by Lynn Hagen
He would definitely return tomorrow and make Ryan understand.
Devil slid into the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb. He merged into traffic, into the nightlife, as he shut down his emotions and headed to where Jeff now lived.
* * * *
Ryan sat at his desk the following morning, staring blankly at his monitor. He jumped at every noise, and his stomach was twisting so badly that he felt nauseous.
Jeff’s name had been on that list. But why? What had Jeff done to warrant a hit? Ryan was sure being an asshole wasn’t the reason. If that was the case, humankind would be doomed.
He’d tried to call Jeff at least a hundred times last night, but he hadn’t answered. Ryan needed to warn him that a hit man was after him. Jeff was the biggest jerk Ryan knew, but he didn’t deserve to die.
Ryan picked up his desk phone and dialed Henry. He needed to try to make sense of what he’d just discovered.
“Why are you calling me from work?” Henry asked. “Don’t tell me you threw up again.”
Poor Seth.
“I have to talk to you,” Ryan whispered, looking around to make sure no one was paying him any attention. “Can you meet me downstairs?”
“Did Mr. Rogers try to be your neighbor?” Henry laughed. He loved that joke and never tired of using it. Ryan, on the other hand, wished Henry would develop amnesia as far as his boss was concerned.
“Will you just meet me?” Ryan ground out quietly.
He sat up straight when he spotted Mr. Rogers coming out of his office. Ryan plastered on a fake smile, like he was on a business call. His face muscles strained as he waited for Henry to answer him.
Then Seth walked over to Mr. Rogers and looked Ryan’s way. He glared at him before he turned away. Poor Seth. Ryan was gonna spend the rest of his life thinking that, wasn’t he?
“I was on my way to get a pedicure. Can this wait?”
“No,” Ryan said. “My mind was blown away last night and I have to talk to you about it.”
Henry snorted. “You want me to cancel getting my feet all pretty so you can give me the nasty details of what you and Devil did?” Henry paused. “Okay, I will, but this better be juicy or you’re paying for my pedi.”
“Five minutes.” Ryan hung up.
Now all he needed was an excuse to leave the office. Mr. Rogers hadn’t been the friendliest of people when Ryan showed up for work this morning. He’d kept his distance, giving Ryan the stink eye, like he was still pissed Ryan had had the nerve to bring germs to the office.
Ryan stood, pressing a hand to his stomach and hurried toward the bathroom as he grimaced.
“Ryan?” Mr. Rogers called out. “Where’re you going?”
“I think it’s something I ate for breakfast.” Ryan didn’t bother waiting for him to reply. Mr. Rogers wouldn’t chase him down to ask more questions. Ryan had once caught him spraying the entire bathroom down with disinfectant before going into a stall.
No way would he go in there if he thought Ryan had the bubble guts.
He stopped by the door to the stairs, checked over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching him, then hurried down the steps. Ryan spilled out the side of the building into the sunlight. He felt like hissing at the brightness.
After moving to the front doors, he spotted Henry parking his car in the employee parking lot. Ryan hurried over to him and was out of breath by the time he reached Henry. “I have to make this quick.”
“Yes, you do,” Henry said as he sauntered around to the passenger’s side. “Since I can’t have my pedicure, I’m gonna meet Spike for lunch instead.”
“Since when do you do lunch with fuck buddies?”
Henry winked at him. “Since I’m the main course and we’re meeting at his place.”
Ryan didn’t have time for this. If he was gone too long, Mr. Rogers would send someone in the bathroom to look for him. “I found out last night that Devil is a hit man.”
“How?” Henry’s eyes lit up like he’d hit the jackpot on Christmas Morning. “Why do you think he’s an assassin?”
Ryan frowned. “I didn’t say he was an assassin.”
“Same difference,” Henry said. “Now tell me what happened.”
Henry was practically bouncing where he stood, his hands clutched in front of him as he looked at Ryan. He was a little too excited about this.
Ryan stood next to Henry’s car and explained what had happened. He left out the part about having sex with Devil. If he’d told Henry about that, he would want details, and Ryan needed to get back to his cubicle.
“This is wonderful news!” Henry hugged him. “If Jeff’s name is on it, you’ll be rid of Jerk forever.”
Ryan shoved him away. “Are you nuts? I might hate him for what he did, but I don’t want him dead.”
Henry glared at him. “You still love him, don’t you?”
Ryan wanted to bang his head into the car. How was Henry this coldhearted? True, he’d been there for Ryan when Ryan had bawled his eyes out on Henry’s couch the night Jeff had dumped him. He’d sworn to cut off Jeff’s balls, too. But they were talking about a human life here.
“Sorry.” Henry waved his hands in front of him. “I still get steaming mad when I think about what he did to you. But you’re right. Jeff doesn’t deserve to die.” Henry’s expression said he was thinking hard. “But then again, we don’t know why he’s on that list. Maybe he has a secret life you don’t know about.”
Ryan hadn’t thought about that. They’d dated four months, and Jeff had never spent the night. He’d had private conversations in the bathroom, turning the shower on so Ryan could never hear what he was saying.
There were other small things Jeff had done that Ryan had overlooked. But now that he knew a hit man was after his ex, he started to wonder if Jeff really had led a secret life.
“Well,” Ryan said. “I told Devil to never come near me again.”
“Why?” Henry looked as if he’d faint. “You got an assassin as your boyfriend. I think I’d fall in love with Spike if I found out he was a gun for hire.”
“You read way too many romance novels,” Ryan said. “This is real life. I can’t be with a guy who kills people for a living.”
“I think you’re totally overreacting,” Henry said. “As long as your name wasn’t on his list, you have nothing to worry about.”
Ryan checked his watch. Shit. He’d been gone ten minutes. He needed to get back. “I’ll call you when I get home.”
“We’re going to Krave this weekend,” Henry said as he moved to the driver’s door. “You gotta give Devil another chance.”
“Like hell.” Ryan shot across the parking lot and humped it up seven flights. He was dying by the time he slipped onto the floor and made a beeline for the bathroom. Ryan stopped by the door, took a deep breath, and turned to head back to his cubicle.
He ran right into Mr. Rogers. His boss looked him over, then took a few steps back. “Why are you so sweaty and flushed?”
Ryan pressed his hand to his stomach. “Bad sushi.”
“You eat sushi for breakfast?”
Ryan shrugged. It had been the first thing to pop into his head.
Mr. Rogers pulled his sweater over the lower half of his face, his hand hovering near the fire alarm. “Go home, Ryan. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
If this kept up, Ryan would become homeless. He couldn’t afford to take the rest of the day off, but he’d woven the web of lies, and now he had to deal with it.
Ryan took the elevator this time, his thoughts focused on Devil. Why on earth did he suddenly miss the guy? A ball of tension had settled in his chest, and Ryan felt like crying. Maybe he really was coming down with something. He had to be, because they’d had sex once, and now Ryan wanted desperately to see Devil again.
Ryan made it to his building without really remembering the drive. When he stepped off the elevator, Devil was by his door.
“What the fuck?” Ryan nearly shouted. “Didn’t I te
ll you I never wanted to see you again?”
“No,” Devil said, “you told me never to come near you again.”
An overwhelming urge to throw himself into Devil’s arms struck Ryan. He had to force himself to stand still. Not for the first time Ryan was struck stupid by how gorgeous and commanding Devil was, and how that turned him on.
Then reality slapped him silly. “Don’t get technical with me.”
Devil pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against, and moved closer. Ryan felt his heart leap out of his chest and make a run for it. He was totally mesmerized at the man bearing down on him. So much so, that he didn’t try to escape. Why wasn’t he trying to escape? It was as if Devil had some kind of sexual-voodoo–mind-controlling hold on him.
“We need to talk,” Devil said. “There’re things you need to know about.”
Ryan whimpered, unable to snap out of his daze.
Devil took the keys out of his hand, tossed Ryan over his shoulder, grabbed the bag Ryan hadn’t seen by the door, and let himself into Ryan’s unit.
“Put me down!” Ryan shouted just before Devil closed and locked the door.
Chapter Six
Devil refused to put Ryan down until his mate stopped yelling. “Do you really want someone to call the cops?”
His question made Ryan stiffen. “Why, you gonna whack me next if I do?”
Devil dumped Ryan onto the couch, then stood over him, baring his canines. “You’re the safest person on this planet when it comes to me,” he snarled. “Now calm the fuck down so I can explain things to you.”
Ryan hopped up and raced around the couch, where he grabbed the table lamp. He raised it as if ready to smash it over Devil’s head if he came any closer. “What the hell are you?”
“A man with dwindling patience.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. Devil like the fire in them. How his mate was freaked the fuck out but still standing up to him. “You know exactly what I mean.”
Devil tossed aside his bag and shifted. To hell with trying to explain. He would just show Ryan. His mate went slack-jawed and paled as he stared at Devil, the lamp in his hand thumping to the floor.
“How-how can this be?” Ryan asked. “This isn’t possible.”
Devil shifted back into his human form. “I told you there’re things we need to talk about.”
Ryan’s brows shot up. “Y-you’re naked.”
He was also hard, but Devil couldn’t do anything about that. He was near his mate and wanted to reclaim Ryan, wanted to throw him back onto the sofa and shove his dick into Ryan’s ass.
Instead, he reached into his bag, pulled out his underwear, and slid the boxer briefs on. “I’m not gonna waste my time and tell you about my kind, and other preternatural who exist. What I am gonna tell you is that there are humans out there called Hunters, and as the name states, they hunt my kind down and kill us just for being who we are.”
“Jeff.” Ryan’s hand fluttered to his chest. “Is that why his name was on that paper?”
“He’s a murderer,” Devil snapped. “And it’s my job to eliminate him.”
“Did you?” Ryan asked. “Eliminate him, last night?”
Devil wished he had, but Jeff hadn’t been home. He’d waited the entire night, but Jeff had been a no-show. “No, I didn’t.”
Ryan began to rub his forehead so fast that Devil thought it would catch fire from the friction. He crossed the room and grabbed Ryan’s wrist, stopping his mate from rubbing the skin clean off. “There’s something else.”
Ryan’s gaze snapped to his. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
“You’re my mate.” Devil kissed Ryan’s hand before releasing it. “You were made just for me, and last night, I claimed you when I bit you. We’re bound together for all eternity.”
Ryan stumbled. Devil caught him and moved him to the couch, where Ryan collapsed onto the cushions. “I don’t want to fight with you, Ryan.”
Devil was already under enough stress. Between managing his club and tracking down Hunters, he felt wrung-out. He’d gladly taken the job when Christian had decided to form their little group, but killing didn’t come easy to Devil—even if Jeff and the others deserved it.
Ryan looked around the room, watching…stuff. Devil studied his profile, and once again he was amazed at Ryan’s stunning good looks. He wanted to pull Ryan into his arms and tell him to forget about last night—not the claiming part, but the hit-man part—but Ryan seemed a little unstable now, and Devil was afraid if he touched him, Ryan would mentally break.
Ryan hopped up and moved toward the kitchen, but turned toward Devil, still not looking his way. “I need coffee. Do you want coffee? I think I might have tea. Or soda.” He blinked a few times. “I need coffee.”
He spun around and ran into the wall, then cursed as he hurried into the other room. Devil scrubbed his hands over his face, his frustration mounting.
Ryan returned almost immediately. “I forgot, I don’t drink coffee.” He walked back to Devil and handed him a Coke.
“Are you okay?” Devil set the can on the coffee table. “I know this is a lot to process.”
Devil hated that his mate looked confused and lost, and that there was nothing he could do until Ryan came to terms with what Devil had just revealed. He’d never had to tell anyone about his world before, and now he saw why nonhumans hid what they were.
Not that Ryan was taking this as badly as Devil thought he would, but most humans liked things in a tidy little box, easily explainable, nothing too frightening. But Devil’s world wasn’t neat and tidy, and if the general population ever found out about it…he shuddered at what might happen.
“Come here.” Devil patted the cushion next to him, watching as different emotions crossed through Ryan’s eyes.
He wasn’t sure if it was instinct for Ryan to obey, or if he moved of his own accord, but he sat, tucked his hands between his knees, and studied the can of soda as if it was the world’s biggest mystery.
“It’s okay, Ryan.” He grabbed Ryan’s hand and placed it on his knee. Devil wasn’t wearing any pants, and the skin-to-skin contact was electrifying.
Ryan’s eyes finally met Devil’s, and his fingers dug into Devil’s thigh. He could tell Ryan was trying to understand, trying to calm down. Devil took that as a good sign. Ryan’s breathing became more relaxed, lighter. He didn’t look like he was about to pass out anymore.
Devil knew it was because Ryan was touching him. His mate needed the connection, to feel grounded. Devil ran his hand up Ryan’s arm and rested it on Ryan’s nape, then used his thumb to rub circles against his skin.
Ryan’s shoulders slumped as he let out a ragged breath. Now Devil felt more confident that Ryan wouldn’t break. He pulled his mate onto his lap and petted him, using soothing movements while he made Ryan lay his head on Devil’s chest.
“Better?”
“Not by a long shot,” Ryan said. “But…I needed this.”
“I know.” Devil rested his chin on Ryan’s dark hair. “I needed this, too.”
Ryan hadn’t been the only one feeling lost, adrift in chaotic emotions. Devil had needed to feel just as grounded, needed the connection and the smell of Ryan’s citrusy scent.
Devil looked down and saw Ryan’s eyes were closed. He loved the fact Ryan was so relaxed with him. It meant he trusted Devil, whether Ryan realized that fact or not.
Resting his head on the back of the sofa, Devil closed his eyes, feeling as if he was finally able to take a breath.
* * * *
Ryan waking to find Devil gone was starting to become a habit. Only now, Ryan didn’t run after him, panicked that Devil had left and glad he had an excuse to see the man again. He hadn’t left his cell phone this time.
Ryan still felt lonely, though, like he couldn’t breathe because Devil wasn’t there. He pushed up from the couch and looked over the back, just to make sure Devil hadn’t gone into the kitchen. Nope, the kitchen was empty.
He should
be relieved that Devil was gone. What he’d told Ryan was impossible, only Ryan had seen Devil chant into a wolf right in front of him. A freaking wolf.
The thought made Ryan want to lie back down and curl into the cushions, but he’d never been the type to hide from life. He’d hidden from people on occasion, but never life.
His cell phone was still tucked in his back pocket. Ryan grabbed it and sat up, dialing Henry as he bounced his leg, then waited for him to answer. Ryan had to tell someone what was going on, though he suspected he wasn’t supposed to blab to a single soul about what Devil was.
Wait. Where had he gone? Had Devil gone back to Jeff’s house to complete his mission? Ryan jumped up from the couch and paced. Why wasn’t Henry answering his phone?
When it dumped to voice mail, Ryan tried again. He never left voice mails. He just repeat-dialed until the person he was calling answered or he just gave up.
“Now is not a good time.” Henry sounded out of breath. “Please don’t tell me you’re having a crisis, because I just had a dick in my mouth.”
That was an image Ryan didn’t need. Not where Henry was concerned. He was like a brother to Ryan, and who liked imagining their family members having sex? “I guess Devil turning into an animal isn’t important.”
“You want to give me details about your sex life now?” Henry snorted. “Call me back in an hour and I’m all ears.”
“I’m not talking about how he acted in bed,” Ryan said before Henry hung up on him. “He actually turned into a wolf. Get down here right now.”
“Have you been drinking?” Henry asked. “Are you drunk-dialing me?”
“Never mind.” Ryan hung up, completely frustrated that Henry had been getting dicked-down while he was freaking out. Ryan needed him.
He spun when he heard a key turn in the lock. Henry was the only person who had a key to Ryan’s apartment—and he was one floor up getting laid.
Devil strolled in carrying a bag and set Ryan’s keys on the bookshelf by the door. “I got dinner.”
Ryan smelled french fries. He hadn’t even thought of food until Devil set the bag on the coffee table, and now that was all he wanted as his stomach rumbled.
