An amused smile curls Dorian’s lips. “Oh?”
“They’re wild groups of animals. The wolf pack’s alpha sees me as an extended member of his pack, one he looks after and makes sure others don’t play too hard with. Ergo, his pet. The fox skulk sees me as an ally, I think. That’s besides the point. Why would we go on dates?”
“To get to know each other,” Dorian says simply. “I’m not that bad, you know.”
“I don’t,” I say. “And I frankly don’t want to know. I don’t care to know. We,” I motion between us, “are not dating. I’m your kind-of-captive, you’re my kind-of-captor.”
“Captor and captive,” Dorian muses. “I think I’d like that game. Especially if there were ropes involved. You’d make a very pretty captive, tied down and at my mercy.”
“No!” I snap. “You need to stop doing…that.”
“Doing what?” Dorian asks innocently.
“Sex talk. I’m not going to fuck you.”
“You’re right,” Dorian agrees, surprising me. “I’mgoing to fuckyou.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter. “What’s your deal? Why do you want in my panties so badly?”
He pauses for several beats to think that over. “I don’t know,” he says after a long moment. “You’re… unique. And shiny. And pretty. And very,verysmart. The way you see the world—feelthe world—is fascinating to me.” Abruptly, he shifts topics. “Does it ever get to be too much?Feelingeverything and everyone around you?”
I gaze down at my lap, lips pursing. “Only every minute of every day.”
From the corner of my eyes, I see Dorian nod. “How do you deal with it?”
“I focus on the pure, untainted things in this world,” I respond honestly. “Animals. Nature. Products of nature. Anything with a singular, predictable energy. Even herbal candles help—they’re a steady, consistent pulse of not only the samearoma, but also the samefeeling. When I’m in public, I’ll partially dissociate by listening to music.”
“Have you ever done candle making?” Dorian asks me. “There’s a spot in the city I saw once where people can make their own herbal candles. Looked cool.”
I feel my brows draw together as I look at him. “You looked into candle making? When? Between terrifying innocents and shooting down home invaders with guns?”
A grim smile spreads on Dorian’s lips. “I found a few minutes after shooting up a barrel of puppies this morning.” He lets out a long breath. “I’m not that terrible, Mira. You can find that out for yourself.”
“What you are or aren’t is none of my business.”
“Fine. So, you like candles, animals, and nature. What else?”
I think for a moment. “Crystals. Genuine crystals, rough and mined from the earth, not the smooth, tumbled ones. I want them raw and real and consistent.” I sigh. “I just like consistency, I guess.”
Dorian nods. “The world is a veryinconsistent place. Uncertain, unpredictable to everyone. I can’t imagine what that would be like to someone who perceives that chaos on an energetic level. Hellish, I’d guess.”
That’s surprisingly insightful of him. “It certainly isn’t pleasant.”
Dorian’s lips twist. “I am sorry, you know. I can see you’re not happy with being my guest for a while. I don’t want you unhappy or uncomfortable. If there’s anything I can do to help that, just tell me and I will.”
I let out a long breath, turning my gaze to the window. “No, thank you. Focus on figuring out whatever it is you need to so I can go back to my life; I’ll focus on myself.”
“What about him?” Cara questions, tipping her head towards a blond-haired guy reminiscent of a Viking from ancient times. He’s just sent her over a drink.
“No, and toss out whatever he sent you.”
Cara’s eyes widen as she gazes at me. “Really?You think he slipped something into it?” she shoves the strawberry daiquiri away from her; it slides forward a few inches on the polished faux-wood table we sit at, some of the liquid sloshing over the surface.
“I don’t know if he did, but he has the vibe like he might do some shit like that,” I reply honestly.
Valerie sighs, taking a swig of her beer. “I love you, Mira, but you make it really difficult to have faith in men. Or in our country. Or in people themselves.”
I smile grimly, clinking my beer against hers. “Welcome to the club, babe.”
