“Um duh, can you blame me? Look at her. She is a masterpiece,” Sam says.
Tyler’s eyes roll over me, as if agreeing with his sister.
My face heats.Two for two. I still got it. Somehow, I’ve managed both twins' attention. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to entertain such a thing, noticing who notices me and not being afraid of it.
I give my hand to him, but instead of shaking it, he brings it to his full lips, kissing the skin on the back of my hand gently. My initial reaction is to pull away, but it’s quickly replaced with the warmth of his lips on my chilled skin. The fire that I thought was put out and dwindled to smoke, somehow turns into a small kindle inside me.
And before I can even pull away, he uses my hand to gently and slowly spin me around, giving him a full three-sixty of my outfit. Before I can even comment on the action, he is already speaking.
“Stunning.” His eyes fall to my body then flick back up to me. “Well, maybe I can finally pay you back for the scrubs and coffee.”
Despite the aura of authority, there’s a softness in his eyes when he watches me. Like his human demeanor peaks out from the predator.
Maybe that’s the whole point.
“So, how did you and my sister meet,Sunny?” Tyler asks,my name rolling off his tongue as if it were made for that very purpose.
“Sunny is new to the city. She is a travel nurse here on assignment. She came into my paint studio and basically, I tried to hit on her, but you know, she is still deciding whether she plays both fields. I’ll change her mind of course, but since we are such besties it can only be a now time thing. So yeah, she is this badass, gorgeous, trauma nurse exploring the best years of her life.” Sam speaks for me.
“Wow, Sam,” I laugh.
I’m the worst version of myself right now.
“Well, the scrubs make sense then. I hope I didn’t leave permanent damage,” Tyler says, swiping a drink from a tray.
“Nothing out of the regular ink and bodily fluid stains.”
“Tyler, was that the day I won the bet about mom? Where are the parents anyways? I brought Sunny here to shove her in their faces.” Sam scans the crowd once more.
“It’s all on the heir tonight.” Tyler raises his glass. “As for the coffee, yes, I was going there because of our bet. I wasn’t going to, if I'm being honest, but I guess something just called me in there that day,” he eyes me.
Shameless flirt. Both of them are.
“Ugh, I’m so glad I was the one who didn’t get the dick during conception,” Sam mumbles.
I bark out a laugh, Tyler along with me.
“You’re welcome sister. I’ll carry the burden for the both of us,” he says. As if, it were an underlying truth to their family. It makes me wonder what went on behind closed doors with the family they seem to loathe.
“All eyes are on you, Tyler. I’m just here to be your moral support,” Sam says.
By the way the tone of the party changed as he walked into the place, I know what Sam said is true.
You are a powerful man, Tyler.
And all I see surrounding him is magic.
Wild, dark magic.
Late nights have been far and few between save for the nightmares that plague my mind. Isolation has been my comfort with work as the exception. Needless to say this night, while a breath of fresh air, is also exhausting.
After Tyler went off to do heir type things and Sam escaped into a cleaning closet with a man, I decided it was my cue to leave. I try to get to bed early in hopes to tack more hours onto the few I already get, but it never happens.
I’m still haunted by you.
Shooting my friend a text that I’m heading home, I start for the exit of the rooftop. My apartment isn’t too far, maybe only a few miles. My feet may scream from walking it in heels, but I can do it. Or just take my chances and walk the city barefoot. I don’t care. My bed is calling my name, even if I won’t get the sleep I hope for.
Just a few strides from the exit is when I notice a shadow engulfing my own. I turn around to see emerald eyes staring at me.
