Deal with the Devil

13. Chapter twelve

Chapter twelve:

Amelia

“Hey, you think those people are following us?” Franny asked, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder.

Not a-fucking-gain!

Amelia, without a shred of hesitation, whipped around on her heel in the middle of the sidewalk. Her agent froze, wide eyed and horrified. Amelia faced down two dark hoodie wearing teens, staring at her with heavy, dark rings around their eyes. They gasped and rushed forward. “Oh my dragons, you’re her! You’re Aurora Darkwater!”

“Uh?” She blanked as they pulled out two ratty, obviously loved copies of Grifters Hollow . Her heart skipped a beat and tears welled up in her eyes. “Yeah, that’s me!”

“Can we please, oh please, have your autograph?” They both shoved back their hoods to show rainbow colored hair and her logo stuck to hair clips. “We were coming to the event but we didn’t have the change to buy the signing portion.”

“Oh, you sweet things, yes! Of course! Franny, do you have a pen?” Amelia immediately melted as she turned toward her agent. The older Fae beamed with wicked glee as she pulled out a fistful of different color pens. Both the teens picked a pen color and Amelia signed their books with their names, a thank you note, and her name. Then, for good measure, Franny got a picture with them and Amelia tried not to sob.

It’s the first time…anyone’s recognized her. It wasn’t like her photo wasn’t on the back cover, and her profile on the publisher’s website. But, it was the first time anyone asked for one in person either. It made her giddy beyond belief . Does this mean I’ve made it? She was flushed and dabbing her eyes dry with napkins as Franny consoled her on the way to the bookstore. Ruining the makeup would crush her as Penny worked hard on it. Brayden even picked out her dress and heels for her to wear to the event. She’d worked up to this. Martin had her manuscript, the publisher had set a publishing date, and were having her do a small event today to announce it. There was supposed to be minimal press, as she wasn’t a huge name, but it was bigger than her last release.

Her heart swelled to the size of a hot air balloon when she stepped into Mumford’s Books and Drinks with Franny at her side and saw a sea of people already lined up outside. The roar of applause and calling of her name was overwhelming. Franny shoved her inside and into the arms of her bosses and coworkers. It wasn’t a secret anymore that she was an author. None of her coworkers let it change how they treated her. It did, however, make them favor suggesting her books to people saying Aurora Darkwater was a local author.

Eloise cooed and cuddled her, walking her to the mini stage they’d made for the event and got her set up with the microphone and podium. Amelia was so nervous, she blanked the moment people were let inside the store. Thankfully, Franny took the stage first, introducing her and her previous books. Amelia’s attention was on a massive display at the front. When she walked in, it was full of her books. Before she hit the stage, it was empty. A feeling of otherness fell over her in a tingling, hollow wave. She wasn’t sure what to do or how to react.

When she stepped up to the front of the stage, she only saw blurry faces before her. Her legs were wet noodles. She planted them at the center of the stage and went through the words glued to the inside of her forehead. After a moment, the nerves eased up and she was laughing, smiling, and speaking to at least a hundred people. A sea of people who came specifically to see her? Baffling! Her heart had exploded and she was an animated corpse of a woman when her speech about the book came to a close. People cheered as she was guided to the back where the romance section was. A long table with a display behind it was set up.

Eloise got her into a seat and Evelynne made sure she had a water bottle, a mug of pens, and took a picture of her there at the table before the people were allowed to approach. Franny sat beside her, helping with any transactions for the pre-order while she focused on signing. So many faces flashed before her. Her cheeks ached from smiling as she took countless photos and talked with her readers. They were varied from teenagers to younger adults just like she was, to moms eager for the next mystery. She met a few men who were excited for another good story, and a few older women who liked her ferocity.

Amelia was head down, finishing up signing another book, when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She glanced up, smiling to the teen satyr with an arm full of her books, and saw a dark shadow looming behind her. As the satyr dipped out of the way, Amelia’s throat closed up.

In all black, heavy trench coat, button down, vest, slacks, and a fox faced handle of a cane in hand, Knox Zrazduel stepped up to the table. Maevin jutted in beside him and slid a copy of Grifters Hollow into her hands. Maevin teased, “Big fan.”

“Hi,” Amelia blurted out, blinking rapidly.

“Amelia, this is the last of them, so I’m going to get cleaned up.” Eloise whispered somewhere to her right as the event was wrapping up around her.

The author was too stunned to speak. Her mouth flapped open and closed before she jerked to life and looked down at the book. “Shall I personalize this for Maevin or Knox?”

“Maevin,” Maevin giggled evilly, “Knox already has signed copies.”

Her heart slammed into her chest with abandon. “Ah, I had wondered who ordered the complete set earlier this month.”

“What can I say? I’m a big fan.” His soft voice ran delicious shivers down her back. It made her hands jerk and her signature sloppier than it usually was. Her stomach was a knotted jungle of vines that grew progressively worse as she glanced back up to them. She slid Maevin his copy and the air in her lungs was ripped from her chest. Knox loomed over the table, staring down at her with glowing gold eyes.

“I—uh…you’re here. Must mean I’ve done something naughty? Huh? Cause you weren’t supposed to see me again.” The words flew out of her mouth without permission. He smirked and set her core ablaze. All the emotions, all the feelings, all the longing returned. Like a heavy boot kicking in a rickety door, the desire said ‘ I’m back, bitches ’ and she was tingling between her thighs.

He bent at the waist, reaching a gloved hand out and cupping her chin. Just like he did so often that night. Two fingers under her chin, his thumb to her lower lip, he trapped her mouth open. She could feel Franny staring at her in a bizarre mix of confusion and scandal. Maevin jumped in, obviously brought as a buffer. He stole her agent’s attention away from the sensual display to his fabulous conversation about the pre-order and how many they had. But Amelia’s attention was fixed on Knox’s face, unable to tear away from him. He slid his thumb past her teeth, and she instinctively sucked on his glove helplessly.

He chuckled, “Good pet.”

She bit his thumb, nose scrunched in rage. He laughed harder, letting her scrape her teeth against his gloves as he tugged his thumb free. She spat at his hands lightly, “Don’t you dare.”

He didn’t get to just waltz back in like a tall glass of water and get what he wanted! Not after…

“You ask if you’ve been naughty, what do you think.” He nodded his chin at the large poster hung behind her as a display.

She furrowed her brows before jerking to look behind her. Suddenly, she remembered. Oh, right, that . She laughed nervously, returning her attention to him. “Oh, right, I mean…it’s not… that naughty .”

“I think that snippet you sent out in your newsletter says otherwise,” he purred, sitting back on his heels. Both his hands settled over the fox head of his cane.

“You subscribed to my newsletter?” She quirked a brow.

“I told you, I’m a big fan.” The smugness oozing out of him should have pissed her off. All it did, however, was soothe the ache in her chest. He’d kept his part of the deal; he’d stayed out of her life, but he’d never stopped thinking about her. A person who didn’t care wouldn’t subscribe to her silly newsletter or buy signed copies of her books.

“I…uh…I took some creative liberties with the story.” She slipped from her chair, flattening the skirt against her hips. His eyes immediately drank in her body, and it made the heat in between her legs crank up to an inferno. As she rounded the table, he clearly liked what he saw, as the same hunger returned to his gaze. She crossed her arms under her chest. “Why are you here?”

“You broke a rule, so I’m clearly owed payment for you breaking the agreement.” He shrugged nonchalantly, like he wasn’t playing with her emotions.

“I didn’t break a rule! I didn’t do anything wrong,” she spat back.

“Mmm, I beg to differ,” he growled under his breath, stepping closer. She inhaled sharply through her nose and regretted it. Leather, clean laundry, and a hint of spiced cider filled her nose, reminding her of his home. The horse ride through the trees, his crackling office, the feel of his arms wrapped around her in the night, it tugged at her heart strings.

“What do you want?” she breathed, unable to get her lungs to cooperate after she spoke.

He closed what little distance there was between them. His fingers and slightly damp thumb were back around her chin. “Don’t ask me that, pet.”

“Too bad,” she huffed. “I’m asking. Knox, what do you want? You came here for a reason, I know you did so…what is it?”

Her heart teetered on a very dangerous tight rope as he tilted her chin. Their lips brushed, just a breath away from kissing. Just like he knew she liked. He teased her lips with his, stealing all her air. Her eyes fluttered closed. His lips curled in that smug, I’ve caught you, smirk as he pressed their noses together. “What are you doing later?”

“What?” she whimpered.

“After this, what are you doing? I want to know.”

Amelia’s eyes fluttered open, finding him staring directly into her soul. Her hands fell to her side, clenched fists in order to clear the haze that was Knox Zrazduel from her veins. It didn’t work. All she wanted to do was kiss him. Have him drag her to the back room and show her how naughty she’d been. All the dark, needy thoughts returned, and she knew for sure she’d never gotten over him.

“If you did your research, you would know that answer.” She slipped from his touch.

Chase me.

“Correct me, if I’m wrong, but there’s an after party tonight? At Mumfords. The whole bar was booked out earlier this week under the name Darkwater?”

Caught me. Her heart skipped a beat. “You’re correct.”

“However, I think it’s invitation only, correct?” He cocked his head.

Don’t. Do it. Don’t do it! Give him the fucking invite! Don’t do this to yourself!

Her insides battled it out for dominance as she stared at him breathlessly. One moment, she considered how bad this would be for her mental health, the next, she rummaged through her purse and ripped out an invite. She handed it over to him, practically shoving it into his chest. He grunted. She stepped away from him, pulling her purse up onto her shoulder.

“It’s at six pm, snacks and food are free. That invite is for you and one other.” She glanced at Franny, already fully packed up.

Knox reached out and her body tensed. Brushing the back of his fingers across her cheek, he tucked hair behind her ear. She gasped as he traced her jugular down to the crook of her neck. When his fingers fell away, Amelia wasn’t sure what to do or say. They stared at each other, neither one ready to move.

Then, she decided, it needed to be her. “Hopefully, you’ll tell me what you really want there.”

She stomped from the spot and booked it for the backroom. Not caring who was behind the swinging doors, she stumbled into the hall and collapsed against the shelving unit holding the paper towels. As much as her heart was screaming to go back out there, demand he come with her…her head was screaming to rip that invitation out of his hand. Amelia hadn’t gotten over him and she surely wouldn’t now!

Heaving for air, she stared up into the rafters of the back room. When did her life stop being an average existence? How cruel was fate for giving her Knox, ripping him away, then dangling him in front of her to see if she’d give in or if she’d do the right thing and let him go.

This would be so much fucking easier if he wasn’t Knox!