Page 75 of Ravaged By a Devil

I say it purely to annoy him, expecting a fight or at least a stubborn argument. But Cain just gives a casual shrug, completely unbothered, and picks up my bag again.

"If that's what you want," he says, trailing down the corridor to open the door to a spacious, sunlit guest room.

He sets my suitcase at the foot of the bed and turns back to face me, leaning against the bedpost with a faint, dangerous smirk playing on his lips.

"Enjoy your stay," he says smoothly, turning on his heel to walk away.

I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at his back before the door swings shut between us.

Once I'm alone, I let out a long breath and get to the chore of unpacking, arranging my few clothes in the oversized dresser and setting aside my toiletries in the adjoining bathroom. Through the closed door, the subtle, rich aroma of food begins to drift up from the ground floor—a clear sign that Cain is making lunch.

I head downstairs when the smell becomes impossible to ignore. Lunch is a quiet, low-key affair. Cain sits across from me at the kitchen island, his dark eyes watching me thoughtfully, though neither of us says much. The air between us is thick with unsaid thoughts, but the quiet isn't uncomfortable.

As soon as I finish, I excuse myself and depart to my room. I spend the next hour on the phone with Milly, catching up on everything, checking in on her security detail, and letting her voice anchor me back to reality.

Later that evening, Cain knocks at my bedroom door.

"Alexis," his deep voice rumbles through the wood. "Dinner's ready."

I don't open the door. I just lean back against my pillows and call out, "I'm not hungry."

There's a short beat of silence on the other side of the door.

"Whenever you change your mind, there's food in the fridge," he says, his tone surprisingly patient.

"Thank you," I reply.

I hear his footsteps recede down the hallway as he walks away, leaving me alone in the quiet dark of the guest room.

Hours pass, and I am still wide awake.

I roll onto my left side, shove the blanket off, pull it back up, and flip onto my right. It isn't the bed. This is easily the most comfortable mattress I have ever laid on in my entire life, stuffed with down pillows and thread counts higher than my entire monthly rent.

So why can't I fall asleep?

It is maddeningly frustrating. My mind keeps looping back to Cain's infuriating words from earlier today—we both know where you'll end up.

I shake my head against the mattress, gritting my teeth. No. Absolutely not. I am not proving him right. I yank the top pillow, slap it over my face, and try to force my brain to shut off.

It doesn't work. I push it off and lie there staring up at the ceiling, blinking into the shadow-draped room until my eyes literally start to ache.

Eventually, I give up.

I slide off the bed, clutching one of my pillows tightly against my chest. I push my door open and trek down the quiet, carpeted hallway, every single step heavy with looming regret. I can already hear his low, smug voice in my head. I can already picture the insufferable smirk on his face.

I stop in front of his bedroom door and just stand there for a long time, staring at the polished wood. My pulse races against my ribs as I raise my hand and finally give two soft knocks.

"Come in, Alexis," his deep, rumbling voice calls out instantly from the other side, as if he had been wide awake waiting for me.

I turn the handle and step inside.

He is already in bed, propped up against the headboard. Our eyes lock in the dim twilight of the room, holding for a few breathless seconds. He doesn't say I told you so. He doesn't laugh. He just reaches out and pulls the heavy duvet back, silently inviting me in.

I walk briskly across the floor, abandoning the last of my foolish pride. I slide into the mattress, toss my pillow beside his, and lie down.

Before I can even settle, Cain shifts. His warm body molds seamlessly against my back, pulling me flush against his chest. He buries his face in the crook of my shoulder, planting soft, lingering kisses down the sensitive curve of my neck.

Every trace of tension coiled inside me completely evaporates. My eyelids grow heavy, my breathing slows to match his steady pulse, and within seconds, I finally drift off to sleep.