Dear God. Did he have to look so good?
The black custom-tailored suit accentuated his well-honed body, and the open collar of his shirt gave the slightest hint of the tattoos etched on his skin. He oozed this aura of restrained danger I shouldn’t find so alluring.
My fingers clenched the phone in my hand as his attention fixed on me.
“Got you,” he mouthed.
“What did you say about him having no power over you?”
I stared into his green eyes, feeling as if he held my world in a vise grip. No, that wasn’t it. He controlled it.
Instead of answering Stevie, I stood transfixed as Simon came toward me. The feral gleam in his gaze told me he had me exactly where he wanted me. His captive at his mercy.
A low pulse of need began to throb between my legs, and my nipples beaded.
I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to run or hold my ground. Either way, one thing held true, I wouldn’t come out of this unscathed.
He stopped a mere foot away from me, uncaring of the number of people vested in who he was and what he was doing in the room.
Taking the mobile from my hand, he tucked it into his jacket pocket. “You’re mine, Goddess.”
Goosebumps prickled my skin. “Why do you keep calling me goddess?”
“Nyx is the goddess of night.” He cupped my face and then ran his thumb over my lips. “And you run the Silent Night.”
“And what does that make you?”
He leaned forward as if he were going to kiss me but stopped when he was a hairsbreadth from me.
His pupils grew not colder, but calculating. “What do they call me in our world? I find it appropriate in our case.”
My breath grew shallow.
“I’m your Master of Fortune and Darkness.”
“You think the darkness controls the night.”
“This darkness does. It controls her fortune too.”
“Simon, please don’t.”
“Don’t what? Make you come for the next year or push the morality clause?”
Before I could respond, Akari moved behind us. “I see you’ve crashed our private soirée.”
“Looks that way.”
“I suggest the two of you hold the conversation about popping cherries and the next year over a private game at the end of the evening. You’re drawing attention.”
Simon’s hold on my face tightened for a fraction of a second while he continued to stare into my eyes, and for the first time since I met Akari, I truly wanted to strangle her.
“I believe that is a perfect idea, Ms. Ota,” he said as he traced his thumb over my lower lip. “I also appreciate the additional information on my bride.”
“Have you lost interest?” I asked. “Don’t men like you want experienced women?”
“Not in the least. It only means I don’t have to erase anyone from your memory, and I get to teach you everything you’ll ever need to know.” He stepped back, the loss of his touch leaving a coldness on my skin. “I’ll remain by the bar and watch how the mistress of Silent Night operates. See you at the end of the night, Goddess.”
Clenching my teeth, I grabbed hold of Akari’s wrist and yanked her in the direction of my banker, Natty.