“Are you going to move?” I ask, and he lifts an eyebrow in question.
“What? Want me to gush about my amazing boyfriend? Fine. I will. He’s tall. Probably taller than you. Muscles for days, yet light on his feet, like he could take flight at a moment’s notice if I was in danger. Am I in danger, mister?” I give him an expectant look, and he smirks.
I rear back and swallow hard. The expression is exactly like the one Dimitri kept throwing at me when I would snap at him. As if my annoyance was cute and he couldn’t help himself. No, Dimitri has grey skin. And pure black eyes with purple irises. And his skin cracks sometimes. He’s electrifying and possessive and caring. Besides, he’s cursed and constantly collapsing. This man hasn’t even spoken.
“Name?” he asks, his tone low and gravelly, yet his voice carries over the music.
“Dimitri, if you must know. And he’s waiting for me, so…” I shoo him away.
He doesn’t move. Instead, he leans close, and I tense. Maybe my heelsaregoing to get a workout. I wonder if blood will come out of the fabric. Percy will forgive me. If I stain the dress, though, Lark will kill me. Then she’ll use her handy necromancer book, resurrect me, then kill me all over again. She’s very protective of her clothes. It’s part of the reason I stayed out of her room.
His lips touch the lobe of my ear, and I freeze. “Ihavebeen waiting for you.”
The man’s words filter slowly through my alcohol-soaked brain. When they finally do, I rear back. I’m pretty sure he’s being a dick. Or a creep. Either way, I’d rather not entertain this charade anymore. Those warm fuzzy feelings I had vanish in a puff of smoke. Much like Dimitri does when he fucks off to Hell.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but…” My mind blanks as he stares at me expectantly. I completely forgot what I was going to say. It was going to be really fucking good too. Like the kind you brag to friends about. Frustration builds in me, though it’s muted by the blanket of liquor seeping into my bloodstream.
When I don’t continue, he smirks. “Nice to know you think I’msoamazing, spitfire. Would have been nice to know we’re dating. I’ll let it slide, though. Oh, and to answer your question, I maybea danger, but I’m not a dangerto you. Thought you’d have figured that out by now.”
Realization slams into me and I scowl. He crosses his arms and waits for my reaction. Well, he’s not going to get one. I’m going to turn around and march away. Bastard thinks he can trick me? Waltz into my girl’s night and crash it? Does he think I’ll just fall into his arms and swoon? I shall do none of those things.
I lean away and my head suddenly feels too heavy for my neck. I’m going down and I doubt I’ll be able to save myself. Shock spreads across his face, and I close my eyes. I don’t needto add to my embarrassment. After this, I’m definitely getting that drink to numb the pain—physical and emotional.
His strong arm snakes around my waist, and he picks me clean off my feet. All my resolve disappears and my body dissolves into him. At least, that’s what it feels like. It isn’t often I’m dangling in the air, yet here we are.
“How much did you have to drink, Mari?”
I glance up at him and blink slowly. I trace a finger between his brows, smoothing out the deep grooves etched into his flesh. He scowls and his eyes flash purple, revealing the demon hiding underneath his human disguise.
“So serious,” I murmur, fascinated by how soft he is despite the chiseled cheekbones and hard jaw. I bite my lip as something rigid presses into my stomach. His jaw isn’t the only thing that’s hard.
“Answer the damn question, Mari.”
“I dunno. But I was having a perfectly fine time before you showed up.”
He rolls his eyes, then drops me onto my feet. It’s more like a slow slide along his body. My ankle ruins the whole thing by forgetting its main function. A yelp leaves me, and yet again he catches me around the waist.
“You’re done,” he growls.
“What? No,” I plead. “I promise I’ll be good. It’s just these damn shoes.”
He narrows his gaze, studying my face, and I attempt to put on the most sober smile I can muster. I have no idea if it’s working. Probably not, seeing as he’s still holding me upright.
“Fine. One more, then I’m taking you home.” He scowls again. “Don’t give me that look.”
“What look?” I ask, wiggling until he finally puts me down again.
“That wicked little grin like you just came up with a plan I’m going to hate. It’s…disconcerting.”
He flexes his fingers on my hips, then drops his hands. My bottom lip pushes out before I remember I should be pissed at him. He’s tricked me, manhandled me, and ordered me about. Not to mention he abandoned me right when I was going to ask him for help. I’d finally decided to trust him, and he just disappeared.
I fix my face into what I hope is a haughty and aloof expression. “I’m going to get another drink. Why don’t you stay here and watch me walk away.”
Before he can respond, I step around him. It takes all my remaining active brain cells to stay upright and not stumble my way to the bar. I don’t glance back at him. His eyes are fixed on my ass, though. The heat from his gaze warms me more than I already am. Hell, he could be trailing right behind me and I wouldn’t know. Hopefully he listened since it was really fucking hard to stay upright all the way over here.
It takes a minute to catch the bartender’s attention and another five before he’s finally in front of me. I give him my order, then tack on another two—one for Percy and a water for Dimitri. I don’t know if alcohol affects demons like it does witches, but hopefully the insult will land. If not, at least he’ll be hydrated.
“Thanks,” I yell as I dig in my cleavage for cash and drop it into the tip jar. It’s probably sweaty and I cringe. No helping it, though, without pockets.
