One of the cleaning staff stood a few feet away, gripping a mop like a lifeline. Their eyes ping-ponged between us in abject horror before they slowly raised the mop.
“Someone spilled their drink.”
Those words snapped me out of my haze.Shit, I was supposed to meet Nathen at the elevator.
Like we both knew the moment had passed, our fingers slowly untangled. Van cleared his throat, slipping his professional mask back on.
“Thank you, Laura.”
Like his voice released a spell, she bolted past us, shoved the mop into the closet, and scurried off without looking back.
Van slumped against the wall, his shirt wrinkled beyond help, red streaks painted up his neck and smeared across his lips.His hair looked like he’d just lost a fight with a tornado, and I couldn't help but grin ear to ear.
“Shit,” he muttered, gulping air like he could reset reality.
“What’s so bad?” I asked, cocking my head. “So. she knows we’re… fucking? Is that what we were about to do?”
His head snapped up, those green eyes flashing red, but before he could let the anger settle in, he scanned me and broke into a quiet laugh. His thumb grazed the corner of my mouth.
“You’re a mess.”
I grinned, smoothing my hands down my dress. “You’re not exactly the perfect picture either.”
He huffed. “We can’t have you walking out like this.”
Carefully, he ran his fingers through my hair, fussing with strands until they obeyed. He wiped at my makeup with gentle thumbs, checking my face like it mattered more than breathing. I watched him, watched the way his gaze kept dragging back to my lips like he couldn’t help himself. Soft eyes, careful hands, his touch so reverent it made my chest ache.
I could watch this man take care of me forever. In fact, I felt that same way about Alic, Rasmus, Maso, and Lucus. All of them took care of a piece of me in a different way, and my feelings for each of them were just as strong.
The realization hit me square in the chest.
This wasn’t just a fling. Somewhere between the stolen glances and whispered touches, they’d carved out a space in my heart and refused to leave. I was beginning to figure out that I didn't want them to. I didn't want to love ‘em and leave ‘em like Ioriginally planned. I wanted to keep them in my pocket and hiss at any woman that looked at them funny.
“There,” he said, stepping back to admire his handiwork. “Now no one will know.”
The words left my mouth before I could think. “I don’t mind if people know.”
He froze, eyes locking on mine. I held his gaze, refusing to flinch, letting him see that I meant it.
“Aniyah…” His voice broke into a whisper as he stepped closer and cupped my face, eyes drinking me in like he was starving.
My phone buzzed, Nathen’s name flashing across the screen. Shit.
“Go,” Van said, his voice firm. I hesitated, but he gave me that blinding smile, nodding toward the glamoured doorway.
“Seriously. Go. Ras sounded ready to tell Nathen to pound sand until he heard your name. Then he turned into Mr. Sunshine for our little old Nathen. His words, not mine.”
My lips twitched. Guilt tugged me one way, but the need to check on Ras pulled me harder.
Van surged forward to kiss me again. This time, it was slow, lazy, soft, even teasing, like he wanted to memorize my mouth. When he finally pulled back, I could barely stand.
“Go,” he murmured. “Nathen needs you. And I…” He glanced down at the very obvious problem straining against his zipper. “I need a second to cool off. Tonight has to go smoothly.”
I nodded, snapping myself out of the fog. Right. I needed to mingle, smile, and work the crowd. This night was important.
Turning to leave, I glanced back over my shoulder. “You can clean off the lipstick, but don’t you dare magic away that hickey. Let all those bitches know you’re taken. Got it?”
He was already pulling his tablet from the back of his pants, fingers flying across the screen, but I saw a smirk twitch his lips. His whole damn neck was glowing red.
