The Devil I Hate (Devil's Knights 1)

He shot up from the table and extended his hand to me. “Time to go, princess. You have a big night ahead of you.”

I took his hand, and my skin tingled as our skin touched. “Can we stop at the cosmetics store we drove past on our way into town? I need a few things to complete my costume.”

He glanced at his watch. “Yeah, okay. But make it fast.”

Marcello was not an easy person to crack, but I was sure he was my key to getting closer to the Salvatores' secrets if I kept at it long enough.

Aiden trusted him.

And I trusted Aiden.

The tulle strips of my fairy costume brushed the backs of my thighs, itching my skin as I walked down the hallway in a pair of ballet flats. Marcello was at my side, quiet as usual, his stony demeanor in place. We stopped at the end of the hall in front of a tall wooden door with an ornate gold handle.

He knocked, and a few seconds later, my tall, handsome future husband appeared with a wicked grin, staring at me with those haunting blue eyes. How was it possible for Luca to get hotter with each year that passed?

Luca Salvatore was like a dirty dream wrapped in an expensive suit, dipped in nightmares, and sugar-coated with sex appeal. His hair was as black as ink, cut short on the sides and spiked in the front. The severeness of his jaw matched his expression. It said fuck with me, and I’ll slit your throat.

My handsome Devil was pure evil.

He stepped forward, studying my face before he turned his gaze on his brother. “What took you so long?”

Marcello gave him a bored look, shoving his sleeve up as he glanced at his Chopard watch. “You said on the hour.”

He flung out his hand. “Leave us.”

Marcello rolled his eyes and walked away without a word.

Luca wrapped his fingers around my wrist, pulled me into the room, and slammed the door so hard I jumped. He moved his hand to my cheek, tilting my head to both sides as he examined me. Was he looking for an imperfection? A blemish?

He wore a bespoke navy blue suit that molded to his body as if sewn onto him. Fear shot through my body, my heart pounding as I stood before my cruel prince.

“You look beautiful, as always.”

Luca’s fingers moved from my throat to my chest, dipping between my cleavage that spilled from the low-cut dress. He studied the paint I used to color my skin. A gold glitter that shimmered under the lights. My skin burned where he touched, my body confusing my fear for desire.

He grinned as if he won. “Take off your mask.”

As his fingers grazed the top of my breast, I did as he asked, stripping away the fairy mask. He took it from my hand and backed me into the desk behind me. Luca grabbed my ass over the thin fabric and lifted me onto his desk, making room for himself between my legs. I pressed my palms to the wood and sucked in a deep breath as he resumed his careful appraisal of my body.

His hand dipped between my breasts, over my stomach, and then he hiked up my dress. He clutched my thighs, digging his long fingers into my skin. My body was nothing more than a weapon. Luca would never get my heart. I was still in control.

Luca’s fingers grazed my lace panties. Liquid heat pooled between my legs, and a soft moan slipped from my lips. I hated myself for showing his effect on me. But a man like Luca Salvatore needed to feel in control, dominant. Even if I could never wiggle my way into his black heart, I could make him want to keep me in his bed.

Aiden’s life depended on it.

He sunk his fingers into my flesh and pulled me into his hard cock. “Have you been bad while we were apart?”

I ignored the question, and his nostrils flared.

“Did you fuck anyone?”

“Depends on your definition of fucking.”

Does my vibrator count?

A glimmer of madness danced across his deep blue irises. He grabbed my throat, his lips inches from my ear. “Don’t lie to me, Drea.”

I steadied my trembling fingers by tapping them on the desk. My body was on fire from his breath on my skin, his hands on my neck and thigh. I closed my eyes and waited, drinking him in. He smelled like the sea and sandalwood mixed with a hint of cigars and scotch.

My heart beat like a bomb about to detonate. With Luca touching me as he owned me, rough and possessive, I couldn’t stop the wave of pleasure flooding my chest.

I wished I hated his touch.

Why did he feel so good?

A moment passed before he eased his grip on my throat and looked into my eyes. He moved his hands, and my stupid body seemed to miss the loss of his warmth.