5. Jess

By the time I looked at the clock again, it was after closing. Libraries were always quiet, but the silence was kind of eerie.

I'd been busy. The right people now knew that Kevin was my ex, and that I was worried about retaliation. I had also confirmed that he couldn't stop me from processing new acquisitions, since that was part of my job description. He'd just been throwing his dick around.

If he tried to pull anything else, I was covered.

But I was shaken. He'd threatened my department, and that was personal. I needed to get Kevin out of my head. All the work related to the Wilson collection would have to wait until after the weekend.

I picked up my phone and called Char, but I got her voicemail.

The last time we'd spoken, she sounded distracted. I decided not to leave a message. If I was honest, a part of me worried she'd advise against my plan for tonight. I called Annabelle instead.

"Well hello, my favorite naughty librarian."

I laughed. "Hey. I had a horrible day at work. Want to meet up at that bar outside town?"

I drove down the now familiar country road to the sketchy bar, and the closer I got, the more confused I felt. It was dark and isolated. Quiet. I should have been scared. The butterflies in my stomach should have been nerves. But I was feeling something else entirely.

The neon sign and parking lot came into view around the bend. I pulled into a parking space, turned off my car, and looked at the Fated Mates sign. All I felt was anticipation. Pleasant anticipation.

Hopefully Gravod was working tonight.

I shook myself. They were just dreams. Dreams that made the guy look like a demon or something.

Maybe he fucks like one too.

Okay, not helpful. The prospect of sex with the bartender was not why I was parked in front of this weird bar. It wasn't why I left on the skirt and heels that made my ass look amazing instead of changing into jeans. Nope. I was here because I needed my credit card back. And to relax after a tough day. That was all.

A manic laugh bubbled up from my throat.

Headlights flashed over me as another car pulled into the lot, and I recognized it as Annabelle's. Right, good. She'd make sure I didn't do anything crazy. I took one final look at myself in my visor mirror, got out, and walked over to her door.

Annabelle rolled down the window and smiled up at me. Her dark hair was styled in loose waves around her face, her brown eyes framed by long lashes.

"I have a quick call I need to do for work. Meet you inside?"

"Sure. Just so you know, the bar might be full of demons."

Annabelle laughed. Luckily, she thought I was hilarious. I didn't elaborate, because saying it out loud, I realized it was nuts. I hadn't slept well, and I was stressed. That was it.

Before I went in, I sent Char a text.

Have to go back to that bar for my credit card. I'm meeting Annabelle. If you don't hear from us by tomorrow, send out a search party ;)

I slipped the phone into my purse, took a deep breath, and walked in.

It was déjà vu. Same hunky guys everywhere, same pause in conversations as faces turned toward me, then away. The air seemed heavier somehow. I looked toward the bar.

Someone else was behind it.

My stomach clenched and my chest hurt. I recognized this feeling, and I wasn't going to lie to myself. It was soul-deep disappointment.

"Not meant to be." I sighed and tried to ignore the ache. At least I could get my card back.

Tonight's bartender was just as built as Gravod, but that was where the similarities ended. His hair was red—a bit too red to be natural, although it was close. He had light blue eyes and a strong, angular jaw.

Those eyes widened with recognition when I approached, but then he quickly hid his reaction behind a fake smile. Interesting.

"What can I get for you, beautiful?"

I matched his fake smile with my own. "Is Gravod around tonight?"

Shit. That wasn't what I meant to say.

Those blue eyes flashed with something I couldn't read. He leaned forward over the bar, as if he was sharing a secret.

"Not at the moment. He's with his girlfriend in the back."

No.I took a step back as sharp pain speared my heart and stole my breath.

My body's response didn't make sense, I knew that logically. It still felt like betrayal. I was frozen in place, stunned. The guy kept talking as though he couldn't see me dying in front of him.

"Yeah, those two are inseparable." He chuckled.

A hand slapped down hard on the bar. I jumped and looked over to see Ryoch standing beside me. His expression was violent.

"Gravod doesn't have a girlfriend," Ryoch snarled, staring down the redhead.

What?My gaze ping-ponged between the two men, and I felt a little dizzy.

It didn't take me long to decide I believed Ryoch. Red was glaring in a way that told me he'd been caught in a lie. The cool relief that flooded through me was almost embarrassing.

Why would he say something like that if it wasn't true?

Before I had a chance to recover and ask him, the guy huffed and stood back from the bar. "I need some air." He stomped away without another word.

Ryoch sighed. "Thylor is a dick. Don't listen to anything he says. I'll go get Gravod for you."

He rounded the bar and opened a door, and I thought I saw a desk. Probably an office. I heard Ryoch's voice, low and frustrated, then an angry growl in response.

I immediately recognized it as Gravod's growl. The feral sound had me squeezing my thighs together. In a matter of minutes, I'd gone from happy and hopeful to jealous and devastated, and now I was turned on. God, I was a mess.

"…I'll go talk to him. You do what you need to do." Ryoch came back through the door and gave me a tight smile before hurrying away in the direction of the dickhead.

I watched him for a second, long enough to see Ryoch pushing the guy out the rear exit, before my attention was yanked back.

Gravod had appeared behind the bar, bringing that amazing cologne scent with him. Tonight he wore a white button-down, sleeves rolled up again to show off his corded, muscular forearms. His green eyes pinned me in place as he stared.

Neither of us spoke, and I stared right back. But my eyes and my brain weren't in agreement about what I was seeing.

I knew I was looking at possibly the hottest guy I'd ever seen, with gorgeous tanned skin and definitely green eyes. But on every blink there seemed to be a moment when he looked…altered. Burgundy skin, silver eyes. And then, for just a split second, fucking horns. Small ones, just behind his ears, poking up through his hair.

I swallowed. His gaze darted to my neck at the motion, and I was positive I saw silver flashing in his eyes.

Holy. Shit.

Maybe Gravod was the devil. Or a demon. Or a demigod. Or maybe I'd read too many novels, and my imagination was playing tricks on me because I hadn't slept well in a week.

Or you could be going insane.

At that moment, I wasn't sure if I cared what he was. I'd had a shitty day. My dreams had left me frustrated. And something about Gravod called to me. My body thrummed with need, and every hot look he gave me only ratcheted that need higher.

If he was the devil, I might be ready to sell my soul.

He glanced up over my shoulder, and I turned to see Annabelle approaching. She was sniffing the air, her eyes wide.

"Smells like someone in here found a body spray that doesn't reek of desperation."

Was she smelling Gravod's cologne? Something deep inside me bristled with possessiveness. That scent was for me.

I shook myself, trying to break this spell, or whatever it was. It was time to act with my brain instead of my—once again drenched—pussy. Time to be smart and figure out what was going on.

"Oh yeah? I hadn't noticed." I motioned to the bar stools, and we both sat.

"Hmm." She sniffed again. "It's gone now. Weird."

I relaxed. Although I had a bizarre urge to start screaming "mine." It helped that Gravod couldn't take his eyes off me.

"Let's get a drink."