“I thought you were gay?” Nex narrowed his eyes at Vardan.
“I am. But that doesn't mean I can't recognize a beautiful woman when I see one.” Vardan smirked. “So, you fucked her? Well done. A lot of Lords have been panting after that one.”
Nex looked away.
“You did!” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why aren't you happy?”
He shrugged.
“Son of a bitch!” I growled. “You asshole.”
“What? Why am I an asshole?” Nex gaped at me.
“You fucked her and now you're not interested anymore, right?” I poked my fork at him. “I'm so fucking tired of men like you.”
“Like me?” Nex growled.
“Yeah. Men who act as if they're all into you, then they get what they want and take off. Or they don't get what they want fast enough and take off.”
“You don't know what you're talking about, kid,” Nex said. “And I suggest you stop talking right the fuck now.”
I snorted. “Sure, Nex. I just hope you made it clear to her that it wasn't going to be a relationship.”
“You little shit,” Nex snarled as he leaned across the table to me.
“Nex.” Rath grabbed his shoulder, but Nex shook him off.
“Sheis ignoringme, all right?” Nex snapped. “We had an amazing night together, but she took off while I was sleeping and now, every time I get near her, she runs in the opposite direction.”
My jaw fell open.
“Damn it. That's terrible. I'm so sorry, Nex,” Rath said, setting his hand back on Nex's shoulder but sympathetically.
Nex shook him off again.
“Maybe she's playing demure,” Vardan suggested. “She could be embarrassed that she gave in so quickly.”
“What does that mean?” Nex asked.
“The game,” I muttered.
“You know, all,” Vardan switched into a higher tone to say, “'Oh, my, I can't believe I had sex with you! I'm not that kind of girl.'”
That had all of us laughing, even Nex.
“Nah, I don't think Evina'sthatkind of girl either,” Nex said.
“Then leave her be until she comes to you.” Vardan shrugged.
“It's fine.” Nex brightened his tone, but his eyes still looked wounded. “It saves me the trouble of explaining that I'm not the commitment type.”
“Fuck,” I whispered. “I'm the asshole, not you. I'm sorry, Nex.”
“It's all right, kid,” he said, losing his brightness. “I can understand why you'd assume I was the one doing the evading. I mean, it'sme. Who would reject me?” As we all rolled our eyes, he went on, “But I'm pretty upfront about things like that.” He grimaced and glanced down the hall. “I'd never run away from a lover.”
“I'm sorry,” I said again. Then, with a straight face, I added, “You know what the problem is, don't you? I mean, it's obvious.”
Nex swung his stare back to me.
