Whatever history they’ve got, it’s ugly. And judging by the way he keeps stepping into her space and the way she keeps bristling, he’s about to say something that gets him killed. Literally.
She stiffens under my shadow, shoulders tight against the wall, my switchblade still angled low between us. Red light flashes over her face, over the way her jaw clenches like she’s already choosing violence with her words.
She rolls her eyes hard. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
Mark pushes closer, jaw locked, eyes bouncing between her and the knife like he doesn’t know which one to be scared of. “What the hell is this?” he snaps. “You couldn’t even wait, huh? Just throwing yourself at random guys now?”
She laughs. Loud, and mean as hell.
“Oh my god,” she says. “Are you seriously slut-shaming me right now? That’s your move?”
“Look at you,” he sneers, his eyes crawling over her like something sticky and unpleasant. “Dry-humping strangers in a crowd like this is all you’re good for, huh? Guess I shouldn’t be shocked. After all, that’s how you got my attention in the first place.”
His mouth twists with disgust. “I almost thought you might pretend to have a shred of self-respect. Maybe wait longer than five minutes before throwing yourself at the next warm body. But I guess that would require standards.”
He flicks a dismissive glance at me and then to Kade. “Andthat’swhat you picked? A dude dressed like a bargain-bin Cupid with fake blood and a mask?” He scoffs. “Jesus. You just give it away now, huh. Discounted pussy for every lowlife you come across.”
Fire snaps to life in her eyes, sharp, reckless and pissed, and fuck if that doesn’t hit me right in the chest.
That look on her?
Yeah. I fucking like that one. I like ita lot.
“Careful,” she says coolly, even as her pulse jumps under my palm. “You’re getting real bold for someone who fucked not one, but two random girls on my couch.”
I grin behind the mask. Jesus, of course, she goes for the throat.
Mark scoffs, face twisting. “That was different.”
Different?
Sure, it was, buddy.
Aeri doesn’t hesitate. She breaks free of my grip on her hip like it was never there and steps straight toward Mark without a second fucking thought. All sharp edges and attitude.
Holy shit balls.
My body reacts before my brain catches up. I reach for her without thinking—protective, and automatic, my fingers closingaround her arm like I’m about to pull her back, but she shrugs me off.
Instead, she catches my hand in hers as she keeps moving, threading her fingers through mine like it’s a choice. Like she’s saying,I’ve got this—stay with me.
That simple, reckless little move does something dangerous to me.
My pulse jumps, and my grip tightens, not to stop, but to stay connected. To let her know I’m right there if this turns ugly. Because it will. I can already see it in Mark’s stupid fucking face.
It’s not like I don’t think she can handle herself.
Because, unlike Marky boy here, I fucking knew the moment I saw her, she absolutely can, and she’s about to prove it to us all.
“Different how?” she snaps, chin tipped up, daring him to try something. “Because you think your dick’s so godly it comes with rules?” She scoffs. “News flash—when you’re that unimpressive, the only thing you come with is regret.”
For half a second, it’s quiet.
Then I laugh.
Not loud. Not friendly. Just a short, sharp sound like I can’t help myself. Kade lets out one too, low and amused, the kind that says,yeah, she nailed it.
That’s what does it.
