payback, huh? To see what it’s like to be vulnerable? To need someone else, to want someone, against your instincts. To—”

He laughed again. Only the sound was richer. Darker.

Her eyes opened. For just an instant, she could have sworn that she saw the flash of gold in his dark gaze. Gold…like the panther shifter’s stare. But then the flash was gone.

“I’m not making you want me. I’m not using any power against you.” His lips brushed lightly against hers. “What you feel is real desire. No tricks. You want me, Mina. You want to strip off that robe and have sex with me right here, right now.”

He was wrong. “That isn’t me. I’m not like that.” Despite what everyone thought. Despite what she’d made others think. “I’m not supposed to want you.”

He kissed her again. His tongue slid past her lips, pushed into her mouth. Tasted her.

A moan broke from Mina.

“Why not?” he rasped against her mouth. “I want you.”

She had to stop this. Stop him. Stop herself. Her hands flew up and pressed to his chest. “Don’t do this to me! Stop punishing me!”

But he shook his head. “Desire isn’t a punishment, especially not between us.”

She realized that he was telling the truth. “You…aren’t doing anything to me?”

“No.”

Her heartbeat seemed to echo in her ears.

“You just want me.” He shrugged. “Most women do, so don’t beat yourself up over that.”

Jerk.

“Only I don’t want them…” Luke continued in the next moment. “Not the way I want you. You’re…something different. Something special.”

She’d spent most of her life thinking she was a freak, and any “special” talk had always been an insult. But this was different. His voice, the way he looked at her…

“I think you’re something extraordinary.”

She swallowed twice. “I’m a siren. My voice makes humans lose their control. I’m…evil.”