Free Tangled Sin (A Dark Realm Novel) by Georgia Lyn Hunter Page B

Heck, now she was imagining things she wanted to hear. Sheesh.
    “Come on.” She headed for the living room. He stopped her, laced his fingers with hers. At her wide-eyed stare, he cocked an eyebrow in that utterly sexy way. “Thought you said this had to look real?”
    She nodded because the words were trapped in her throat. God, if he carried on in this manner, it would be very hard to let go once tomorrow came.
    ***
    Riley followed Saia into the elegant room decorated rather early for Christmas. A lavishly decked out fir tree primed to perfection in silver and red took up space adjacent to the fireplace. Flames crackled and leaped from the hearth, adding warmth to the room. A huge abstract painting with splashes of colors bleeding into each other hung on one caramel-colored wall near the doors.
    Saia’s grip tightened on his hand.
    The reason for all her bristling tension now sat in a straight-back chair near the hearth, like the queen of the manor.
    Jemima Sen-Grayson, he decided, would give the ancient demons a lesson in snobbery.
    His attention shifted to a tall man with white-blond hair standing near the fireplace. Riley met his chilly blue eyes and stopped dead. Shit! How the hell had this crucial fact slipped his mind? He knew this male, had met him once years ago when he had thanked Riley for saving Liz— his sister—from blood-demons.
    Edward Grayson knew the truth. Knew what he was. And Riley had forgotten all this because of a pair of brown eyes and a dimpled smile that had stepped into his life and short-circuited his brain cells.
    “Daddy.” Saia rushed across the room, the clip of her boots subdued by the rugs. She hugged her father. “I missed you.”
    A smile softened the male’s austere features. “Is that why you came to visit so often?”
    She laughed. “I've only been gone a few weeks.”
    He kissed her forehead, stepped back, and examined her. “You look well.”
    A faint blush highlighted her cheeks. “I am.”
    Then those sharp blue eyes lifted above Saia’s head to study him. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
    Saia turned and held out her hand. Her eyes sparkled, and her dimple drew him like bait.
    Riley grasped her far too chilly fingers. Instinctively, his thumb rubbed hers. He didn't let go of her when she made the introduction. Besides, her father hadn’t kicked him out. Yet.
    “Riley, my father, Edward Grayson.”
    “Sir.” Riley shook the hand her father extended. Those cool blue eyes gave little away. He’d never pass the test as boyfriend material, so Riley didn't bother thinking about it. But he had a feeling all Saia had to do was smile and she’d get anything from this parent.
    “Riley,” Edward said, and the moment passed.
    Saia rubbed her cheek against his arm. He glanced down at her, and her relief enfolded him like a hug. Apparently, he was no better than her sire. Her smile reeled him in, and his own lifted in response.
    At the sound of male voices, Riley turned, and the twins strolled inside.
    “Here come the instigators of all my troubles,” she grumbled then stiffened when the human from the other night followed her brothers.
    “Hey, sis,” the twins said in unison.
    “Still sporting the ’fro, huh?” Rohan reached out to ruffle her hair. Expertly, she dodged him. Zayn completed the torture with a smirk.
    “Really?” Scowling, she smoothed her wavy hair then turned to him, her exasperation dissipating. “Riley, you’ve met my brothers.”
    He nodded a greeting.
    “Hey,” they both said, giving him the once over, their expression considering now.
    The calm before the shitstorm? What did it matter? Saia knew what he was, and that was all that mattered to him.
    “Saia?” Jemima glided over. She slipped her arm through the male’s at Saia’s brother’s side, completely ignoring Riley. “You remember Piers?”
    “Yes,” Saia said, her smile polite. “Hello, Piers.”
    It surprised Riley that Jemima hadn't read out all the