Sweet Revenge (Dueling with the Devil) by Vivi Dumas Read Free Book Online Page A

lead Bell away with a firm grip on her elbow. But even with the distanc e, Xavier could hear their exchange.
    “ Bell. What’re you doing? He just saved your life. You could cut him some slack or maybe at least not kick him . ”
    Bell folded her arms across her chest .“ There’s nothing wrong with him. I didn’t even kick him that hard . ”
    Her brother caught her by the arm .“ You clearly care for him. I doubt the whole ‘I just met him’ thing is tru e, but whatever. You need to stop trying to be so tough and let someone in. This guy must like you to take a blade in the c h e s t . ”
    Exhaling a deep breat h, Bell muttere d, “ I don’t know what you think you see or know. I don’t care about him. He’s entertainment for the moment. If he’s stupid enough to get killed for m e, then more power to him. I’m not gonna get played again .” Without another wor d, she stomped toward the bar.
    Xavier stared at the industrial piping running along the roof of the club to keep his attention away from Bell. His actions were foreign to him. This night had morphed into some abstract scene from the Twilight Zone. Lucifer wanted Jacque and Angel back desperately. Maybe he opened up the contract to others. But if the thing that attacked was working for Lucife r, why did it come after Bell?
    As he pushed himself off the floo r, taking a seat on the sof a, he could hear the others discussing the same questions plaguing his mind. Only they were missing the piece of information about Bell and him working for the Devil. No one knew where this monster came from. But they feared its power. The situation became more complicated by the minute. I wish I could’ve stayed dead.
    Beyond the craziness of the creature hunting them and maintaining his disguise as Bell’s new boy to y, Xavier struggled to squelch the burning need to fuck Bell. Every time she came near hi m, his body became a conduit of sexual frustratio n, revolting against his natural proclivity to stay levelheaded. He longed to touch he r, hold he r, inhale her heady scent. She drove him so crazy he jumped in front of some unknown creature and almost got himself dead. I have finally lost my shit.
    Laurent snapped him out of his introspection .“ He y, man. Thanks for saving my sister . ”
    Xavier lifted his head .“ Not a problem. All in a day’s work . ”
    “ Wel l, thanks anyway. Are you staying with her ?” Laurent took a seat next to him.
    Shruggin g, Xavier answere d, “ I guess. If she wants me to . ”
    “ I don’t want her alone. I w ou l d a s k h e r to c o m e h o m e w i t h m e, but I know she won’t go for that. I’m staying with Jacque and Angel until my renovation is done . ”
    Xavier gave a quizzical look .“ What’s up with Bell and ol’ boy ? ”
    “ Lots of history there. But it’s history . ”
    “ Interesting . ”
    Laurent turned to him .“ She needs to move on. Maybe you can help her find some happiness . ”
    “ Hold u p, man…I just met her. We’re hanging for the m o m e n t . Nothing serious . ”
    “ Whatever you say. Just make sure you don’t make her unhappy. She’s my sister. I’d hate to have to come looking for you .” A note of seriousness filled Laurent’s voice.
    “ Yeah. Cause you protected her so well from your boy over there. If she’s freaked ou t, it’s because of what he did to her. I don’t see you playing the Big Bad with him . ”
    “ That’s a long story and most of that pain is self-inflicted by Bell. I love he r, but s h e’s got her own shit she needs to deal with .” Laurent glanced back at his sister and shook his head.
    “ Is that a warning ? ”
    Laurent shrugged .“ You take it for what you want. Y o u ’ v e got y o ur h a n d s f u l l , du d e . ” W i t h o u t a go o d b y e , h e r b r o t h e r h ea d e d toward h i s f r i e n d s .
    A warm sensation grazed the back of his neck. Bell’s hand traced the lines of his shoulder as she rounded the arm of the sofa and