All Chapters of The Devil Who Claimed Me (M x M): Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

NIKOLAI He lowers himself into the seat across from me in the booth. A muscle ticks in my jaw as I watch him, irritation flicking through me again. Who does he think he is? Who gave him the right to come into my space and act like he owns it? Who gave him the permission to act like he belongs here? I’m about to tell him to fuck off when he speaks again, that annoying smile still on his face. “It’s okay if you don’t remember my name, I’ll remind you. I’m Valentin. But you can call me Val.” I won’t be calling him anything. Because his name is irrelevant and I won’t remember by the time I leave this bar. “We met here about a month ago,” he goes on, as if the rope he’s walking on is not already pulled tight. “We talked for a beat and then we spent the night together—” “What we had was a one-off thing,” I cut in calmly. “You should move on.” I give myself a pat on the back mentally. At least I didn’t fling him out of the window like I truly want to do. I’m expressing mys

JULIANI shouldn’t be here.The thought repeats in my head for what feels like the hundredth time as I stand across the street, staring at the bar.It looks exactly like the picture Theo showed me.Dim lighting filters through tinted glass windows. The exterior is sleek, almost minimalistic, but there’s something about it that feels intentional. Like every detail has been carefully chosen.Even the people going in and out don’t look random.They look like they belong.Which only makes it more obvious that I don’t.I catch my reflection on the glass window of the car in front of me and I almost don’t recognize myself.Nothing I’m wearing is out of my wardrobe.They are all Theo’s choices. Designed to catch Nikolai’s attention.Starting with my shirt. It’s black, the sleeves pulled up, the fabric just sheer enough under the right light to hint at the shape of my body beneath. The top few buttons are undone, in a deliberate manner, just enough to expose the line of my collarbone, the hol

JULIAN He raises a hand to signal the bartender and he comes running to our table, like a puppet tugged by invisible strings. He’s a little too eager as he converses with Nikolai who remains polite in contrast. “Something light,” he says. The bartender nods, his gaze lingers a little bit longer on him and then he leaves. Mild irritation courses through my body. Eager much? Is that how I look when I’m with Nikolai? I hope to hell not. I turn my irritation to Nikolai. “Do you always order for all your dates?” He raises an eyebrow, his gray eyes sharp. “I wasn’t aware we were on a date.” I freeze. I almost raise a hand to slap my own mouth. Presumptuous much, Julian? My mind mocks. And here I am, calling another man eager. I’m even worse than he is. This, right here, is why I don’t go on dates. I always end up saying something embarrassing. Something that makes me want to crawl in a hole and die. Like now. “I’m sorry—” “If you were,” Nikolai interrupts, “would you be offe

NIKOLAIIt’s not often that I’m unsure of my decisions.I think logically before I do anything, making sure my emotions are not in play. That they don’t interfere with what I’m doing.Sometimes, that involved sacrificing the things I wanted to do and going with what I have to do. Going with what is necessary.It’s for the best. Emotions only get you in trouble.However, there is no sign of my usual clearheadedness as I step out of the bar and lead Julian to the parking lot where my car is.The moment he entered the bar, the moment I saw the exposed skin, the moment I saw him looking like a fish out of water as he tried to awkwardly charm me, I knew what I was going to do.I tried to talk myself out of it but clearly, it didn’t work.Each word out of his mouth only spurred me on.I don’t know what it is about him that has caught my interest. Other than his good looks, he’s not my usual type.He’s awkward, unsure, impulsive and acts suspiciously. Nothing about him should attract my inte

NIKOLAI He looks up at me, his mouth slightly parted. Defiance and a little bit of anger shines in his eyes. I find myself being taken in. It’s not about the colour. I’ve dated a lot of people with blue eyes. A lot of forgettable people. But there’s something about Julian’s. His eyes are clear. Very clear. But more than that, there’s something in them. Something that doesn’t align with the rest of the world. Something unguarded, something almost reckless in its honesty. People don’t walk around like that. Not after they’ve learned the consequences of doing so. But Julian does. His eyes don’t hide anything. Whenever he feels something, it’s there. Curiosity. Irritation. Hesitation. Disdain. All of it, unfiltered, unpolished. Unprotected. Sometimes, I hate them. I hate the way they hold my gaze too long, like he’s trying to understand me. Like he’s trying to see me. That alone should make me distance myself and yet… I caress his chin slightly. “Are we clear?” His eyes glitte