Page 115 of Dancing With Demons

The mutt shook his head right back. “There is no step four without step three, because step four is what you do after she gives you a second chance, and she won’t if you don’t do step three.”

“I can’t.” My voice was flat. “Maybe it’s the love curse, but I just can’t do it again. I can’t... lie to her.”

Tristan rocked back, brows high—then he nodded. “I get it. I don’t want to understand anything about you. But this... I do.”

I said nothing. I just took my mirror and turned to go.

“Hey, maybe steps one and two will be enough,” Tristan called. “Try them again, and do them fucking right this time. If you do, she might forgive and take you back.”

“Yeah,” I said to the door. “Maybe.”

But even as the words came out of my mouth, we both knew I didn’t stand a chance.

Groveling 101

Step One: Gifts That She’ll Love & Shows You Care

Step Two: Grand Gesture

Step Three: Apologize

Chapter Fourteen

Charlotte

I trudged out of my room dressed in black pleather chaps, beaded shorts, and a jean corset.

Our eyes locked.

“Seriously? What are you here to do now?” I barked. “Stealing my clothes and giving me a box of severed heads obviously wasn’t enough, you must be here to deliver the noose you fashioned out of my shaved hair!”

“No, no,” he cried, throwing his hands up. “No more gifts and gestures. I’m clearly not good at it. I only came because— because I—” He scrubbed his face—that same annoyed and uncomfortable expression twisting his handsome looks.

But just as suddenly, the discomfort disappeared. Straightening, Ronin looked me in the eyes and said, “I came because I love you, Charlotte.”

I froze, the breath leaving my lungs.

“But the fact is I don’t know anything about love,” he admitted. “I’ve never done it before. I’ve never even seen it before you. I don’t know how to do it right, so I asked for advice. I was told that gifts and grand gestures are what women want, and then I was told I gave you the wrong ones—but I didn’t.”

My brows shot up. Excuse me? Didn’t? You absolutely went wide of the mark!

“This is who I am, Charlotte. I’m a demon. And if someone hurts you. If they even hold the thought in their head that they can, I will separate that head from their fucking shoulders.”

I shook, hands trembling.

“And even though I don’t understand your fashion taste.”

I flushed in spite of myself.

“If you want to dress like a freak, I’ll buy all the strange and clownish clothes that exist in the realm,” he whispered, taking a step closer. Then another. “There’s nothing about you that I want to change, because simply seeing you smile has changed everything about me.”

Step.

“So, I’m doing what I should’ve done in the first place, and asking you what you need.” Gentle fingers stroked my cheek as the tenderest light shone in Ronin’s eyes. “What can I do to make it up to you, Charlotte? All I want is to ease your pain. Tell me how.”

“Oh, Ronin,” I whispered. “Did you really mean all of that?”

“Every word.”