“Little girls drink flavored drinks like that.Men drink liquor.”
“You took a sip of my margarita last time and you loved it!”
“I was already drunk!I would have loved random stickiness licked off the floor by that point.”
Kenyon snorted softly.“Don’t worry, I’ll share my drink if you want.”
I didn’t bother to argue with him over it—no point.Arguing with Kenyon was like kicking a dog—no one learned anything from it and it was just mean.
The server—a pretty girl in her twenties with hair so red it was clearly dyed—came to the table.“Sorry for the wait—we’ve been really busy.”
In reality, it had only been a few minutes.Of course, we often got pretty good service when we went out.Espers, even those who didn’t flaunt what they were, got noticed.It wasn’t even just our appearance that caused it, but something else, something deeper.It was like humans could stillfeelthe corruption that had become a part of us.It should have signaled danger, but often drew interest along with it.I had to imagine it was like watching a tiger or a cobra—humans were fascinated by that which could kill them.
“What can I get you all?”Her voice was upbeat and friendly, balancing on the line between professional and flirting.Whether she did that for tips or because she was actually interested, I had no idea.
Of course, before, I would have jumped all over that option.How many servers had given me at least a short reprieve?In a dark corner, a bathroom, a maintenance closet.Location didn’t matter, because I could get exactly as creative as I needed to.
So why was it when she leaned in closer to me, when a glance down her shirt revealed a lacy bra, I felt exactly nothing?No heat, no desire, no clawing need that made me desperate to get her somewhere private.
Or not private at all.I’d never minded an audience, after all.I didn’t give a fuck if people watched, and in fact enjoyed that particular kink from time to time.
This time, however, I didn’t feel that need.She struck me about as appetizing as an overcooked, cold steak.Nothing about her called to me, even though on the surface, I couldn’t deny she was pretty enough, that on paper, she had everything I needed.
So why the fuck wasn’t I interested?
The answer sat across the table, ordering a water rather than anything with alcohol, seemingly oblivious to my confusion.
Girl had no idea the chaos she caused, did she?
The server took the orders and left, returning fast enough that it was clear she was going to be giving us the lion’s share of her attention during our meal.Of course, the way she responded to Yun was a far cry from the rest of us.
We got smiles and lingering glances—Yun got water in a cup with a big ol’ smudge on it.
Kenyon took the glass and wiped it clean with his napkin, then pushed it back over to her.“You know, you could have had an actual drink.”
“I don’t drink,” she said.
“Why the fuck not?”I asked, voice sharp even if I knew I should have eased it a bit.
At least she didn’t flinch, instead giving me one of those heated glares that blurred the line between hatred and sexual attraction.“I don’t like to feel out of control.”
“Yeah, well, in my opinion you’d do well to be farlesscontrolled.”
She pressed her lips together, frustration etched across her lovely features.“What does it matter to you?”
“Just figured if you got that stick out of your ass, you’d be a bit more fun to be around.”I shrugged, lifting my glass of tequila to my lips.
“I’m notnotfun.I’m sorry that not all of us can be out there drinking and whoring.”
“Well, youcould be,but instead you choose this bullshit.”
“What bullshit?”
“Prudish, hates everyone, untrusting bullshit, that’s what.”
“Knock it off,” Carter said, his voice somehow friendly despite the clear threat there.It was always impressive the way he could both sound terrifying and cordial at the same time.“This isn’t why we took her out today.”
Yun sat up straighter at that.“Why did you take me out, then?”
