“It wasn’t me,” he says softly, barely more than a whisper. “It was never me. Was it?”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Unless you’re also married and keeping it from me, I?—”
Viper gave me no warning when he kissed me, and Sebastian isn’t much better. His hand comes up to cup my jaw, touch so delicate, and then suddenly his lips are on mine, his body pressing into me.
I melt into him.
This. This is what a perfect kiss can be. It’s soft, slow, and unhurried. But I feel it in every cell of my body, touching every part of me.
It’s impossible to resist, and I don’t even try to fight it. I reach up, wrapping my arms around his neck, arching into him.
When he finally shifts back, I’m breathless, aching for more.
“We have to go,” he murmurs, lips brushing against mine, fingers trailing over my cheek.
“What?”
But he’s already moving away, hands dropping away from me. He motions to Viper, who stands, grabbing his knife. He doesn’t say another word to me, doesn’t even look at me. He just disappears into the crowd, Viper on his heels.
What the fuck?
I stand there for a few more seconds, catching my breath, trying to collect myself. It’s worse than when he almost kissed me in my shop, a thousand times worse. I’m surprised my legs can even hold me.
It’s not fair, the effect he has on me. Not fair, how much I want him.
When I finally feel like I’m back in control of my body—when I finally remember what the hell I’m doing here, in the middle of this club—I make my way to the bar to find the others. Jade and Sienna I spot immediately standing at the far end of the bar, wrapped in each other’s arms. They’re making out so vigorously I almost feel bad for interrupting them.
“Ahem…” I clear my throat when I walk up, trying to get their attention as gently as possible. Jade’s eyes snap open, and she pulls back immediately, untangling herself from Sienna’s embrace. There’s red lipstick smeared on her mouth.
“Uh, hey guys,” I say, giving them an awkward wave. I look around the bar, searching for my date. “Where’s Seamus?”
They exchange a look. “He left right around the time that you and Viper started making out in front of the entire club,” Jade tells me.
“He was pretty disappointed. I think he really liked you,” Sienna adds. Great. Just when I thought I couldn’t feel worse.
“Fuck.” I close my eyes and tip my head back. “This might be the worst first date in history.”
“You have a tendency to be hyperbolic, but I think in this case you might be right,” Jade concedes. “But forget about him for a second. Are you okay?”
“No. I’m really not.” I open my eyes to look at her and have to fight against the urge to cry. “I think I need to leave. I’m going to head home.”
“Oh sweetie.” Jade pulls me into a hug. There’s lipstick smeared on her neck, too. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, you two have fun. I’ll be okay, I promise. I just need to get home and cry on my couch for a while. I’d rather do that without any witnesses.”
We say our goodbyes, and I head back to the abandoned booth to grab my jacket, throwing one last glance at where Sebastian disappeared into the crowd.
Officially the worst first date ever.
It gets worse, though. Somehow, it gets far, far worse. Because when I get home, there’s a note waiting for me on my doorstep.
And a photo of me at the club, dancing with Seamus.
I see you.
Everywhere you go.
You can’t get away.
