Pan's Salvation (Dueling Devils 5)

This shit isn’t even worth it.

“You want to go? I’m not your keeper.” He released her and stepped back. “Go chase them down, deliver yourself on a silver platter and see where it gets you and Robin. My conscious is clear. I fixed the mess the Minion’s made and I tried to keep you safe. If you’re too fucking stubborn to realize that, it’s on you.”

Lark’s lower lip trembled. She rubbed her arms and glanced around. Dark spots were

forming on her chocolate flesh. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“I personally hope you don’t do it. You’re too damn beautiful to wind up playing whore to some drug dealer who’ll never let you go. Within the first week, he’ll have you strung out on some shit that makes you do whatever he asks.”

“How dare you!”

“You think I don’t know how this works?” He scowled. “I live in the darkness, you just

moonlight in it.”

“You don’t know shit about me.”

“I know you’ll do everything possible to avoid men like me. I could see it in your eyes. You got fight. I’ll give you that. But you hate the way I make you feel and you hate your sister for her bad decisions.”

“Don’t judge me.”

“Haven’t you done the same to me?”

“No.”

The indignation on her face made him chuckle. “You lying to yourself or me now, Lark?”

He raked his gaze over her body and paused at her breasts. “You’re reacting to me now. You could cut glaze with those nipples.” He took a step forward. “And I bet if I stick my hand under that poor excuse for a dress you’d be wet. Why? Because you like the way, I deal with you. You want a man who’s in control. You need to be told what to do because you have no sense of self-preservation. You want to make up for your sister’s sins, but we both know when judgment comes, it’ll be her alone standing there.”

She chewed at her bottom lip.

Pan knew he’d gotten through to her.

“So, I give up on her? I walk away and leave my own flesh and blood in a hell I wouldn’t deliver my worst enemy to?”

“Did I say that?”

“You shut me down, right in front of them.”

“Because you weren’t thinking with your head. I’m sure they expected that. It's how they get desperate women to make rash decisions.”

“And you just know everything?” she yelled.

“Lower your volume.” His nostrils flared and his blood rushed through his veins. “I’ve

already let you slide with your disrespect. It stops here and now.” He walked over and brushed his fingertips across her throat. “Do I look like the type of man who lets a woman talk down to him, Lark?”

“N-no.”

“That’s because I’m not.” He palmed her throat. “And you should remember that. I’m not a nice guy. They always finish last and please believe me when I say…I make sure I come out on top.”

Lark nervously licked her lips.

“I think I told you not to lie to me. In the past ten minutes, you’ve hardly spoken the truth.

I’m going to have to teach you a lesson.” He tightened his grip. Her chest heaved, her warm breath caressing his face.

Her face showed fear, but it also showed something else—arousal.