“I’m not leaving this place with you.” She almost spits the words at me.
I nod once, although I know that’s going to end up being bullshit. “Deal.”
NINETEEN
NEVE
“What does Faust want?” I fold my arms across my chest, the building quieter here, behind the gauzy partition and further back still, in a private room that seems reserved for group dinners. It’s gold and black, a long, stone table in the center of it, but there are deep purple couches along the corners.
I refuse to sit in one, and instead, I’m standing in front of Sylvan ashesits, his arms hooked around the back of the couch, casual and arrogant as he gazes coolly up at me.
I checked my phone on our way over here after I apologized to Tas and told her I’d be right back, but Faust hadn’t texted me.
So I sent him a message, literally behind Sylvan’s back.
Sylvan says you want something with me. At Castle’s off King.
“Why don’t you sit down, Ice Queen?”
“You either tell me what he wants, or I’m walking back out there.”
“To get back to your public fuck?” The bite in his words surprises me. Some of his relaxed arrogance seems to slip away.
“Yes.” I smile as I say it, only to watch Sylvan scowl.
But that expression lasts seconds, then he smooths his features again, and his light eyes spark with amusement.
He licks his bottom lip as he glances away for a heartbeat, then he’s focused on me again. I like how he has to look up at me, his throat elongated, that blue vein stark under his skin. There’s no denying how attractive he is, if I happened to be into psychopaths who can skate.
“Did you hear the news?” His question makes me feel uneasy, but I don’t show it. I’m positive he’s full of shit and he only wanted to get me alone, but there has to be a reason for that, and I want to find out what it is.
I don’t look away from him because I don’t want him to know he’s unnerved me. “No.” That’s the only word I give him.
His lips tip up, dimples forming in his handsome face. “Ask me what it is.”
Unreal.“Absolutely not.” I return his cocky smile for one of my own and start to step back. Tasia needs an explanation if I have any hopes of staying friends with her—I’m indifferent, but since she’s in our friend group now, better to stay cordial—and Cynthia will be looking for me soon, too, no matter what lucky boy has distracted her attention tonight. We stick together, and if we don’t physically, we’re keeping tabs on each other.
But before I can get away, in a motion so fast I don’t realize until he’s touching me, Sylvan has leaned up and placed both his huge hands on the backs of my thighs. He pulls me toward him and I get thrown off by the unexpected motion. I shoot my arms out and grab hold of his hair.
Thick, nearly white, soft.
Annoyance burns under my skin even as I think it, and I pull,hard,but he just tips his head up to stare at me, a ring of black around his silver-blue eyes, his nose perfect at this angle, cheekbones lethal.
His fingers knead my flesh, just below my ass.
I part my lips to scold him, but all that comes out is a breathy sort of exhale.
I don’t stop pulling at his hair though.
His chin is level with my chest and considering I’m in four-inch heels, it’s just another reminder of howbighe is, even though he’s leaner than Faust.
“Ask me.”It’s a low command.
The music is lower here, but the bass still thuds. I can hear it and all the people beyond the closed door, laughing and squealing and having fun.
Sylvan’s scent of mint and leather seems to surround me, and the feel of his hair between my fingers, his hands on my thighs, it all unsteadies me.
I tug harder on his hair, trying to find my calm amid the worry for my friends, the alcohol in my veins, and wondering what it is, exactly, Sylvan actually wants to say to me.
