Devil May Care Read Free Page A

bulky guy, but his early morning five-mile runs and the three-day-a-week gym habit kept his body in stunning condition. I sucked in my tummy and made a silent oath to cut back on my morning cheese Danish routine. If you’re going to date a man who was built like a Greek god, sacrifices had to be made. Even, occasionally, when it came to pastry. “I had errands to run, groceries to buy. That doesn’t explain why you’re here and not at your place. So?”
    “So?” He set the paper aside and gave me a mischievous grin.
    “Why are you here?”
    “I was waiting for you. So we could get naked.” He swung his legs off the couch, standing in one smooth movement. “That was the romantic part. I had planned a naked picnic on your floor.”
    “But…” I moved backward, like I was making for the front door. “What if Lisa had popped in?”
    “Who do you think came up with the idea?” He inched forward, stalking me like an animal. “She said I should be waiting for you wearing nothing but a big red bow. The thing is I thought that the whole waiting naked thing might look desperate.”
    “A bit.” I swallowed and nodded as my back hit the door. For a being of love and light, he had one hell of a predatory instinct. I was torn between running like there were missionaries after my tail and surrendering so we could get on to the ravaging-his-victim part.
    “It wouldn’t be much of a stretch.” He loomed over me, both hands coming up to pin my shoulders.
    “What wouldn’t be much of a stretch?” My gaze flickered between his lips and his brilliant green eyes. In the name of all Evil he was gorgeous. And crazy enough that he wanted to keep coming around me and my particular brand of chaos. His eagerness to date me—and see me naked—could have been low self-esteem on his part but I didn’t care. One hot, immortal lawyer who liked to surprise me with naked picnics? Yes, please.
    “Calling myself desperate?” He nuzzled my neck. His nose traced along my jaw while his hand dropped to grab my leg and wrap it around his waist. “I haven’t managed to get you alone since our little vacation last month.”
    He was right. After saving the world last month we’d only had a week away together at my father’s private island in the South Pacific and ever since we’d been living with nonstop interruptions. First it was my mother and Lisa constantly showing up to discuss their weddings. Then Hope kept coming down to badger me into doing evil for her now that she was powerless. When that didn’t work she was constantly down here banging on the door because of broken appliances.
    Once my family was handled, I’d gotten stuck with a ton of overtime at work. A week later Matt had been put on a case that required eighty-hour weeks. The most quality time we got anymore was a quick kiss in the hall and an anti-climactic grope over breakfast.
    “It feels like someone, or something, is trying to keep us apart.” He pressed himself against me from shoulder to knee, brushing his hips against mine and trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down the length of my neck.
    I moaned and tangled my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. I had no idea what he was yammering about, but he was a pretty smart guy. Whatever he thought I’d go along with, as long as he kept up with the kissing.
    “I think your father is trying to play the Overprotective Daddy role again.”
    “My father isn’t that petty.” I gasped when he wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and bent my neck to the side so I could nibble on his ear.
    He sat on the couch and I shifted so that I was straddling him, while I used my tongue to find the spot behind his ear that always made him shiver.
    “He’s the Devil.” Matt tugged my shirt up and over my head before I could protest. “He is that petty.”
    He did have a point. The guy who’d taken my virginity still flinched every time someone said dear old Dad’s name. Or