The siren steps nearer to hand me the drink from the bartender, and I try to ignore how my body rebels against the idea of getting any closer. My nervous system breaks out into metaphorical hives when I picture touching him.
But I'm genuinely curious about what things I might enjoy if I can just get over my stupid conditioning. Once I'm over this hurdle, maybe I can learn to actually enjoy physical pleasure so I can get more of those fantastic orgasms.
And since I'm going to keep things platonic with my damned quintet, I might as well force myself to give it a try with someone I find passably attractive.
Someone like this guy.
"Care to dance?" he asks in his rich, lilting siren's voice.
"Depends." Battling internal horror, I reach out with my free hand to straighten his bowtie, trailing my fingers briefly over his shoulder. "Will this dance lead to something more…fun?"
"It will if I have any say in it."
He covers my lace-gloved hand with his, and even though I try to hide it, needles of hysteria scatter through every inch of me. And it's not just my customary panic because of someone else touching me—it's mixed with a surprising aversion to touching anyone who isn't…them.
It just feels wrong.
And not in the good way.
I pull my hand away, reminding myself to breathe as I drink the too-sugary cocktail. Touching this guy more tonight is officially out of the question, but still…I don't have to get touchy to flirt. Maybe if I get used to him over time, my body won't freak out so much.
The siren hasn't noticed my inner struggle. He's all smiles as he says, "Actually, what are you doing after this? Collins invited me to a secret orgy in his dorm. It's a pretty fucking exclusive group going tonight, but I bet he'll let it slide if I bring you. I mean, everyone is talking about the mysterious Maven Oakley. If you're platonic with your quintet, why not come and have fun? I'll make sure you enjoy yourself. And I know I'm not the only unmatched dude who's dying for a shot at your ass?—"
Ice seals his lips together. Frozen crystals bloom all over his dark skin and clothing, sealing together and thickening until less than a blink of an eye later, I'm staring at a siren frozen in place like a statue. His faint, muffled grunts of panic at his inability to move show that he can still breathe through his nostrils.
I'm abruptly so cold that I’m sure my nipples will show since I opted not to wear a bra. With all this chill, I'm not surprised when I hear Everett's voice directly behind me.
"Enjoying yourself, Oakley?"
His voice is easygoing, as if he's perfectly unbothered. Yet when I turn around with my poker face intact, his jaw is clenched, a muscle ticking.
It's satisfying to get a reaction out of him. I decide to push it further.
"I was until you interrupted my first choice for getting laid tonight. Kindly unfreeze him."
The professor's gaze drops briefly, and this time, I know I'm not imagining the way his cheekbones darken when he notices my hard nipples through my dress.
"I saw you touch him. That's not happening ever again."
“Why the fuck do you even care?"
"I don't," he says at once. "I was just…concerned. Just like any elemental would be for their gods-given match. Don't mistake it forcaring."
My chest hurts, and I'm starting to lose my patience and my temper. I step closer to him, looking up into his pale blue eyes so I won't be mistaken.
"I need you to do something for me."
All of Everett’s anger seems to liquefy at my proximity, and the temperature around us returns to normal. His eyes study mine fervently.
"Anything," he whispers, his tone nearly throwing me off because it's bizarrely soft.
I give him a saccharine smile. "Take your concern and shove it up your ass so your head can have some company."
He wilts. And this time, his reaction is somehow not as satisfying. I don't know the reason for that, but before either of us can say anything else, Baelfire plants a hand on Everett's shoulder and shoves him away from me with a growl.
"Get the fuck away from her, asshole. She wants nothing to do with you."
Everett lifts his chin, donning his characteristic aloof sneer. "She wants nothing to do with any of us, which is why she was all over that siren."
