Page 23 of Wrecked By a Devil

“Do you really think I would hire someone without doing a full background check first?” He looks at me as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“Not everyone is a paranoid…” I quickly stop myself before finishing that sentence, “… boss, like you are.”

“Maybe you should take some classes with my brother Cain, he can teach you stuff that no other instructor can.” He completely disregards my comment.

“Wasn’t aware you had a brother and that he is a self-defense instructor,” I pull out the key from my purse and unlock the door.

“He’s not, but he’s got experience in close combat that anyone would envy him about.”

“Even you?” I raise an eyebrow, challenging him.

I’m not sure why I do this around him. Maybe I’ve gone completely mad and have a death wish. But there is something about him that brings out this side of me. The urge of defying him overpowers my rational thinking every time.

“Let’s not push it,” He scans the hallway with a disgusted look on his face. Almost as if he wants to tear it down.

“Allergic to poor?”

“You’re funny,” He peeks into the apartment through the open door. “But you lack manners. Don’t you think I deserve an invite for a drink? Or a cup of tea?”

“Nope,” I grin, closing the door behind me. “See you at work.”

“Actually,” His foot blocks the door and he opens it with easy, walking right past me and into the living room. “Remember how you forced me to get my wound treated earlier at the hospital?”

Oh no…

“I noticed that you keep flinching every time your bag brushes against your arm where that weirdo grabbed you earlier,” He reaches out for my hand and gently lifts my arm, rolling my sleeve to reveal a bruise on my wrist. “See?”

“It’s not a big deal,” I insist, pulling my hand away from his, but suddenly feeling cold in places where his fingers touched me.

“Let me return the favor,” he insists. “Sit down and I’ll bring you some ice. You have ice in this hole, right?”

“And there he is,” I sigh, surprised that his kind side was out in the open for such a long time. “Yes, I do have ice and I thought I was the one who owed you a favor.”

“That’s a separate favor,” he says from the kitchen. Thankfully, my roommates are out, because it would be incredibly awkward having to explain this situation to any of them. “And don’t worry, that’s a debt that I won’t forget so easily.”

“I guess there is no way out, is it?” When he returns from the kitchen with the ice, I take it from him and gently press it on my bruise. I have to admit that it feels nice. If he hadn’t insisted on coming in, I would not have done any of this.

“No.” When he smiles, I could swear that for a brief second, I could see a warm, genuine emotion behind his stone-cold eyes. But just like that, it disappears again. “I thought you lived with roommates.”

“I do,” I press the ice a little harder onto my wrist and I flinch at the sudden wave of pain spreading through my arm. “Elena is sleeping at her boyfriend’s tonight, and Lexi’s parents are in town so she’s probably still out with them.”

“That means we’ve got the place all to ourselves,” Ezekiel studies the room and when our eyes meet again, he bursts into laughter. “It’s a joke. Don’t be so scared.”

“I’m…” Suddenly, I feel embarrassed.

“I would never do anything you don’t want me to, Riley,” I don’t dare to look at him as he speaks. “You don’t have to keep your guard up all the time around me.”

“How could I trust you?” The words escape my mouth before I realize what I’m asking.

“Why are you so scared of being touched?” His eyes are focused on my injured hand. “I noticed earlier how you reacted when I wanted to see your bruise. And also at the club.”

“I’m not sure you’re the right person to have this conversation with,” I get up and throw the ice away as it’s already melting. “Let’s just say, not everyone grew up in a house with security and feeling protected.”

“I was just trying to understand you.” He leans back in the sofa where Elena usually studies. “You’re like a rare species to me and I really want to know what’s inside of that brain.”

“I don’t know if I should be flattered or offended by that comment,” I sit down across from him.

“Both?” He tilts his head, his eyes falling to my chest.