One Handsome Devil Read Online Free Page B

of people through work."
    "Oh, yes. Let's not forget about that little thing you have with your temper."
    "That's ridiculous.” Sara stepped toward the exasperating male, her fists in balls. At the glowing wards, she stopped abruptly. “I don't have a temper."
    Jack laughed. “I'm not saying it isn't pretty, but then again, what attracts me may not attract the human male. What I am saying is that any man who you'd be happy with would be someone special. Someone who can keep you under control."
    Had Jack said he was attracted to her? It would be evil to tease her like this if he wasn't interested. Of course, he was a demon. Jack was supposed to be evil.
    The rest of what he'd said finally penetrated. Keep her under control? “That's the most sexist, egotistical, chauvinist, ugly thing anyone has ever said to me.” She was angry enough to spit. Unfortunately, all spitting would do was prove Jack right.
    "If you say so,” Jack grinned. “I'm not saying I can't do it, you know. Just that it'll be hard to find a man for you. One that wants to stick around for a while anyway. But go ahead, make your wishes. I need to get along with my business."
    "Don't rush me."
* * * *
    Sara was attracted to him, that was obvious to Jack. Unfortunately, her attraction just made her more suspicious. He'd have to find some way around this block.
    "So tell me, what should I wish for?"
    "How should I know what you want?” He hoped she wouldn't notice he hadn't answered her question.
    "You're a demon, and you already said you can read my mind. So tell me. And don't try to twist your answer around, either."
    "Maybe you should wish for what your friend wished for. Happiness in love, comfort in her surroundings, and enough wealth to enjoy life and contribute to the betterment of others."
    "And maybe I shouldn't, huh? You can do better than that."
    "I won't tell you what to wish for."
    Sara took one step closer to the wards.
    Jack inhaled. Her scent revealed much about Sara. Her confusion, fear, and sexual interest in him all showed as strongly as words on a page. Sara's reaction to him heightened his own sexual awareness of her. He hadn't experienced desire for hundreds of years, but he'd never forgotten.
    This could be a very bad idea. Jack didn't trust himself around human women. They didn't play by the same rules demons did.
    "What happens when I let you go?"
    When Sara had first summoned him, he'd felt a sense of relief so profound it had almost let him forget the tortures he constantly endured. With every passing moment, the wards pressed more tightly against him.
    "I promised I wouldn't hurt you."
    "But you will hurt others."
    "I let people hurt themselves. It's simple, really."
    "I'll just bet.” She looked sad. “I can't let you go."
    Panic welled over him at the certainty he saw in her stance. “I can't hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it."
    She laughed. “You mean you can't hurt the one percent of us who has never done anything wrong? That's not good enough. I'm not much of a church-goer anymore, but I was raised right. Setting a demon free on Dallas isn't the type of thing I was brought up to do."
    His wing brushed against the ward and the ethereal shock jolted him again.
    "I'll send you back as soon as I can."
    Panic shot through him. “No!” He forced himself to take a deep breath, almost as if he had been human and needed to breath. “Imagine the smallest cupboard in your kitchen, one you can hardly get into. Then imagine it pressing in on you until you couldn't breath, couldn't move, couldn't do anything but feel the weight of the earth pressing against you and the heat of the fire burning on your skin. That's what you brought me from. Compared to that, this prison is a vast paradise."
    He watched carefully for her reaction. Most humans would see only the power this gave them. If Sara took that path, he might have to serve as her slave for a time, but sooner or later, he would have his freedom and her soul.
    Sara's face