“You know,” I start as I sit down with my plate. “Having the week off means I can focus on breaking the curse.”
Jac raises an eyebrow and looks across the table at Hasan, who returns his look with a small nod.
“Ace,” Jac says. “You have the week off and should take it easy. Keep learning the basics of magic and practice defense against dark magic. You will break the curse, but it doesn’t have to be this week.”
“Okay,” I say without arguing. He’s right, and doing nothing but hanging out with my guys for the week does sound amazing. After dinner, I go upstairs and get dressed, pulling my hair into a braid over my shoulder, putting on a bit of makeup, and trading my practical shoes for the one pair of strappy sandals I own. It’s a nice night, making me almost wish I had a dress to wear.
Maybe I’ll go shopping tomorrow. Me willingly shopping for adressis even more shocking than seeing a ghost walk through my living room.
Once I’m dressed, I grab a black shirt for Hasan, bringing it downstairs along with a concealment charm. He slips the crystal pendant over his head, and his wings magically disappear. He pulls on the shirt, puts on his shoes, and looks at me for approval.
“Do I look human?” he asks.
I nod, running my eyes up and down his large body. “Very human. But one more thing.” I pull a hair tie from my wrist and motion for him to sit on the couch. I go around behind him and rake my fingers through his shoulder-length dark hair. He leans back, enjoying my touch. Gathering his hair into a messy bun, I secure the hair tie around it.
“There. Perfect.”
He smiles and gets up, slowly looking me over. “You too.”
I text Tiffany and let her know we’re on our way. After slipping a sage stick into my purse, Hasan and I head out. We get to the bar before Tiffany and her husband, and get seats in the back. I sit close to Hasan, and he puts his hand on my thigh, scanning our surroundings.
“So, what do you think?” I ask, glad Hasan and I have some time alone before Tiffany gets here. He has a strong and calming aura, and I cannot get enough of it.
“It’s loud,” he says, bringing his lips to my ear. His warm breath against my skin sends a shiver down my spine. I flick my eyes down, noting how big his hand is resting on my thigh like that. He inches his hand up and a jolt of warmth flows through me. I long to have those big hands all over my body.
“It is,” I reply. “Too loud in my opinion. Makes it hard to talk. But most people don’t go to bars to talk.”
“Then why do they go?”
“To get drunk and find someone to hook up with.”
He gives me a half smile, leaning in and pushing my braid over my shoulder. “If you wanted to get drunk and hook up, we could have stayed home.”
I laugh and he brings his hand to my waist, pulling me closer so he can kiss me. I feel so small and delicate up against him, and in any other circumstance, vulnerable is the last thing I want to feel. But I love and trust Hasan, and having him tower over me is a turn on. He could pick me up and throw me around like a rag doll if he wished, though I know he’d never lay a finger on me.
“You taste good,” he says, licking his lips.
“It’s the lip gloss,” I tell him, smiling deviously. “Do you like it?”
“I like it enough to kiss you again,” he says, and comes in for another kiss. I don’t wear makeup that often, and I’m not adult enough to own regular lipstick, just flavored lip gloss with a tint of color. My heart skips a beat and I move closer, thinking we should go home now to hook up.
“It’s watermelon,” I say when we break apart.
“I like it.” His eyes flash, and we both melt against each other, having a hard time resisting each other’s kisses. I see someone staring at us out of the corner of my eye. I turn, expecting to see Tiffany standing back with a shocked look on her face. I haven’t mentioned a boyfriend to anyone at work.
Someoneisstanding back with a shocked look on their face, or faces to be exact. Robert and Keri stopped mid-step, drinks in hand. They just saw me yesterday with Jacques, and here I am, making out with a different guy.
Well, shit.
