I nodded, watching as he pushed off from the wall with fluid grace and made his way through the crowd. Even from behind, he wasdefinitelyworth watching. The way he moved with quiet confidence, how he navigated the chaos without seeming to put in any effort was wonderful. I found myself cataloging details like the way his dark hair caught the bar’s dim lighting and how his shoulders tapered down to what was undeniably a perfect ass.
Christ, I was in trouble.
But that’s what tonight was all about, right? Vampires like me that could feed off of sex didn’ttakefrom our victims. We just found sustenance in what we created together. It was just that I would get a little more out of it than him.
I leaned back against the wall he’d vacated, still warm from his body heat, and tried to get my head on straight. This was exactly the kind of situation I usually avoided. Random hookups with strangers in tourist bars weren’t my style, no matter what Lila thought I needed. I preferred my encounters with a bit more planning.
But there was something about Archer that made all my usual caution seem unnecessarily paranoid. Maybe it was the way he’d looked at me like he didn’t expect everything from me. So many guys either wanted me to rock their world or wanted to get married the moment we got done fucking. But Archer just seemed like he wanted to have a good time. It was…refreshing.
I watched him approach a tall-ish blonde near the bar who was laughing at something the bartender had said. She looked young, probably early twenties, with the kind of effortless beauty that suggested good genetics and expensive skincare. When Archer tapped her shoulder, she turned with a bright smile that transformed into something more mischievous when he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
She glanced over at me, her gaze assessing in a way that made me straighten up automatically. Then she grinned and said something back to him that made him shake his head with what looked like fond exasperation. Sibling dynamics, clearly. I recognized that particular blend of affection and annoyance from my own interactions with Lila.
The blonde gave him a little push toward me and waved him off with an encouraging gesture. As he made his way back through the crowd, I caught myself checking him out again. The way his jeans hugged his thighs, the hint of muscle visiblebeneath his fitted t-shirt, and that mesmerizing bulge that shifted with each step. My enhanced senses were picking up his scent more clearly now and under that cologne of his was definitely the scent of lust.
“All set,” he said when he reached me, slightly out of breath from navigating the crowd. “Amelia says to have fun and try not to do anything she wouldn’t do.”
“That sounds like it leaves us with a lot of options,” I observed.
“You have no idea,” he laughed. “My sister has very few boundaries when it comes to having a good time.”
I pushed off from the wall, letting my shoulder brush against his as I moved past him toward the exit. “Well, hopefully you take after her then.”
The night air hit us as we stepped outside, a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere of the bar. The street was still crowded with tourists, but it felt less claustrophobic than the packed interior. I could hear music spilling out from various establishments, the distant sound of laughter, and the general buzz of a town designed to separate visitors from their money.
“So,” Archer said, falling into step beside me as we started walking away from the main drag, “what kind of walk are we talking about here? The scenic route through downtown Pigeon Forge, or...”
“Or,” I finished for him, steering us toward a side street that looked marginally quieter. “Definitely or.”
Chapter 4
Archer
Valen was more than happy to allow me to lead him through Pigeon Forge. I had no idea where I was going of course, but I knew what to look for when wanting to have a good time without getting caught. And judging by Valen’s accent, he wasn’t anywhere near home out here in the mountains.
We wandered away from the tourist strip, the neon lights and crowds gradually fading behind us. The further we got from the main drag, the quieter it became, until we could actually hear each other speak without shouting over the music and chaos.
“You know,” Valen said, his voice carrying that hint of amusement I already liked too much, “most people would consider this the part where I should be worried about following a stranger into dark alleys.”
“Are you worried?” I asked, glancing over at him. Even in the dim streetlight, he was striking. There was something almost otherworldly about his features. They were sharp and perfect, almost like he’d been carved by someone who understood beauty on a fundamental level. I assumed it was just his European flair that made him so sexy.
“Not even a little,” he replied, and there was something in his tone that made me believe he could handle himself in any situation. “Though I have to admit, I’m curious about your endgame here.”
I spotted what I’d been looking for, a narrow gap between two buildings that led to what looked like a small park or courtyard behind the main strip. The kind of place that would be completely hidden from the street but still close enough that we could hear if anyone was coming.
“This way,” I said, taking his hand and pulling him toward the opening. His fingers were cool against mine, and when he squeezed back, I felt that same electric jolt I’d experienced in the bar.
The space opened up into a small pocket park, probably meant for employees of the surrounding businesses to take smoke breaks. There were a few benches, some overgrown landscaping, and most importantly, it was completely deserted. The sounds of the tourist strip were muffled here, creating an intimate bubble of relative quiet.
“Perfect,” Valen murmured, and before I could respond, he was pressing me back against the brick wall of the nearest building.
The kiss was immediate and intense, his mouth claiming mine with a confidence that made my knees weak. He tasted like mint toothpaste. I must’ve caught him before he’d even gotten a drink for the night. His hands found my hips, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.
I could feel the hard line of his cock pressing against my thigh through his jeans, and I groaned into his mouth. My hands tangled in his dark hair, marveling at how soft it was despite looking so perfectly styled.
“Fuck,” I breathed against his lips when we broke apart for air. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
“Life’s too short,” he replied, his amber eyes practically glowing in the dim light. “Besides, why waste time when we both know exactly what we want?”
