Chapter 14 #2
“Do you know what else I dislike? Pineapple. Yuck. Do you like pineapple?” I didn’t wait on his response, knowing one wouldn’t come. “I hate it. Especially on pizza. I don’t understand how people enjoy it. Nicest way possible, I say they’re freaks.”
“Aren’t I lucky I don’t enjoy pineapple either.”
Whipping my head around, I stilled when nervous flutters swarmed in my stomach as I took in the handsome form of my boss. Smiling, I said, “Very lucky.”
Malice smirked. “How’s the packing going, doll?”
“Nearly done. Just need to clear these things and get the monitors away.” I placed the unsecured cords and other bits to the side. Standing, I turned to face him, jolting slightly when I realized he was now right in front of me.
How the hell had I not heard him move?
I looked off to the side, warming with nerves. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze—not without remembering his touch.
“Eyes, doll,” he ordered.
Damn it.
I huffed out a breath and prayed for a little strength as I flicked my gaze to his. His eyes held so much darkness that my skin crawled—not with disgust or fear, but with interest and even want.
I felt the pull to get lost in his stare. But if I looked too long, would I get sucked into that darkness?
He truly is the Devil.
It all felt like too much. I had to tear my eyes away from his.
A tsk fell from his lips before my chin was grabbed and my head tilted back, forcing me to meet his eyes.
“I said I wanted your eyes.”
My cheeks flushed, and his lips pulled into a smug smile.
He’s my boss, I repeated in my head. “So very sorry, boss man,” I managed.
A touch of humor passed over his expression. He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Good girl.”
Oh God.
Ha. I wonder what the Devil here would think about me pleading for God.
A cough behind Malice startled me. My eyes widened, and I moved my head away from his grip to peek around him. Vincent stood at the door with Reaper.
Oh—
That was embarrassing. This man had me in such a trance that I’d forgotten Reaper was even here. Had Vincent been there the whole time too? My boss was dangerous. I needed to keep this strictly boss and employee.
Stepping away from Malice, I waved enthusiastically. “Vincent, hey. Good to see you.”
He chuckled, trying to hide it with a cough. “Hey, Gwen. How’re you feeling this morning?”
Shrugging, I said, “Not half bad. Everyone’s doing well, so I can’t complain.”
“Good.”
Moving over to the two men at the door, I added, “Thank you again for driving Stasia and me back. It was pretty lucky you were in Vegas.”
Vincent grinned before he glanced behind me just as a familiar heat hit my back. Vincent nodded at me. “Yeah, very lucky.”
Wait, did Malice actually—
“Malice.” I turned to face the man. I had to tip my head right back to meet his humor-filled gaze.
“Yes, doll?”
With my hands on my hips, I demanded, “Did you send Vincent to Vegas because I was there?”
“Yes.”
Of course he had. He was too controlling not to. I wanted to be miffed, but I was too damn glad he had.
And really, if I did complain about his overbearing ways, would he listen? I doubted it. He was insistent on protecting his people, and I was just one of many he took care of.
Before I could say anything, Amelia appeared in the doorway. “Gwen—oh, Malice, hey.”
He grinned before moving around me to stop near my sister. “Hello again, Amelia. How are you today?”
“Good,” she replied brightly.
“I’m glad to hear it. Is your new room okay?”
“It’s perfect, thank you.”
“If there’s anything you need, you can just ask, all right?”
I quickly interjected, “You’ve already done enough for us, Malice.”
He walked back to me and got close again. “I can never do enough for you and your family, baby.”
Swoon
Wait, no.
Bad, Gwen.
Ugh.
“Which also reminds me,” he said, “I’ll be having a guard present on premises at both Felix and Amelia’s schools for extra precautions.”
“I don’t—”
His finger against my lips silenced me. “I don’t want to hear complaints. It’s happening no matter what you say.”
“Okay,” I said breathily. How could I resist or argue when he was taking care of my kids?
“Bro-boss,” Vincent called, which, honestly, was damn cute.
“Yes?”
“Sorry, but we’ve got a meeting to get to.”
Malice looked at his watch, and with a huff, he nodded. “Right.”
He turned to me once again and brushed his thumb over my bottom lip before sliding his hand down to the side of my neck and slightly squeezing
“See you later, doll.”
I quickly bit my top lip to suppress the whimper that wanted to slip out.
“Later, stud muffin,” I blurted. Shit, it slipped out again. But this time my sister and his men were here to witness it. “I—uh… I mean, bye, boss man.”
The room erupted into laughter, while Malice just grinned down at me before heading off and patting the top of Amelia’s head on the way out.
“I’m gonna walk them out and have a smoke. Be back,” Reaper informed me before following the others.
“Oh my God, I think that’s the most I’ve heard you say,” I called loud enough for him to hear, earning me a humorous snort in response.
I refocused on Amelia. “Nearly done packing?”
She ignored my question. “Stud muffin?”
Groaning, I palmed my face. “It slipped out.”
She cackled. “At least he didn’t mind.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Do you like him?” my sister asked in a whisper, in case any of them were using their supernatural hearing.
“He’s my boss.”
“Gwen—”
“How about we talk at another time when no one can eavesdrop on us and we don’t have packing to do?”
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Fine. We’re nearly done too.”
“Great.” When she left, I dropped my head back and shook it. My sister would only be asking if I liked him because she sensed something. Shit.