Into Temptation (A More Than Men Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page A

double, his question was muffled against her hip. “What are you doing?”
    “Looking for an exit wound. I don’t see one.” She pushed him back up, her hands resting on his shoulders. “I don’t see one.” Her eyes flashed with alarm. “Oh my God, the bullet’s still in your chest.”
    His lips twitched. “I don’t think God cares about my bullet.” Or lack of one.
    “This isn’t funny.” Her voice escalated with every word. He was going to have to do something before she went into full-fledged crisis mode.
    Bracketing her face with both of his hands, he brought her close. Staring straight into her eyes, he whispered several words in an ancient language she couldn’t understand. It hadn’t been spoken for a very long time, at least not on Earth.
    She blinked slowly, her eyelids fighting when she tried to raise them again.
    “The bullet grazed me, nothing more. I’m fine. Nothing a few days rest can’t fix.”
    It was a skill given to the angels when God sent them to watch over his precious humans. Not to protect his faithful servants, but to protect the fragile human mind from the weight of knowing they weren’t alone in the world.
    Brone hadn’t used it since he’d been cast out. Why would he? As a demon he’d wanted to spread chaos and doubt. He’d wanted to scare and intimidate. Letting humans know they weren’t alone was part of that ploy.
    But it was too early for Evie to know the truth. Eventually she would have to in order to agree to the contract. But now…he needed to figure out what she wanted most and how he could give it to her, a gift from Satan wrapped in a pretty bow.
    While she was still dazed, Brone dug into the hole in his side and retrieved the smashed piece of metal that had lodged against a rib. It hurt like hell. He might be immortal, but that didn’t equate to unable to feel pain.
    The moment was quickly over, but it still took a toll. He was light-headed and woozy when Evie finally regained full control. The rag he’d used to clean the wound was in the sink, a mess of red mixing with water and streaking pink toward the drain.
    “I don’t feel so great. Is there someplace I could lie down? Just for a few minutes, until my head stops spinning?” To give his words weight, Brone let his body sway. Hands flashing out, he grasped the sink and held on as if it were his only lifeline. He was only exaggerating a little.
    “I don’t know you.”
    “I’m in no shape to murder or rape you. And while your home is nice enough, I have no need of your possessions. I just need a soft place to sleep. An hour. Two. And I’ll leave. I promise.”
    He could have made her agree, but he wanted it to be her decision and hers alone. The single loophole that protected humans — free will. Evie had to let him in. She had to agree. He could tempt her. He could lie to her. But he couldn’t mesmerize her into signing away her soul.
    He had to dance with her, bring her around to the point where she’d gladly give it to him. His job was to make sure she didn’t have any other choice.
     
    He was still asleep. Weak morning light broke through the clouds that had gathered, cutting straight across the sharp angles of his face.
    Brone. What kind of name was that? Maybe it was foreign. She hadn’t detected an accent, but that didn’t necessarily mean he was American. Or maybe his parents had immigrated when he was young.
    The steady rise and fall of his chest had been the only thing that settled her nerves through the long night. She’d had her share of night vigils. A couple of years ago Megan had fallen from the slide at the playground, and despite the doctor’s assurances that she was fine, Evie had been reluctant to leave her side all night. She’d had visions of her daughter slipping into a coma if she left. The flu, colds, coughs, they were all cause for lost sleep in the world of a mother.
    It was the first time she’d kept watch over a gunshot victim. A gunshot she’d caused. Several