Kim Knox - Demon's Desire.pdf - Kim Knox - widez2

Make one New YearÓs resolutionÈand run with it *grin *

DemonÓs Desire

Cover Art: Scott Carpenter

This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of

the writerÓs imagination or have been used fictitiously and are no construed to be

real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or

organizations is entirely incidental.

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any

manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief excerpts or

quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Chilled December air swirled around her bare limbs and Lise Hansen cursed her

scrap of a party dress. Varik Thayer had ruined another party and her New YearÓs

Eve one at that. Varik, the bodyguard her too-rich father insisted shadow her

because of his paranoia had become a blight on her social life. Trust her father to

think that the only thing that could protect his daughter was a bloody demon.

Lise wrapped her arms around her body and continued her fast pace home down

the empty side street. Her impossibly high heels clicked against the pavement, her

feet burning, her calves aching from the stupid shoes. Frustration balled in her

stomach, warming her against the cold.

SheÓd slipped out from her friendÓs party before the clocks had struck midnight,

ignoring VarikÓs low, stern warning not to try to evade him. Spending any more time

with him and she wouldÓve had to make a scene. Lise gritted her teeth. She could

imagine the press having a fine time with shots of her slapping her bodyguard. Hell,

maybe she should have. Maybe it was time she stopped being her fatherÓs obedient

daughter, the one that never caused a scandal and affected his companiesÓ share

prices.

Her orders were always to behave in an appropriate manner. Lise snorted. ÐAll

right, New Year resolution: be in appropriate.Ñ

Something light touched the tip of her nose and Lise looked up. Brief flurries of

snow whipped through the pale wash of the streetlamps and fluttered over the slate

roofs of Victorian townhouses. A smile tugged at her mouth and with it a little piece

of her anger broke away.

ÐYou like snow?Ñ

The deep, male voice behind her gave Lise a start, panicked adrenalin firing

through her before she recognised it as belonging to Varik. Yes, he could even sour

her simple joy in snowÈand bring out the wasp in her. ÐToo cold for you? Would

you melt? My father has a chalet in St AntonÓs. We should go. If you dislike snow,

youÓll loathe skiing.Ñ

His warm, completely irritating chuckle swept around her, driving the chill from the

air. ÐDid you try the demanding princess routine with your other guards? Aggravated

them into requesting reassignment to get away from you.Ñ She heard the smile in his

voice and ignored the kick to her gut. Everything about Varik Thayer infuriated her.

ÐThat wonÓt work with me.Ñ

His coat dropped over her shoulders, the body-heated material burning against

her icy skin. Heavy hands gripped her shoulders for an all-too-brief second. She

shivered and fought the temptation to sink her arms into the sleeves. His scent wove

through her, deep into her lungs, its intriguing mix of unknown spices a firm part of

her life for six weeks.

ÐWhy did you leave the party?Ñ

Lise snorted and gave in to pushing her arms into the sleeves of his jacket

anyway. She resumed her fast pace. Let him trail her. And it wasnÓt as if he didnÓt

know why sheÓd leftÈand why her whole party season had been wrecked. Him.

HeÓd soured every event. ÐBecause you hung over me like some glowering monster

and drove everyone away. As always.Ñ

ÐYour fatherÓs orders are that no man is to behave inappropriately towards you.Ñ

Lise gritted her teeth. She hated this aspect of Varik, his calm professionalism,

the hint of censure in his voice. That irked her more than anything ÐItÓs New YearÓs

Eve. YouÓre supposed to be inappropriate. I made a resolution to be inappropriate.Ñ

She stopped and turned to glare at him, finding his face calm, but that glimmer of

amusement still flickered in his coal-dark eyes. Shadows hung behind him and for a

moment she would imagine the vast wings his kind were rumoured to have.

Her chest hollowed and she stopped herself from taking a nervous step back.

It was little wonder that none of the men at her friendÓs New Year bash had come

within ten feet of her. Varik looked like a human male, but he had a lithe hardness to

him, a tangible strength and power that kicked her heart into a faster beat. A hint of

a smile curved his mouth. And there was the dangerous hint of the predator lurking

just under his skin, the one that had her stomach tight with nerves she didnÓt want to

explain.

Angered at herself, heat flared through her flesh and she cursed him. He knew

how mad he made her. Lise was sure he secretlyÏand sometimes not so secretlyÏ

revelled in it. She lifted her chin. ÐAll right, why donÓt we do a deal? YouÓre a

demon. And if I know my father, a high-ranking one. You can do deals, canÓt you?Ñ

Varik tilted his head and his sudden, intense focus on her tightened her gut. His

prolonged silence had her nerves straining. ÐIÓm listening.Ñ

Lise almost blinked. Her question had come out of nowhere, born of her

frustration and had no proper thought behind it. She cursed. What did she offer a

demon? Her father paid for demon protection for his senior executives and her,

wards for his companies and the odd illegal hex for his rivalsÈbut sheÓd never had

much interest in magic.

She pushed at her memory. Demons were like long-liked magpies and liked to

collect shiny things, worked for humans to accumulate those baubles. Or so the

rumours went.

ÐWould you like something bought for you?Ñ Her gaze skirted over him. Varik was

always immaculately dressed, though now melting dots of snow stained his smooth

white shirt. He looked strange without his jacketÈ Lise pushed that distracting

thought down. ÐI have access to my fatherÓs wealth. You stop playing bodyguard for

the night and IÓll give you whatever you want.Ñ

Something flashed in his dark eyes, almost a searing flare of fire, but then it was

gone. Still, her skin prickled. HeÓd changed. The bodyguard, professional, wry had

faded back and now she talked with the demon Varik.

ÐWhatever I want?Ñ

The softness in his voice ran unease through her body and her fingers curled into

fists. She had the sudden, stark reminder that she really was bargaining with a

demon. ÐWithin reason.Ñ Lise swallowed, her mouth dry. ÐMy father is wealthier

than Croesus, but thereÓs a limit to the money I can access.Ñ

ÐYou set the deal, Lise.Ñ He took a step closer and she willed herself not to turn

and run. ÐI stop being your bodyguard for the night and youÓll give me whatever I

want.Ñ His predatory smile had her heart pounding. ÐYou should have chosen your

words much more carefully.Ñ

ÐWhat do youÈ?Ñ Her words trailed away as his finger traced light over her lips.

ÐI want you. I always have.Ñ

Lise stared at him, stunned. ÐMe?Ñ The word was little more than a squeak. He

had to mean her soul. Did demons collect souls? Damn, she shouldÓve paid more

attention to her otherworld history at school. ÐWhat use is my soul to you?Ñ

Varik laughed and hisÈpossessivenessÈsank into her skin. ÐWho wants souls

anymore?Ñ His shark-bright smile had her belly in a tight knot and her breaths short.

ÐFlesh is where the fun is.Ñ

ÐFleshÈÑ What he wanted hit her. It made no sense. SheÓd been rude, snotty,

the all round jumped up little heir to a vast fortune, all in a bid to get him to resign like

her other bodyguards because she wanted her own life, her freedom. A fist

Kim Knox - Demon's Desire.pdf

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