“This is all… a lot to process,” I say, as sweetly as I can manage. “I was thinking about getting some fresh air.”
He snorts. “Some fresh air? In a blizzard? You expect me to believe that?”
My smile goes rigid. He’s right, it’s a terrible excuse. He’s drunk, but not drunk enough to believe it, and his eyes are narrowed on me. He can’t possibly suspect what I’m really up to, but he’s gleaned that I’m hiding something.
Little does he know, I’m hidingmanythings. So I suppose I’ll have to sacrifice a small truth.
“Okay. You’ve caught me.” My hand dives into the pocket of my coat. I hold up my packet of cigarettes with an embarrassed grimace. “What I really need is a smoke.”
He laughs. “Disgusting,” he says. “Didn’t expect a girl like you to have a filthy habit like that.”
I grate at being called agirl, and the fact that his eyes linger on my cleavage as he calls mefilthy. My coat is on butunbuttoned, and I resist the urge to cover myself. As repulsive as Adrian is, it gives me an angle to work with. “That’s funny,” I say. “You didn’t strike me as a man put off by a little filth.”
His gaze darts up to meet mine, and his eyes widen at my flirtatious look before his expression settles into a pleased and unsurprised sort of smugness. Like he was expecting this all the while, and just waiting for me to prove him right.
Gag.
“I’m not,” he says. “Though it’s been a while since I…” He glances at the pack of cigarettes, then again at my face. “Indulged.”
“Oh? What a shame.” I flick open the pack, grab a cigarette. “Perhaps you should join me, then.” I hold it out to him in offering. Giving him an excuse to step closer, which he does. His fingers graze mine as he takes the cigarette, and his face comes close enough that I can smell the whiskey on his breath.
“We’re really not supposed to go outside tonight,” he murmurs, watching my lips.
“Do you always do what you’re told, Adrian?” I ask softly, teasing. I pull my lower lip between my teeth.
He hesitates. I flick a strand of hair behind my back, drawing his attention back to my cleavage. “I suppose they won’t notice we’re gone if we’re quick about it.”
“I suppose you’re right,” I whisper.
He reaches behind me and clicks the lock open.
Grinning, I turn and step outside into the snow.
Chapter
Eleven
Adrian follows me like I’ve got a hook in his lip.
“Don’t go too far,” he says, loudly to be heard over the wind, casting an uneasy glance at the nearby trees.
I’m eyeing the forest too, but I can’t find the mountainous monster I’m looking for. “Well, you wouldn’t want anyone to spy ourfilthyhabit from the windows, would you?” I ask, continuing to head deeper into the blizzard.
“I guess not…” He glances over his shoulder, doubt creeping into his tone.
“Let’s just go around the side of the cabin here,” I suggest, and tug one strap of my dress down on my shoulder. My coat is still unbuttoned, and it’s fucking cold, but sacrifices must be made. When Adrian looks back at me, his eyes drink in the exposed skin, and he forgets his hesitation and follows me.
The side of the building provides shelter from the wind, and I quickly put a cigarette between my lips and light it in a cupped hand. When Adrian steps over alongside me, I press it between his lips. He takes a drag, and I snatch it back and place it in my own mouth with a half smile.
He coughs as he exhales. I take an effortless drag and blow it out the side of my mouth.
“Thought you were a smoker,” I say.
He licks his lips. “I never said that.”
I raise my brows in mock surprise. “Are you suggesting… there was another reason you wanted to come outside with me?”
He smirks, leaning in, but I step back. He reaches for me, and I step back again, smiling in between puffs of my cigarette.
