“I’m fine.”
“She’s not fine. She touched a flag that wasn’t ours and felt the wrath of it,” Rion insists, and I give him a pointed look.
“Not before you were electrocuted,” I retort, and he cocks a brow at me.
“Exactly. So we both have to make sure we make it home safely.” He winks as if I’ve just made it easier for him in some way.
Asshole.
“Besides, Kael gave me the keys to his car, and he never does that.” My stomach turns at the reason why, bile burning up my throat, but I tamp it down, refusing to let them see how affected I am by it. “And before you say it, don’t worry, I’m only having one of these babies. Got to be safe with special cargo in the vehicle,” he states, and all I can do is gape at him.
He’s insane.
“I’ll drive,” Thorne adds, and I frown, desperate for a distraction. Rion must sense the shift in me because he inches closer.
“Oh, I can see that look in your eyes, Petal. Do you want to place another bet? Spice it up and make it a bit more fun like last time?” he offers, and my gaze instinctively darts to Thorne, recalling the certainty of who I believed was watching me from the shadows when I left with Kael on his bike. A shiver ripples through my body.
“I’m all out of ideas,” I murmur, hoping to put a pin in it, but I should know by now that Rion is not easily swayed once he sets his sights on something.
“Let’s head in there,” he insists, grabbing my hand and tugging me along after him. I go, willingly apparently, because I’m dumb as hell, but the second we step into the quieter room, I’m thankful for it. There are only a few people by the door tonight, all of the pool tables are free, and the air isn’t as stuffy. It seems that everyone is living their best lives on the dance floor or spending the rest of eternity six deep at the bar.
He releases me, but only to set up the pool table, and I busy myself prepping my cue while Thorne leans against the wall, taking a swig of his beer as he stares me down.
“What’s the prize?” Rion asks with a grin, and I blink at him.
“What did you have in mind?” I nip at my bottom lip nervously.
“If I win, I get to eat you out on the pool table,” he offers with a wink, and I gape at him as Thorne remains silent.
“Wow, starting high, huh?” I muse, hating the way my face tingles with excitement as I fail to hide the slight thrill of desire that ripples through me.
“What’s it worth to you, Petal?” he pushes when I don’t shut him down immediately, and I tap my fingertip on my chin, thinking as hard as I can to come up with an answer that isn’t sex related, despite how much I want it to be.
“The Corvette Z06 that is in the garage back at the institute. I want a ride in that.”
“That’s mine,” Thorne interjects, surprising me as Rion waves him off.
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” he declares as Thorne rolls his eyes at his friend, but the agreement is sealed when he breaks the balls and the game begins.
The music is gentle enough to serve as the perfect backdrop as we remain quiet and focused on the game. I can feel Thorne tracking my moves just as much as Rion does, but the moment I miss my final shot, offering the win up on a silver platter to my opponent, the shadow fae is gone.
My face pulses as I stare into Rion’s deep, hazel eyes, feeling him devour me before he even has his hands close. Nervously, I take a step back, peering toward the door, only to freeze in place when I realize it’s completely empty and the door is closed, yet the music still plays through the speakers in the corner.
“It looks like Thorne didn’t want us to have any spectators, Petal,” he murmurs, aiming a thumb over his shoulder at the door, and I gulp.
“I didn’t think it would matter to him either way,” I reply huskily, and he snickers.
“Stop deflecting and get your sweet ass up on this table.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what you said the last time I saw you,” I retort, eyeing the table as I remain frozen in place.
“Where there’s a surface, there’s an opportunity, it seems. I can make it my mission to fuck you on every table in The Vale, if you like?” he offers, wagging his eyebrows at me as he saunters closer, one step at a time, until he’s right in front of me. “You like that idea, don’t you?” he pushes as I shiver, and he already knows the answer, despite the fact that I remain tight-lipped.
“I’m going to need you to remind me exactlywhat it feels like before I commit to anything,” I breathe, staring in awe as his grin spreads wider.
He offers me his hand, and the moment I place my palm against his, he tugs me closer before backing me up against the pool table. I run my hand over his tee, feeling his taut muscles beneath, and he quickly lifts me in the air just enough to place me on the edge of the table.
My sandals fall to the floor as I shuffle back, giddy with playing a little hard to get before I settle in the center of the felt table. Leaning back on my elbows, I peer at him, watching as his pupils dilate before he reaches for my ankles and tugs me a few inches closer to him. My dress rises with the movement, and I’m not quick enough to stop it before his breath flutters over my panties.
