“Excuse me,” Erik said, running a hand through his white-blonde hair. “Would you mind if I asked Quentin to dance?”
Matthew eyed him for a second before he said, “Sure. I’m going to find Charlie and Tyler.”
He hesitated for a split second before leaning over and kissing my cheek.
Erik held his hand out to me as Matt left us. I slipped off the barstool, adjusted my dress, and took it.
Just like with Gray, I was about a foot shorter than him, and my heels barely did anything to make up the difference. He led me out onto the floor full of people and placed a hand respectfully on my waist, holding my other hand.
“Are you sure you’re okay to be doing this?” I asked him, unable to keep the ferocity out of my tone.
“What do you mean?”
“I heard Sloan telling Gray to stay away from me. I can look after myself, you know.”
Erik chuckled. “We have no doubt about that. I’ve never seen anyone speak to Gray in the manner that you do. Most wouldn’t dare to stand up to him.”
I blushed furiously. Our spats had probably seemed rather disrespectful on my half when it was seen from a God’s perspective.
“Don’t worry, Quentin,” Erik assured thoughtfully. “Sloan is just cautious.”
Sloan had returned to the lab for observations, but she barely said a word to me as I worked. And then, just like before, she’d disappeared as soon as we were done. It was difficult to figure out what the problem was when courage had failed, and the question never left my lips.
“Have I done something?” I asked, refusing to buckle this time. “Because I don’t feel like she likes me very much, but I can’t —”
“It’s not that,” Erik explained. “She’s a cautious person. I think she’s trying to figure out who you are and how you’re fitting in with us.”
“I don’t really fit with you all. This is my job,” I reminded him.
“Hmm.” Erik shot me a sceptical look. “Really? I’d be careful lying to a God.”
I swallowed hard and chewed nervously on my bottom lip.
“Is there something going on between you and Gray?” Erik asked softly.
“No,” I answered quickly.
“It doesn’t feel that way. We barely saw him last week.”
With all the effort Gray had put in to try and get me into bed, he’d been AWOL from everyone else.
“Word of advice, Quentin,” Erik muttered. “What he wants, he shouldn’t. Relations between Gods and mortals is strictly prohibited.”
I let the words sink in for a moment before Erik continued, “But no one has ever been able to tell him what he can and can’t do. Just be careful.”
The music ended and Erik let go of me, smiling and walking away to a table where Sloan was sitting.
When I turned to leave the floor, my eyes landed on Grayson who watched me from the bar, and he subtly motioned me over to him with his head. Sucking in a deep breath, I followed his instruction.
“What did my brother want?” Gray asked as I reached him.
“I think he was warning me off you.”
His bright blue eyes narrowed. “They need to mind their own damn business.”
“I’m sure they do it because they care,” I countered.
“I don’t need looking after,” Gray snapped, and I rolled my eyes, despite sharing the same attitude. “Tell me, Scott, are you planning to heed my brother’s warning?”
