Sweet Temptation

I allow my gaze to flicker to the girl, whose eyes are red-rimmed. Her light hair is pulled into loose pigtails. Her feet dangle, not touching the floor, in worn Mary-Jane-style shoes. I step back, causing Father’s eyes to glow like a stoplight. Marissa and the girl do not have the ability to see his eyes redden, and I wish I didn’t either.

“Is there a problem?” he asks through clenched teeth.

The answer should be “No, sir.” I could try to force myself. I could try to think of someone else. A

“Kaidan,” Father whispers, and that one word is laden with warning.

I dare to lift my eyes to his and open my mouth to speak the words. “I will do anything you ask of me that’s in my physical power, Father. You know that. But I ca

“Shall I get you a Viagra?” he asks. I nearly scoff. Oh, yes, that’s just what I need. Artificial lust. Marissa cackles in mirth at his cruel teasing.

“Anything but this,” I whisper.

“Are you morally against it?” He edges toward me, fire in his eyes. “Do you think the services Marissa is providing to hardworking clients are beneath you?”

“Of course not,” I lie.

“Are you like the other prudes in society who think their brand of lust is the only acceptable one?” He is right in my face now, and my heart is racing.

“No, sir. Lust is lust.”

“Then what is the problem?” he shouts, and spittle forms at the edges of his mouth.

Marissa is gri

Father continues his tirade. “Did you not tell me you can feel lust for anyone?”

Shite. I should have never told him that.

“Not anyone, sir. Only those who lust for me first.”

Yeah, nasty little fact about me. Anyone, and I mean anyone who blazes a red aura for me . . . I will find something to fancy about them as well. Sexy ankles, full lips, shiny hair, you name it. It’s as if my body is hardwired to do my job with no excuses. But this child has a few years before she’ll know what lust is.

Father huffs through his nose, nostrils flaring. This is it. This is where he’ll give me an ultimatum. Take the girl to my room this instant or dig myself a nice burial hole somewhere out in the woods. I can’t believe it’s come to this.

Marissa stands and saunters over, placing a hand on Father’s shoulder.

“Darling, let him be.” She pushes herself in so she’s sandwiched between us, her arse against Father and her heavy chest against mine. Father growls and takes her hips as she runs her hands over my shoulders and down my arms. Her aura goes red as she stares up at me with bloodred lips and black-lined eyes. My stupid body reacts.

Marissa laughs and rubs against me. “He can’t help it if he prefers grown women.”

I hate her.

“I will train the girl myself, luv,” Father says against her ear.

I hate him, as well.

Father snaps his fingers twice in the air and shouts, “Raul!” In a moment the driver stands in the doorway. “Ready the car for Marissa.”

“Yes, sir.” The driver bows his head and hurries off.

Father glares at me and then flicks his hand to tell me to get out of his sight. As I turn to go I glimpse the girl with the sweet in her cheek and the sad eyes.

I hate my life.

CHAPTER FIVE

Road Trip with a Nun

“Come and take a walk on the wild side . . .

’Cause you and I, we were born to die.”

—“Born to Die” by Lana Del Rey

After the events of last night, I need to focus on protecting myself and staying alive. Nevertheless, here I am, humoring this girl who refuses to do what’s best for her. Driving her across the country to meet her demon father for the first time.

Yeah, there’s no part of this arrangement that’s smart, is there?

Patti, although she seemed to loathe the idea of A

I turn up the stereo, but my thoughts are louder.

It’s like A

I glance over at this girl, this naive Neph, void of ego, and I shake my head. We drive with the music blaring. I expected my playlist to be too hard-core for her, but she seems perfectly content, even humming along with some of the songs. When “Sex and Candy” by Marcy Playground comes on I see her listening intently. She meets my eye at the chorus, a splotchy blush ru

Although the landscape is boring, she stares out the windows like she’s never seen anything so beautiful. As if she’s on some incredible adventure with me. She’s clueless about the dangers. Even after I’ve told her, straight up, that she can’t fuck about with the Dukes. They are ruthless, evil bastards and they will kill her. She acts as if she’s safe with me. As if I can protect her from them.

That causes some idiotic thing inside my chest to swell and strengthen.

I think A

The thing is, as adorable as her i

But I have to be smooth about it. I have to win her over. For both our sakes, I need to shag her like mad by the end of this road trip.

A

There’s only one way to get a girl like A

A twinge of guilt fills my bowels, but it’s fleeting, gone before my next breath. It must be done. Eventually she’ll thank me.

Day one goes well, I think. And I manage to get her to agree on a single room at the motel instead of separate ones. She’s into me. Drawn against her will. And I gladly take advantage of it.