“If only,” he mutters, barely trying to hide his irritation.
My teeth grind, and I picture myself biting his head off, leaving him bleeding out all over the bar. But I hear slaughtering your boyfriend in public doesn’t bode well for keeping up with the image of a happy couple. So instead, I wave a finger at Dred.
“One dragon ball,” I say.
He nods, ducking behind the bar and shaking up a single cocktail. When he’s done, he passes on a thought along with the sweating glass of brew.
Careful, little monster, he’s not himself tonight.
My lip curls at his intrusion and that stupid nickname.
“Since when do you work here?” I ask, making my disdain known.
“Since now. That’ll be fifteen drac,” he answers dryly, holding out his hand.
Elliot intervenes.
“Put it on my tab,” he says.
“No,” I snap. “I’ll pay for it.”
“Ignore her,” he directs. “She’s just being dramatic, as usual.”
“Excuse me?”
My neck snaps around, and Elliot shakes his head, a whisper of a smile returning to his face.
“I’ve never let you pay for a drink in your life. I’m not going to start today just because you’re mad at me.”
Mad at him?
Is that what he thinks this is? Anger?
“I’m not mad at you,” I correct.
“Great. Then shut up and let me pay for the drink.”
My brows lift.
He’s getting a little too comfortable telling me what to do.
“Alright, and am I allowed to dance?”
Elliot’s teeth grind, and he downs the rest of his brew before slamming the empty glass back on the bar and roping an arm around my waist.
I don’t fight him as he yanks me forward a step, but I can’t help but gasp as his tongue snakes out, and he drags it over my chest, moving from one breast to the other, continuing up my throat and behind my left ear.
He releases me, like one would drop hot coals, and I step back, unable to hide the shock on my face.
“What was that for?” I ask.
“You asked to dance, now you can go dance,” he says, lifting a finger toward Dred.
The nosy vampire quickly pours out another drink, and Elliot downs that one too before adding, “At least these idiots will know you’re spoken for.”
My face heats, and the ache in my stomach bottoms out.
I was planning on dancing alone. Like I prefer. But the thought that Elliot ever had the right to dictate such a thing leaves my blood boiling.
