The Demon Lord's Lover
Chapter 4

You know, in the movies, they make it seem like when you are kissing someone for the first time, and you get the butterflies, you lose your breath, and it feels like the world stops spinning?

That doesn’t even compare to how I felt when Dante kissed me. It was unexpected, hot, wanting, and yet so gentle that my heart was racing so much I thought he could hear it beating in my chest. It felt like electricity was running through my veins, I felt alive, and I wanted more.

Just as I was about to kiss him back and deepen it, Dante pulled away. I could see the rise and fall in his chest slightly. His eyes darkened as he investigated mine; I felt as though I was in a trance. “Naila.” He whispered my name.

I couldn’t speak; I was still breathless from the kiss. It took a few seconds for me to open my mouth and speak. “First off, wow. I- you. You can’t just kiss someone like that!” He chuckled. “I am sorry. I couldn’t stop myself.” What? My heart was still thumping hard in my chest.

“I don’t even know what to say to that.” Dante picked up the necklace and, without my permission, put it on me; his fingers lingered a bit longer than necessary. I quickly finish my latte and stand up. “We should go, I know you are going to want to talk about this more, and I also need to get my thoughts together.”

Dante nods and leads me out of the cafe. Soon we are in the car; he looks over to me and brushes a strand of hair out of my face. “Come with me to my place. We can sit down and talk more about this, but we have to decide before the end of the day.”

He drives off, heading to his house, “I also want you to quit your job; that place is no good for you. It is dangerous.” I turn to face him. “Mr. Cane, you can’t just tell me to quit my job. I never said was going to agree to this at all. Ugh, why are you so persistent?”

His hands tighten on the wheel. But his face doesn’t quite match his actions. “Miss Naila. We will talk more about this when we get to our destination.” He spoke sternly with finality. I bite my lip and look out the window, pouting. Who does he think he is telling me what to do? He doesn’t even know me.

I pull my phone out to see that I have a couple of miscalls and texts from Amber:

(Where are you? Why haven’t you picked up your phone? What is going on? Are you okay? If I don’t hear from you by noon, I’m calling the cops!)

I quickly shoot her a reply (I am fine, with a ‘friend’ I will tell you all about it later.) I silence my phone and shove it back in my purse. “We are here.” Dante pulls up to his house, wait, scratch that; a mansion may be a bit smaller than a mansion.

It was an all-white three-story house with black shutters. There was also a small gazebo in the front. It looked very homey; we walked up to the front and inside. As we walked inside, I took my shoes off in fear that even my little shoe print will soil his shiny ass floor. Gosh, you could see your reflection if you stare long enough.

I'm sure some fancy stairs were leading to the heavens in front; turning my head, I saw what I would assume to be the kitchen, based on the pots hanging. “Would you like a tour?” Dante broke me out of my trance.

I looked over to where he was standing, taking me in with his eyes, observing my every move. “No thanks, I don’t plan on staying here long, nor do I plan to come back anytime soon.” I would still get lost; geez, you would need a map to navigate through this house. He gestured to the living room and motioned for me to sit. “Let’s start negotiating, shall we?”

I sit down on the overly comfy chair across from Dante. He pulls a stack of papers out of the coffee table draw and lays them out. “Before we begin, I want to make sure that you are on board. Besides ‘love,’ what is your reason for rejecting me?”

He asks as if love wasn’t a good enough reason. I begin to run my fingers in my hair out of frustration, and this causes my hair to become a mess. “Bathroom?” I asked, needing to fix my hair. He points behind him with his thumb. “Last door on the left.” I head into the bathroom.

As soon as I turn on the lights, I am in awe. “The frigging shower is huge!” It was a glass door shower with little shower heads coming from everywhere. I would never want to leave this shower. I look in the mirror and pull my hair out of my bun and try to smooth it down as much as possible with the brush.

Once I am certain I don’t look a complete mess, I head back to meet Dante. “Okay, let’s talk business.” He shuffles through some papers, then looks up at me, and I could have sworn I heard him inhale sharply. Maybe I imagined things.

“Okay, maybe marriage is too final. Let’s go out, but you must move in with me and quit your job. That’s not up for debate.” I huff. “You would get your room; we would respect each other’s space until you decide you want to go further. Also, to compensate for not working, you can either be my assistant or stay at home and handle the household chores. It’s up to you.”

He digs in his wallet and pulls out a black card. “You can use this. I don’t care how much you spend. Money is not an issue.” I look from the card to him in disbelief. “No, I am not marrying you, or dating you, or working for you. I most certainly do not want or need your money. I have a well-paying job and a place to stay. I sure as hell am not moving in with you!”

I stand up and start to pace. “You do not know me, you only met me yesterday, and you want to marry me? Did you think I was going to say yes?” I turn to face him. Dante places the card on the table and stares at me calmly.

“Miss Naila, I knew persuading you to be with me was going to be troublesome but know I am doing this for your good. I wouldn’t have come up with this if I didn’t have another choice. Please trust me, and I know this is the last I should be saying to someone I just met but trust me.”

Dante looks up to me with pleading eyes, those sexy hazel pleading eyes. No. I can’t do this; no one in their right mind should do something so risky and stupid. What if he is a serial killer or a human trafficker?

My minds start to go into overdrive as I think up more ways to decline. “What do I have to do to convince you?” His voice was deep and serious, like super serious, almost desperate. “Why?” He shakes his head. “I can’t give you specifics, but if I told you, your very life depended on it, would that change your mind?”

The blood drains from my face, and I take a few steps back, bumping into the wall behind me. I was right. He is going to kill me. Oh no, what have I got myself into? I nervously bite my lip and stare at him as he stands up and walks up to me. He gently caresses my face, brushing my hair out of the way.

“Miss Naila, I wasn’t referring to me. I would never harm you. But there is someone out there who wants to do bad things to you because of who you are.” He stares into my eyes, trying to gauge my reaction—his hand resting on my shoulder.

“Why would someone want to harm me? I am a nobody; I don’t even have enemies.” Dante held my hand and stared into my eyes. “It doesn’t matter who is after you; I promise I will protect you.” I must have been holding my breath cause as soon as I exhaled, everything went black.