Kaiden
That skirt was obscene. The dark fabric clung to every curve and stopped high enough on her thighs that I didn’t have to imagine those legs in my dreams tonight. The meathead behind her was on borrowed time. If he pulled her back again, I couldn’t promise he’d still have hands when I was finished with him.
Had I known she’d be here, I would have arrived earlier and put a stop to this before it began.
Ez gave a low whistle beside me. “It’s like she’s trying to piss you off.”
I grunted but didn’t quite agree. She was surprised to see me here, that much was clear before her signature attitude slid into place. I watched her point to me and ask her friend something like she wasn’t aware of who I was or how her behavior was a blatant show of disrespect.
A few more exchanges with the redhead and my little bond separated from the human to disappear in the crowd.
“Is there a plan?” Ez asked, but his attention was on the brunette eye-fucking him from across the room.
It was fine. My plans didn’t require his assistance anyway. I sent him off with a flick of my hand and turned my attention back to the dance floor. A quick scan showed my bond hadn’t returned. Only a few minutes passed since her departure, but that was plenty of time for her to get into more trouble.
Her friend didn’t appear concerned by her absence. I crossed my arms and leaned back, prepared to wait a little longer. If she planned to return to the dance floor, I would have no choice butto hold back until she ventured closer to one of the house’s many exits. I doubted she’d agree to dance with me, which meant I couldn’t exactly steer her in the direction I needed.
Watching her grind on that meathead was also less than ideal. Speaking of…I walked the perimeter of the room, searching for the over-confident sheep that was all over my bond. He was gone as well.
Ohfuckno.
I swore on my family seat that if she’d gone upstairs to hook up with that human, being chained up in my room would be the least of her worries. When I circled for a second time and still didn’t see them, I took the stairs in leaps, vowing to bust down the door of every room if I had to. Lucky for them, that wasn’t necessary.
The second floor was nothing more than a couple hallways with closed doors on either side. I found them tucked at the end of one next to an open bathroom. My bond was pressed against the wall with the entire height of her human date leaning over her. He was close, too close, but that wasn’t what had my steps eating up the distance between us.
I didn’t care that her fists were pressed against his chest or that his mouth was close to her skin. It was the overpowering scent of lavender that slowly leaked out toward the stairs and how my bond was using the full force of her power so carelessly out in the open that had me ready to take her over my knee.
“Are you out of your damn mind?”
My outrage was laced with a hint of my own power, and I allowed it loose to separate them before anyone else came up those stairs. My shadows were visible, like an extra limb, but the lack of light in this far corner worked in my favor. I wasn’t even sure my bond saw them before the human snapped out of whatever trance she had him in.
He was breathing heavily, they both were, but the suddendisconnect from her power confused him, and I wasted no time. Wrapping a hand around my bond, I grabbed her arm and dragged her away. A spark burned my skin when we touched, but I ignored it, along with the wince on her face at the unexpected sting.
The stairs were clear, but I had to push our way through the front door and onto the street. The cool air jolted her from her docile state, and she finally fought against my hold.
“Let me go!” she shouted, and I hurried us along before someone heard her cries and misinterpreted them for something else.
“Now isn’t the time for a tantrum, Eryn. I’d say you’ve had enough fun tonight, wouldn’t you?” She fought harder, and I was forced to let her go or risk dislocating her shoulder.
“How do you know my name?” she asked, out of breath but defiant as ever.
Were we really going to keep playing this game? “I asked your friend,” I lied. “The redhead.”
She cursed under her breath, something I couldn’t make out, and then turned that powerful gaze upon me.
“Why would she tell you?”
“Because I asked.”
The bond between us was palpable. It took every ounce of my control to keep it leashed. Was hers as desperate for me? Did it lunge in her chest like it could escape from behind her ribs and draw us together? My lungs couldn’t hold enough oxygen, but she didn’t look nearly as affected. Interesting. Control that strong yet she couldn’t keep her power contained in that hallway?
“If this stare-down is over, I’ll be going now.”
Not a damn chance. I grabbed her shirt this time. There were consequences for her actions, and she wasn’t leaving my presence tonight without knowing every single one of them. Notleast of which being the giant “I’m here” sign she just blasted to every member of our community within a fifty-mile radius. By the way she squirmed in my hold, I figured maybe she wasn’t as blind to the consequences as she pretended to be.
“Not so fast,” I murmured, and not so gently led her to the secluded alley between the last house on this street and the start of campus. Once safely hidden from prying eyes, I turned on her. “What were you thinking?”
Her eyes widened as she took a step back. “E-excuse me?”
