Tangled Sin (A Dark Realm Novel) (5 page)

A tiny smile ghosted Saia’s lips, her dimple flickering to life.

Mike stilled. And Riley knew exactly what Mike saw.

She stood there, all designer black threads, tanned skin, and wide-eyed interest, taking in the snapshots of clients in various stages of their ink-work pinned to the wall.

Except, Riley saw more, because damn it, how could he not?

Thickly lashed, curious, gold-flecked brown eyes. A tempting full mouth set in alluring golden skin, and a waterfall of inky hair that brushed her lower back. Gorgeous. Sexy—

No. She was a complication he couldn’t afford.

Pandora eyed Saia, then him, and grinned. She probably thought she finally had an answer as to why he hadn’t turned up that night three weeks ago. Or why he was no longer interested in their non-relationship when she called him.

Hell, his mind, his thoughts, even his damn dick was centered only on this female. Nothing else mattered.

“A dragonfly?” Saia repeated.

At the sound of her husky voice, Mike sauntered closer, interest of a different kind darkening his eyes. Riley cut Mike a deadly look, stopping the male in his tracks. He grasped Saia’s hand and dragged her out. She stumbled, fell against him, and grabbed the back of his shirt. “Darn it, Riley, slow down or I'm going to break an ankle.”

He didn't respond, couldn’t. But he slowed. He could still feel her warm, feminine body pressed against his, it took all his control not to push her against the wall and devour her with his mouth, his cock—he wanted her so damn bad.

By the dark gods, he was losing his mind.

Outside, the cool night air did little to ease the tension in him. A cab glided to a halt at the curb a moment later.

Riley opened the door, and Saia slid inside. He followed. As the cab took off, he felt her shiver. It wasn’t even that cold. So fragile. She wouldn’t last a second in Stygia.

“Don’t you have a coat?” he demanded.

“Oh, I do, but someone dragged me out of the bar without giving me much choice.”

Dammit, of course, he had. He cocked a brow. “I thought it was the other way around.”

She laughed. “Touché. Niki will rescue it and give it to my brothers—which they will absolutely hate—and that makes me very happy.”

Despite his inner turmoil, Riley found himself smiling. She liked annoying her siblings. “Guess I'm going to have to warm you, then.”

She cut him a sharp look, then snorted. “Yeah, right. I'm fine.”

The fact that she didn't want him doing so spurred him on. He dropped his arm around her shoulder and yanked her close, startling a soft gasp from her. After a stiff second or two, she relaxed into him.

Aaaand
realized too late he’d made a huge fucking mistake!

As the cab made its way toward St Louis Street, his body wound tighter.

Her scent, the tormenting feel of her curvy body pressing against his, became his own personal hell. Wanting, yet knowing he wouldn’t touch her, no matter what the hell his body demanded. This was his penance, to suffer from unfulfilled lust because he’d given in to temptation and tasted her.

“Riley?”

“Yeah?”

She pulled away from him. Hesitated, then said, “There’s an early Christmas party, a fundraiser of sorts at my family home. Would you come…as my date?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Genuine confusion crossed her face. “It’s only for the weekend.”

In all the nine hells,
she
would
ask him why not? For her, it was just a weekend interlude. For him, he wanted—hell, he had no idea what it was he wanted. Or why she affected him this way. He only understood from the moment he’d seen her, she consumed his thoughts.

No, this was insanity. He had dangerous enemies, and he refused to play around with her life, put her at risk.

The moment the cab slid to a halt outside their apartment building, he got out and took a deep breath of brisk night air, failing to clear her scent from his mind, his senses. Without a word, he saw her into the building’s courtyard and turned to leave.

“Riley, wait.” She stopped him, her fingers lightly touching his forearm. His own hand clenched. “Is it because of her? Pandora?”

“That’s none of your business.”

She jerked away. Hurt filled her eyes and made him feel like a heel. Then she straightened her spine, her expression smoothing out. “You are right, it isn’t.” She walked off, the hem of her short dress flirting with her golden thighs.

Yeah, she’d know now that he was a bastard, and would stop haunting his bloody life.

***

A half hour later, Riley stood at the entrance of Satire. Arms crossed over his chest, he surveyed the pool tables, the seating area, and the bar, hoping Trevor was somewhere around.

The urge to rip into something grew, but he had no outlet for whatever was fueling his anger.

His gaze lit on Saia’s brothers, who were seated at a table near the back of the bar. Along with the human Saia had wanted to avoid so badly that she’d nearly gotten herself killed. His dislike for the male grew. Even with the distance, the music bouncing off the walls, and the raucous noise of clashing pool balls, he could clearly hear them with his heightened hearing.

“Why did you stop me?” the human asked the twins.

One of them answered. “What do you plan to do? Insist she accept you? That will only make her run, and she will, if you chase after her. Ease back, man. You have the weekend to win her over.”

“But she’s with that...that thug.”

Him? A thug?
Riley snorted.

“Look, Piers, Saia’s never shown an interest in anyone before. No matter what she said, it can't be serious. I know my sister.” The twin, Riley wasn't sure which, then grinned at his mirror image. “Come on, bro, let’s play pool. Ten bucks says I knock your ass out first round.”

The other smirked and followed. “I live to see that day.”

The human sat there alone and glowered at his empty glass then looked up as a skimpily clad female slid over. Moments later, he disappeared with the woman through the passage leading to the restrooms.

Zac stopped beside Riley. “I hope you killed that Caligo, or there’s gonna be trouble for that little girl.”

Riley stiffened. Shit! How could he forget something so damn important?

Once a Caligo laid eyes on its prey, it wouldn’t rest until it hunted them down. “Take over.” He slapped a hand on Zac’s back. “I gotta go.”

Riley left the bar. He had to go back to Saia, protect her…

Be with her twenty-four seven. Shit! With what he had to do, he realized he walked a path straight into disaster. And only hoped not his downfall.

Saia massaged her temple to ease the dull throb after a restless night. A shaft of early morning light pouring through the window had her squinting as she headed for the kitchen.

A wave of pure embarrassment swept through her when she recalled what had happened last evening. It had to be the shock of seeing Piers with her brothers that had made her react so impulsively.

What the heck had she been thinking? Riley as her date? God, she shook her head. Despite his seductive threats, he hadn't acted on any of it. In fact, he’d flat-out rejected her invitation.

Saia halted at the end of the short hallway and glanced around the silent living room. The faint aroma of brewed herbal tea wafted in the air, and she wrinkled her nose. Liz had already left to the store. She might as well go and relieve her and get her coffee en-route.

Shrugging on her coat, Saia headed out and tried not to look at the apartment next door. That was over and done with.

She’d texted Niki last night. Deciding not to worry her friend with the horrific truth of what happened after she’d left with Riley, so she simply said he’d saved her from a groping drunk then saw her home. And that he just wasn’t interested.

And got a sad-faced emoji in return.

Maybe that blonde, Pandora, really mattered to him. The thought depressed her even more than going home.

A half hour later, she neared Liz’s shop situated in the heart of The Quarter between Gio’s handcrafted copper lamps and a live entertainment spot. The store offered a quiet little piece of heaven from the dissonance of street musicians, tourists, and people scurrying to work. For the short time she’d worked here, she’d fallen for its unique, eclectic ambience.

The doorbell jangled as Saia entered the shop, coffee in hand. The rich infusion of herbs and incense teased her nostrils. Instead of White Light as a name, Liz should have chosen something more exotic, like Eastern Herbs.

With its mahogany walls, wooden shelves, and central display table covered in a maroon tablecloth, the place had a dreamy quality. One side housed books and handcrafted candles and soaps, the other had dried herbs and a knick-knack of things. Usually, soft music welcomed anyone entering, but there was none this morning.

A male customer stood near the bookshelf next to her aunt, paging through a book as Liz stacked more on a shelf. Liz turned, and her annoyed expression faded. A smile lit her face. “Good morning, Saia.”

The man glanced up from his reading and sighed like he didn't care for the interruption.

Saia was used to Liz’s bohemian friends dropping in at the store, but she’d not seen this guy before. Tanned, with ash-blond hair falling past his shoulders, he appeared to be in his early twenties.

Liz ignored him, picked up more books from the box, and fanned them out on a display table. Finally, she turned to the man. “I don’t have what you're looking for.”

He smirked and rested an elbow on the bookshelf, his long coat parted, revealing jeans and a gray sweater. “Could be you’re not trying hard enough.”

Saia’s brow rose at the taunt.

Liz’s lips flattened, a flush streaking her cheeks. Her steel-blue eyes glinted in irritation.

Grinning, he handed her the book he’d been paging through. “I’ll be back ’cause I’m sure you’ll find what I want.” With a cheeky wink at Saia, he sauntered out of the store.

“Who is he?” Saia asked. Setting her coffee on the counter, she then unbuttoned her coat.

“A difficult customer.”

Hmmm. The quick dismissal implied he was no customer. Frowning, Saia headed for the small back office and stockroom, and dropped her coat and bag on a chair. She found a rag and went back to the front again to wipe the table free of dust and debris.

The light from several sweet-smelling candles in the candelabra cast a soft glow over the small shop. While she worked, Saia studied her aunt as she collected the empty boxes.

Liz was attractive, and could have had anything she desired with her vast trust fund, but she seemed quite content to live a “hippie” life and run her herbal store. While she appeared calm, content even, there was sorrow in her eyes that Saia didn't understand, like she’d suffered a great loss.

Saia loved her aunt, and she didn't want to pry, but Liz was far too young to be single.

She’d dressed sedately today in a flowing black and turquoise Indian-printed skirt. The roll neck of her black cashmere sweater hid the jagged scars on her throat. Injuries she’d received after being attacked by a wild dog when she was in her teens.

As Liz rose with the pile of boxes, Saia narrowed her eyes. Beneath the layer of concealer Liz wore, a faint shadow darkened her jaw. “Liz—your face, what happened?”

She grimaced. “It’s nothing. I bumped into the door last night going to the bathroom.”

“Aunt Liz,” Saia sighed. “Please, put on the lights next time.”

“Okay. All right. So, I can’t see a thing without my contact lenses, but I'm hardly in my dotage,” Liz grumbled and disappeared into the back room. Then she yelled, “And no
aunt
cracks, please.”

Smiling, Saia glanced around, satisfied no dust had snuck past her. She slipped behind the counter, tossed the cloth into a cupboard, and picked up her coffee. Drinking some of the warm beverage, she set the cup aside and opened the inventory lying on the countertop.

Liz returned. She set her bag on the worktop and pulled on her coat. “Leave that, Saia. I have a copy of what I need to restock. I’ll make the necessary calls from home.”

“Are you going to get the gorgeous guy what he wants, too?” Saia teased, putting the ledger away.

“He wishes.” Then she laughed, a tinge of red creeping over her cheekbones. “Sneaky. No. He’s not getting anything—”

“You're worried what people would say because he’s so young?”

Liz snorted and buttoned her coat. “No. He’s trouble of the worst kind.”

Saia ran her fingers absently through the few jade stones in the shallow ceramic bowl. For as long as Saia had known her, Liz had never shown an interest in any man. But this guy appeared to get under her skin.

Liz leveled her shrewd gaze on her. “What’s going on with you, Saia?”

She blew out a rough breath, her tension returning in spades. “I have to go home this weekend.”

Liz’s expression softened in sympathy. “It’s only for the weekend, hun. Can’t last forever.”

If only she could believe that. She wished Liz would change her mind and accompany her home. But her aunt rarely visited. She preferred the warmth, the hum of activities in The Quarter to the iciness of the mansion.

“I’ll see you later.” She patted Saia’s hand and walked out, the door closing softly behind her.

The doorbell jingled again, and a woman entered. A quick smile of greeting, and the customer browsed through the new books on the table.

Saia’s pulled out a box from beneath the counter, began restocking the jade stones in the almost empty bowl, and worried about the coming weekend.

How was she going to avoid her mother’s trap? Maybe she just wouldn’t go.

Right, like that would work. The only way she could do that was to leave, not just to another city, but another continent, because her mother wouldn’t let a small thing like distance stop her from interfering in her only daughter’s life.

The doorbell chimed again. She glanced up and froze, but her heart clipped like a racehorse.

Riley entered the shop and raked back his wind-mussed hair. He glanced at her briefly then looked around the shop before he strolled to the bookshelf, his attention apparently caught by one of the framed photos Liz had there.

All Saia could do was stare. He picked up the one of her with the twins when she’d been six and studied it. Aww crap, she hated that picture, but Liz loved it. She’d been in pigtails, grubby, and proudly showing off a gap-tooth smile.

Pulling her attention from him, Saia resumed refilling the ceramic bowl, yet every inch of her was attuned to him. Discreetly, she studied him, there was no denying it, the guy looked pretty amazing in blue jeans and a faded navy tee beneath his well-worn leather jacket. She had no idea why he’d come. Unless…

Of course, not. With her luck, he’d probably come to buy herbal remedies to cure wherever ailment Pandora had.

The browsing lady, who’d cast him several appreciative looks, bought two small boxes of sage and a book on natural healing. After she’d left, Riley put the frame back in its place and made his way over, those green eyes drifting lazily over her to settle on her mouth.

A bolt of heat spread through her, made her aware of how he’d sucked on her lip.
God help her
, so not what she should be thinking of.

She swallowed and tried to get her wayward thoughts under control.

“Do you know what everything in this place is for?” he asked.

Huh
? She thought of winging it, but he could very well ask her about some herb she didn't know. She shrugged. “Some.”

His gaze lowered to the bowl she was filling. He grasped her hand. “That’s going to overflow, or is that the plan?”

She glanced down and warmth rushed to her face when she realized the container had been in grave danger of spilling.

“Can I help you with something?” She tugged her hand free. His tightened. She looked up and found him studying her. “And can I have my hand back?”

For the longest second, he stared at her, his thumb stroking her ring. As usual, his expression gave little away. He lifted her hand and studied the etching on the silver. “A protection ring?”

She wasn't surprised he could read the Sanskrit writing. “Yes, from my parents. I can't sense supernatural evil like my brothers can, so they gave me that.”

“How does that work?”

She shrugged. “It sort of heats up when supernatural evil is around.”

“And yet you didn’t sense Trevor?”

At the cutting tone, heat burned her face. “I forgot it in my pocket after I washed my hands in the bathroom, okay?”

His expression hardened. “It won't melt. Keep it on at all times.” Then he asked her something totally unexpected. “You could have anyone do this, attend this party with you, why me?”

“Because despite your moronic behavior when we first met, I like you.”

Amusement flickered in his gaze. Then he shook his head and released her hand. “You shouldn’t. Bad things happen to people who get close to me.”

Saia heard his warning. So the guy had badass written all over him, but he’d protected her from a Caligo. More, he was strong, different, and played by his own rules. She liked that.

“Is that why you blow hot then cold with me?” she asked, remembering his coldness when he’d dropped her off last night.

He studied her for another second, then that look she was fast coming to associate with his wicked humor appeared. “I don’t
blow
anything, in fact, I like… licking, sucking, and definitely biting a whole lot better.”

Saia was sure her face matched the color of her scarlet sweater. Not to be outdone, she snorted. “Yes, I recall. You still owe me an apology.”

If anything, she was starting to realize that Riley never apologized. You either accepted him for who he was or not. He didn't seem to give a damn about anything.

“Ain’t happening, sweetheart. Now about this weekend?”

“It’s an early Christmas party.”

He frowned. “If it’s just a party, why do you need a date?”

“You haven’t been to any of my mother’s gatherings,” she evaded.

His brow rose.

Not like she could answer him. How could she tell a guy like Riley that suitor number twenty-nine had been reeled in? She had a bad feeling if she didn’t do something drastic, life as she knew it would be over. When she’d seen Piers with her brothers last night, it felt as if someone had fastened a wedding ring around her chest and was tightening the band, squeezing her into submission.

“Very well. If I do this, I want you to stay with your folks after this weekend.”

And there it was, the codicil. “Why?”

“You ask me why?” His eyes became cold like the gems they resembled. “Did your brother the hunter not tell you anything? There’s a Caligo after you. It will hunt you until its dead or you are. It happened at my bar, I’ll take care of this, but I want you away from here and safe.”

Saia bit her lip and twisted the ring on her finger. She’d just moved out of her home, and now she had to move in again? Wouldn’t Mother be ecstatic?

Nope, not happening. She’d polish her fighting skills if she had to. No way would she live at home again.

But for now, she’d concentrate on the fact that he’d agreed to accompany her home. “All right.”

***

Riley showered and changed after he got back from the gym that evening. He had to find the Caligo, Trevor, and end him. There was no reasoning with those entities.

Once he did this date stint with Saia, she’d be back in her home and safe with her hunter brother. He sat on the bed to pull on his boots then just stared at the thing in his hand.