Page 38 of Wrecked By a Devil

The leather beneath me is cold where our heat has already started to evaporate. I lie there for a second, my heart still hammering against my ribs, staring at the ceiling of Ezekiel’s office. The heavy weight of what just happened presses down on my chest, but the familiar panic doesn’t swallow me.

I’m glad that it’s him. I’m glad that the first guy I opened myself to was him. After growing up with my stepfather physically abusing me and my mother, I didn’t think I’d ever feel safe enough with a man to fully let go.

Zeke shifts, sitting up beside me. He grabs a clean towel from the small bathroom attached to his office, his movements unbothered, completely comfortable in his own skin. I find myself staring a little longer than I should and when his eyes catch mine, my cheeks start burning.

“You’re quiet.” His voice breaks the silence as he leans over to wipe the wetness from my stomach.

His hand is surprisingly gentle, a sharp contrast to the brutal grip he had on my hips only a few moments ago.

“I’m just thinking…” I pull the silk robe back over my shoulders, tying the knot tight.

“About?” He stands, pulling his boxers back on, his eyes never leaving me.

“Everything I have to do tomorrow,” I murmur, pulling my knees to my chest. The reality of my world is rushing back, cold and not so appealing.

“When do you even sleep, Riley?” His eyebrows furrow as he studies my face.

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” I attempt a small, cynical smile, but it feels heavy. The weight of what just happened still pressing down on me.

He stands there, looking at me for a long moment, reading the exhaustion I try so hard to hide behind stubbornness. Then he walks over to his heavy desk, grabs a pen, and tears a piece of paper from a notepad. He scrawls a string of numbers on it and walks back to me, sliding the paper directly into the tiny pocket of my robe.

“This is my personal number,” his hand is lingering over my thigh, his thumb rubbing through the silk. “If you need anything, you call me. Whether that’s a ride, a place to hide out… Anything.”

“I don’t take charity, Zeke,” I look down at the slip of paper.

“It’s not charity,” he steps back, starting to pull his shirt back on. “You look like you’re carrying the weight of the entire city on your shoulders and you’re running on empty.”

He then gets up and walks back to his desk, pulling out a bottle of whiskey from inside. He pours a glass for himself and then pours another one of soda water. “Here…” He hands me the glass.

“How did you…” I can’t believe he noticed.

“I saw that you were pouring your own drinks earlier,” He smiles knowingly. “It’s smart. If you hold a soda water with lemon, people will automatically assume it’s a gin and tonic and they won’t ask questions.”

“They don’t try to buy you shots either,” I smile, this time effortlessly, still shocked that he has picked up this detail about me.

“Clever girl,” he murmurs, his tone softer than usual and I could swear that there is a spark of approval in his eyes.

We have our drinks together over a laid back, casual conversation. When I realize how late it is, we say our goodbyes and I head out to find Mia. She’s already packing her things at the dressing room, ready to leave, but when she sees me her eyes light up.

“I thought you left already,” Mia walks up to me.

“I didn’t,” I shake my head. “I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?” She makes herself comfortable in the tall makeup chair, while I begin to dress. “Is it good?”

“Oh, it’s so good!” I find myself grinning as I tell her everything about what just happened with Ezekiel. The heat in my cheeks becomes impossible to ignore by the time I finish the story and Mia takes everything in eagerly.

“Oh. My. God. Riley, that’s huge!” She squeals, jumping up to her feet. “Did you like it?”

“Yes,” I admit, nodding. “I liked it very much.”

“I’m so happy for you, Riley,” She pulls me into a quick hug and I notice she’s actually blushing herself. From the way she avoids making eye contact with me, I realize she has something important to share with me as well.

“Mia, what is it?” I joke, gently poking her shoulder. “Did you get lucky?”

She rolls her eyes, but a large smile appears on her face. “Actually, Cohen asked me out on a date.”

For a brief second, I try to process that piece of information before speaking again. I don’t like Cohen, and I most certainly don’t like him for Mia. But I don’t have any evidence to back up my gut feeling about him, so I have no other choice but to swallow the suspicion and try to be genuinely happy for my friend.