The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(32)

She could see that.

“Remember, Mina. Bad things don’t just disappear.”

Their mouths were so close. She could almost taste him.

“How about we get you out of that robe…” Luke murmured.

No, no, stripping hadn’t been part of the deal. A kiss. Just a kiss.

“…and we put you into some real clothes.”

Her eyes widened.

“I know…I’m actually getting you into clothing. Trust me, I have issues with this, too,” he said and his expression was wry.

Her lips curved and her heart seemed to soften a bit. “You are not nearly as big and bad as people say.”

His gaze was on her mouth. “Oh, I am. Never doubt that.”

He sounded so certain but…Mina gave a quick shake of her head. “You’ve been good to me. You have every reason to rage and to hate me.” They’d hardly had the best beginning. “But you aren’t. You’re helping me.” She just didn’t get that. No one ever went out of their way to help her, not without getting something big in return. “Why?”

“You interest me,” Luke replied softly. The words were spoken as if he were puzzling through the reasoning himself. “I laugh with you. I…can’t figure out what move you’ll make next.” He nodded. “You surprise me, and I find that I like that.”

Her smile widened. “Careful…or you may find that you like me, too.”

His stare was still on her mouth. “I may.” His hand lifted. Touched her cheek. “You have a dimple, right here.”

His touch made her heart jerk.

“And another to match on the other side.” His eyes gleamed. “Everything else about you seems built for sin and seduction. You’re a walking fantasy, and then I see the dimples…”

Her smile slipped.

His gaze rose to meet hers. “And I think of innocence. Dark creatures aren’t known for their innocence.”

“I don’t want to be dark.” Wasn’t that the whole reason she’d come to him? Why she’d risked so much? “The Eye can change who I am.”

“No.” He seemed sad, for her. “Nothing changes who we are. The Eye will only make you weaker. You’ll still be the same on the inside. We are what we were always born to be.”

So…what? She was born to be an instrument of destruction? A weapon to be used and abused? “I don’t believe that. Anyone can change.”

He pulled away from her. “I have some clothes in my room that you can use.” He turned away.

She didn’t follow, not yet. “Just how long have you had the clothes? As long as you had this robe?” She was figuring another former…guest…had left it. “If so, then why am I just learning about a clothing option now?” And not hours ago?

He looked back, his lips curving. “Because I liked you in the robe. You’ve got killer legs.”

She growled at him.

“But I don’t exactly want to share the view of you this way.” His eyes gleamed for a moment, power flaring. “And if your FBI ex comes around again, he won’t find you this way.”

Luke was almost out of her Chamber of Horrors, so Mina hurried after him. “How did he not find me this time?”

“I made the entrance to the tunnel vanish.” He spoke so casually, as if it were the easiest thing in the world to do. Making a whole tunnel vanish, no biggie. “Mortal eyes couldn’t see it. He walked right past it and never even knew it was there.”

She was just a step behind Luke then. He was fast, but—

He whirled toward her. His face had gone cold and hard. Such a sudden change. “We should be very clear about one thing.”

“Ah, what’s that?” And what was up with his sudden mood change?

“I won’t ever be cutting out my heart for you.”

Her own heart stilled. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

“Really?” His dark head cocked as Luke studied her. “Isn’t that what you told him to do? The FBI ex-lover? Wicked, wicked Mina.” But he sounded…admiring.

She didn’t speak again. Just hurried out of that tunnel and back into the luxurious walls of his house. He thought she was bad to her core, and maybe that was why she…interested him. But if he knew the truth? If he knew that she’d been a victim, not some powerful paranormal force, would he react the same way?

Maybe she wouldn’t interest him then. Maybe she’d lose her appeal.

So she’d play the role he wanted, for now. And she’d try to figure out a way to escape—escape Garrick and escape Luke.

They walked toward his curving staircase, and when she reached for the banister, she caught a glimpse of Rayce. He was smashing something in his hand.

“Got them all, Luke,” Rayce called, his voice almost cheerful.

She frowned. “Got what?”

“The bugs your boyfriend left behind,” Rayce told her with a quick nod. “Don’t worry, they won’t hear anything you two do now.”

“First, Garrick is not my boyfriend. Not even close.” She had a flash of pain. Of terror. Of herself begging. Her trembling fingers pressed to the banister. “And next…bugs? The guy left listening devices here?”