Sweet Temptation (The Sweet Trilogy #4)(20)

“This must be the part where I take a cold shower?”

Can’t she sense my need? Doesn’t she care at all that it feels as if I’ve been racked by a giant?

Apparently not. “Good idea” is all she says.

Cold. Hearted.

I trudge stiffly to the bathroom and climb into the shower, but it does nothing for me. I cannot believe this is happening. I shouldn’t have lost control while we kissed. I should have taken my bloody time and gotten her so hot she was begging for more. How the hell did the little nun get the upper hand over me? I am reduced to showering with myself, which is an inadequate substitute for what I need. But then I remember the girl at the hotel desk who checked me in. Midtwenties. Bored out of her gourd. Completely hot for me.

Brilliant.

I dry myself and walk into our room stark naked, but she doesn’t even peek. The girl is infuriating. I quickly dress, find a room key, and open the door.

Anna perks up from her bed. “Where are you going?”

Look who suddenly cares. I frown at her, hoping she feels a bit of the pain and frustration I’m experiencing.

“I have to work,” I say.

“Have to? Or want to?”

Anger and indignation rip through me. This girl has no clue, and she has the nerve to try to make me feel bad? She’s never feared for her life. She’s never given in to her dark side and then experienced the physical impossibility of ignoring it ever again. I cannot stand here and listen to her.

“Why should that matter, Anna? I’m going now.”

“Where will you go?” she all but shouts. She sounds a bit desperate, which gives me some amount of satisfaction.

I’m glad to tell her, and I hope it makes her share a bit of my agony. “I’ll go visit the girl at the front desk, just as she suggested. So unless you’ve changed your mind . . . ?” I give her one last chance, and I watch as envy and sadness fight for space in her aura. But she only shakes her head.

“Didn’t think so,” I mutter. Then I flick off the light and shut the door, checking to be sure it locks behind me.

Her words ring in my ears, but I shake my head to rid myself of them. I enjoy my work most of the time. And tonight I definitely will.

I walk with purpose down the pavement to the front office, where I can see the girl through the glass window. She’s on her mobile. When she catches sight of me her eyes go wide and she quickly hangs up, smoothing her curls down. She greets me with a big smile and a heavy Southern accent.

“Hi there . . . Mr. Rowe, right? Everything okay?”

“Yes. Just Kaidan, please.” I swish damp hair from my eyes. I’m not really in the mood for a detailed seduction. I’d prefer to make this quick, so I delve into my bag of douchery. “I’m trying to give my sister some time to herself in the room. Our grandmother just passed, and she’s taking it hard.”

The girl puts a hand against her chest, and her aura fills with sadness. “Oh, bless her heart. And yours. I’m sorry about your grandma.”

I nod, looking sad, which isn’t hard since I’m feeling rather strange in general. I lean against the counter and wonder if Anna’s okay in the room. I do a quick auditory scan, but it’s quiet in there. I don’t see any demon whisperers about, doing their rounds for the Dukes.

“Hope I’m not bothering you . . .” I look at her name tag. “Vanessa.”

“Not at all!” she says brightly. “You can call me Nessa. It gets boring here, so I’m glad to have company. I work for my uncle. This place is kind of . . .” She sticks out her tongue and makes a face.

“A job is a job, right?” I lean against the counter, crossing my arms. I cringe against a bout of needling pain. “I’m glad to have some company right now, too. It’s been a rough week.”

We lock eyes and I hold her stare until her aura lights up, bright red, then I brazenly let my eyes drop to her lips, down to her chest, back up to her eyes. She is besotted, holding her breath, lust thumping through her. I let out a dry chuckle and run a hand through my hair. “What’s the most fun you’ve ever had here at work, Nessa?”

“Um . . .” She laughs nervously. “I don’t know.”

“Because I could really use some fun right now if you’re up for it.”

“I . . .” More nervous laughing. “I mean, what kind of . . .”

I’ve taken a huge gamble that I might overwhelm or frighten her, but so far she hasn’t run screaming. She’s nervous and excited, probably wondering if I mean what she thinks I mean. She licks her dry lips and glances over her shoulder at the small office with the door ajar.

“That your uncle’s office?” I ask.

“Yeah.” She grins.

I slowly walk around the front desk, our eyes locked, and her aura jumps with orange and red when I reach her.

She licks her lips again. “Just so we’re on the same page, Mr., I mean, Kaidan, what kind of fun are we, um . . .” I step closer as she babbles. “Talking about?”

“The kind that will take my mind off everything, and make you very happy,” I say in a low voice. I hold back the beast with all my energy and wait for her to give me the go.

“Oh,” she breathes. She tentatively touches my forearm, and lets her fingers travel down to my hand, where we join fingers.