I freeze for a split second. “That will be more expensive since it’s a very rare blood type.”
He nods to confirm, so I turn and start to rummage for the bottle of Bloodka. Can he can smell my blood type? Some vampires, specifically the older ones, have keen senses of smell. He doesn’t look that old, though it’s nearly impossible to tell a vampire’s actual age from their outward appearance. Surely, it’s a coincidence he asked for my blood type.
I pour the Bloodka and straighten my posture, trying to shake off the feelings this man gives me—and there are many different feelings. One part of me wants to climb across this bar, rip that suit off, and see what’s hidden underneath. The other part of me wants to tell him to get his smug, smirking ass out of the bar.
With the drink in my hand, I feel a hand on my arm, preventing me from turning. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cerise hopping up onto her tiptoes to bring her mouth closer to my ear.
“Holy shit…that guy is delicious,” she whispers, quickly moving to the other side of me.
Before she walks away, I quickly whisper back, “Tell me about it. Kind of a jerk, though.”
“Unfortunate. They almost always are.” She sighs as she heads back to the other end of the bar.
She immediately starts taking drink orders, glancing over at me once and smirking. Cerise desperately wants me to date someone—specifically, a customer. She always had a fantasy about meeting a hot customer and running away with him, but now that she has a boyfriend she loves, it’s out of the question for her.
Since she can’t experience it herself, she wants me to live it. Unfortunately for her, she knows I have no time for dating or serious relationships. Running away with someone is too serious, too expensive, and too time-consuming.
Well, it’s not that I have no time, it’s that I have no desire. Relationships are a lot of work, and the chance of finding a truly good man in this world is low. All of the men I’ve given the time of day end up being assholes. Finding Mr. Right will have to wait for when I have the energy to go searching again.
I pick up the drink and turn to give it to the stunning vampire, this time keeping my composure. His gorgeousness will not distract me from doing my job properly. I slide the drink across the bar to him.
As I’m pulling my hand away, his fingertips graze mine on the glass. His cool touch sends a rush of heat up my arm. Without hesitation, I retract my hand, trying to hide the reaction he’s causing.
“Would you like to start a tab?” I ask, taking in his suit once more. It looks high-end. Expensive. Why is someone like this in The Lair?
He reaches into his jacket, his sleeve sliding to reveal a shining gold watch. Shit, maybe he’s rich. I really could’ve tried to charge him for what my blood type is. What a missed opportunity.
As he extends the card toward me, he tells me his name. “Emris.”
I give him a smile and nod, taking the card from him and putting it with all the others. Emris…I don’t recognize the name. That being said, I don’t overly keep up with who the rich businessmen in New Bria, or the country, are.
“What’s your name?” Emris’s silky voice calls out to me once more.
Standing in place, I twist to look over my shoulder at him. “That’ll cost you.”
“How much?” He smirks, leaning his chin onto the palm of his hand.
I take the order of another customer before I answer with, “Hundred bucks.”
“Add it to my tab,” Emris quips back.
My eyes narrow at him before turning to make another drink. As I mix it up, I debate actually letting this go on. He’s hot as hell, so it’s not like I lose anything by flirting with him for a good tip.
“Mallorie,” I tell him after handing the drink to the other customer. “I’m seriously charging you for that.”
He just smiles at me again, sipping on his drink as he stares. “What else can I pay you to do?”
This is an opportunity to ensure a good tip, but I’m a bartender, not a prostitute. I won’t be paid for sex, but maybe a few cheeky questions or flirty remarks. Hell, I might even flash a tit if he paid enough.
“Depends what you want.” I smile at him, walking a few steps away to take some more orders.
I mix up a few drinks and glance over at Cerise. She must feel my gaze on her and looks at me, glancing at our hottie-of-the-night along the way. She mouthswowand I mouth backrich. She rolls her eyes, fluttering her eyelashes before turning back toward her customers.
Emris is tapping his finger on his cheek when I glance his way, his lips curling up slightly. Gods, why do the hot ones always have to be jerks? Life isn’t fair. Is it too much to ask for just one of the hot ones to be nice? And, as a bonus, rich and wants to spoil me? Not that being rich is one of my criteria for a man.
I actually don’t want to date a rich man, at least, not one who flaunts his money to anyone and everyone. Most of the wealthy men I’ve encountered think less of people with my status, and they’re simply too arrogant. If a man’s only personality trait is that he’s rich, it isn’t enough to keep me interested. I’ll admitthat Emris hasn’t done much to flaunt his wealth—maybe I’m being a bit judgmental.
“A date,” he says simply as I’m passing by. “And another drink, please.”
