My door opens, taking my breath with it. He holds out his hand, and the contrast of our size is emphasized when I slip mine into his. He entwines our fingers, and it’s almost like all the wrongs in the world have been righted, the stars have aligned, and a surge of love has me swaying. The slight tilt of his lips as our gazes collide only punctuates the feeling more.
The music blurs and the vibrations pound off the walls, and Azrael guides us inside with several guards surrounding us. I stand taller, attempting to scan the area over their shoulders. Searching for what, I don’t know, but it’s pointless,anyway. The guards are far too tall and broad compared to me.
We enter an empty room and in front of us is a glass wall overlooking the dance floor. There’s a raised stage running along one side of the far wall, and there are couches in a semicircle surrounding what appears to be a stripper pole on the other.
Azrael guides us to the couches, and I glance around the room, wondering what the hell is happening. I thought we would go to a club to dance, not to sit in a room.
The door we came in through is closed behind us, leaving us alone with my thoughts spiraling into the abyss.
“What would you like to drink? Champagne?” he asks, staring down at his phone. When I don’t reply, he glances up, capturing me with his commanding energy.
“Y-yes, thank you.”
He nods, seemingly pleased with my response, then types away on his phone before sitting back against the couch while widening his thick thighs, and I remain stoically still.
“My brother is going to come and meet you.”
I snap my head in his direction. His brother? I dart my gaze around the room and over my shoulder. Now?
“Make sure you don’t give him too much attention. I won’t like it,” he warns.
A server in booty shorts and a gold bikini top brings drinks over to our table, and I smile in her direction to thank her, but the way Azrael’s jaw clenches draws my attention back to him.
I pick up the champagne glass and take a sip from it. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“Yes. One full blood, same mother and father. The rest are my father’s bastards.” My mouth drops at his callousness.He runs his tongue along the inside of his cheek, glancing around the room before he brings his attention back to me, then he swallows thickly and shifts. “I have a sister too; you’d like her,” he tacks on, as if to soften the blow of his words.
“What are their names?”
“Czar.”
“Czar?” I question, never having heard the name before now.
He nods and takes a drink of his Scotch. “It means ruler. My sister’s name is Sienna.”
“That’s beautiful.”
“She is. She reminds me a little of you.” My eyebrows shoot up. “She has a kind soul.” His gaze holds mine, and it isn’t until the music changes that I realize we’re no longer alone. I think it’s one of the most touching and tender comments he’s ever made.
A fresh song begins and four naked women dance on the stage in high heels. They grind against one another and openly kiss and caress, and my stomach twists with a hint of jealousy and swims with hurt.
The door behind us opens, and I dart my head over my shoulder to see who walked in. A man who can only be Azrael’s brother strides across the room with a broad grin on his handsome face.
Where Azrael slicks his hair back and has a constant cold scowl on his face, Czar looks carefree and, dare I say, normal. His hair has a curl to it, and he walks with a bounce of confidence, whereas Azrael’s strides are purposeful.
“Hevan!” Azrael snaps, and I shoot him a glare.
“What?”
He leans into my hair. “I don’t want your attention onhim.” He squeezes my thigh, then leaves his hand there, his touch burning through my skin like a branding.
Czar stops at our table and holds out his hand in my direction. “Czar, pleased to meet you, and you are?” His eyes dance with glee, and it’s clear he’s goading Azrael.
Not wanting to be rude, I reach out to shake his hand, but Azrael pushes it away with a growl.
“Don’t fucking toy with me, Czar!” he warns, causing his brother to chuckle and throw himself down in the chair beside him.
“You’ve never had a problem with me playing with your toys before now.” Czar gloats, and Azrael’s jaw tics. Again, the niggle of jealousy flows through me, and I glance away to give myself a moment of clarity.
