Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Don’t be surprised if he ignores your order,” said Nikandr, moving to stand beside his brother. “Naomi’s song has him all tied up in knots.”
“And those knots are tight,” added Mikhail. “He might feel in so much emotional pain that risking your wrath would be worth it if only he could convince her that he truly does love her.”
Chewing on that, Luka twisted his mouth. “Have one of our demons keep an eye on him, just to be sure.”
Mikhail gave a curt nod.
Luka pushed out of his chair. “I have a meeting to attend. Let’s get moving.”
Swiping an old tee from her dresser, Naomi shook her head. Some people are their own worst enemy, she telepathed Tobe. It isn’t as if Stefan wasn’t warned what would happen if he didn’t back off.
He actually seemed shocked that I followed through on my threat, said Tobe. He genuinely feels that he should be an exception to your ‘I don’t meet with clients’ rule. I feel that he should fuck off.
Samesies. Naomi closed the drawer. Why he’d think that he’d be an exception, I have no clue.
He seemed to believe you’d be flattered that he admires your work so much he’s determined to meet you.
She huffed. I guess all his success has gone to his head.
Success he only has because of you.
Naomi hung her tee over her shoulder and then dragged open a lower drawer. How did he take being told that I won’t be producing art for him anymore?
Badly. Real badly. He knows that without you his career will tank.
I’m not sure it’ll tank. There are other ghost artists he could hire. Naomi nabbed a pair of sweatpants she regularly used when painting. She reserved her Sundays for letting her creativity stretch out, and she had a bare canvas waiting for her in the spare bedroom that she had made into a workroom.
But they’d have to be able to imitate the exact style you’ve used for his art—it’s that style that’s given him so much success. If they fail, it’ll be game over for him.
Then he’d better hope they don’t fail.
Just then, her doorbell rang.
It seems I have a visitor. I’ll talk to you again later, okay? She frowned when there was no response from Tobe. Hello?
Sorry, got distracted.
What exactly are you doing?
Trying to dodge red laser beams so I don’t set off an alarm system.
Naomi cursed, dumping her clothes on the bed. You are unbelievable. Intending to lecture him later, she pled, Be careful.
Always am, he assured her breezily.
And it was such a lie.
Barefoot, she skipped down the stairs and glanced through the front door’s peephole. Her breath caught. Luka.
She backed up a step, raking her teeth over her lower lip. She’d thought he might return to the pizzeria at some point, but not show up here. There was no reason for him to know where she lived, and she wouldn’t have expected that he’d go to the trouble of finding out. Her entity liked that he had; wanted to know why he was here.
She studied her reflection in the tall wall-mounted mirror, checking there were no stains on her lavender dress. Well, she wanted to look presentable around him—so sue her.
She opened the door . . . and her belly dropped. Everything about him was just so raw. His magnetism, his sexuality, his power, his presence—all of it.
“Hi.” The word came out all breathy.
He gave her a swift but bold eye-bang, need bleeding into his gaze and turning it dark as flint. “Naomi,” he greeted simply. The gravel in his impossibly sexy voice scraped at her nerve endings in the most delicious way.
She looked past him to see one guard leaning against his car while the other remained in the driver’s seat. She refocused on Luka. “How did you find out where I live?”
A fluid shrug. “It wasn’t hard.” He arched a daring brow. “Are you going to let me in?”
She stepped aside, giving him enough room that their bodies didn’t brush as he entered. She could actually admire how boldly he stalked right through to the living area without waiting for an invitation. This wasn’t a man who waited for anyone or anything.
The boldness continued as he nosily swept his gaze around, taking in everything. His audaciousness was knotted with a tangible confidence that skated the edge of arrogant.
He had a certain energy. It was unsettled. There was an undercurrent of restlessness . . . which she supposed could be coming from his inner entities.
Naomi stopped a few feet away, needing a little space from the sheer potency of him. She subtly cast her tingling nipples a frown. Do not get hard and embarrass me that way.
“I talked to Iain,” he said, turning to her.
She folded her arms. “And?”
“He acknowledged that your song has affected him, but he refuses to believe that his feelings for you aren’t nonetheless real.”