“All right.” He holds out his hand and we shake on it. “Should we dance?”
“Sounds perfect,” I reply as instrumental holiday music hums through the space.
The dance floor is covered in fake snow as more trickles down from the ceiling. It’s romantic, even if Doom’s hand in mine feels like nothing.
What if they don’t show up?
What if they’re not even interested?
Doom and I sway to the music. With each turn we make, I look around, searching for a set of impressive horns or eyes so dark I think I could get lost in them forever.
My breath hitches as I see Mortem steps into view. He came. He’s wearing a sharp inky black suit, his dark gaze searching the dance floor until he sees me. He pauses, and I swear his Adam’s apple bobs.
As quickly as the moment happens, it fades away when he notices Doom’s hand in mine.
Doom must realize I’m no longer moving because he stops and follows my gaze.
“Candy?” he sighs my name.
“Yes,” I say, not looking away from Mortem.
“Is my scary, mean-ass boss the man you were trying to make jealous?” I swear I can see his pulse beating in his neck.
“Oh… um, yeah. Mortem.”
“Deal’s off. Let’s hope I’m not decommissioned in the middle of the night.” He groans, his hands falling off me like I’m contagious.
I turn back to where Mortem stands, his power hypnotizing as he makes his way toward me. Cupids and reapers alike make a path for him, not daring to get in his way.
Okay, remember what Ladybird said, don’t make this easy on them. They left you in limbo for months. Don’t just forgivethem because they’re handsome or trying. Make them work for it.
I keep chanting it in my head, but the faster he approaches, the more brain cells I lose.
I forgot how tall he is. How dark his eyes and hair are and how magic nearly crackles in his presence.
When he finally reaches me, I have to crane my neck to look up at him.
“Funny seeing you here, little cupid,” he says. He’s not touching me, but I clearly have his full attention.
You need to have a backbone with these types of men, I remind myself.
“Oh, were you hoping to not see me for another six months?”
Mortem arches an eyebrow at me, and I can’t tell if he likes this newfound fire or not.
“I deserve that.”
I blink at him rapidly before nodding. “Yes, you do.”
“Are you with…Doom now?” he asks, his voice lethal; it excites me far more than it should.
Maybe Ladybird was right about a little jealousy.
“Would you blame me?”
His jaw ticks, and he simply shakes his head. I have to hold back a smile. Okay, he’s not unaffected, he’s happy to see me?
I place a hand on my hip and glare at him for a moment.
