Page 23 of Power of Shadow

“No doubt you'll collect one day,” I say and turn to look at the dance floor.

“You can count on it.”

He’s already gone, but I barely notice it. Scanning the club, bathed in dim light, I find Eli somewhere down there.

I locate him quickly, but it’s no thanks to him.

She’s standing near the bar, wearing a short, champagne-colored dress. With every movement, with every breath, she sparkles like a thousand golden sparks. The dress starts just above her round breasts and ends just above her knees. It’s not too provocative, but it’s not modest either. This dress screams class.

Down there, few people might notice this girl, but from above, it’s impossible to miss her. Once again, she catches my eye, my undivided attention. I’m in a trance.

What is it about you?

Just like back at the club, her curly, caramel-colored hair flows down to her waist. This time, she has it tied in a ponytail, and I know right away what I would like to do with it. Just the sight of her kicks my imagination into high gear, and now it’s running wild.

Her bare arms and legs are tanned. And those legs... Feet clad in golden, high-heeled sandals... No combat boots this time.

But to me, she would look fucking hot even in a burlap sack and flip-flops.

In my mind, there’s a place where I want to see her legs in those high heels. My shoulders are the preferred destination.

And of course, she’s not wearing any makeup again. She doesn’t need it. Unfortunately, once again, I can’t make out the color of her eyes.

Just seeing her makes me hard. Jesus. When I get downstairs, I’ll be fighting a full erection. Oh well. I have to get to know her. It’s not without good reason that our paths have crossed for the second time in a few days.

I’m speechless at how much power this stranger has over me. Women come and go in my life. None of them can hold my attention for long. None of them could crush my insides with their mere presence.

And I haven’t even exchanged a single word with her yet.

Interesting.

At the last moment, just as I’m about to make my move, Eli appears in front of her. My muscles tense up, and I freeze in place. My gaze bores a hole into my friend’s head.

He starts a conversation with her, smile at her, and size her up.

My heart is pounding, feeling as though I’ve just completed an intense marathon. And even so, my eyes remain fixed on them, completely unable to divert.

Eli leans in to whisper something in her ear, and she laughs. That simple gesture exposes her neck, and the blood boils in my veins.

Clutching the envelope in one hand and the railing with the other, a feeling of possession hits me like a tsunami. And that’s something new.

Jesus, Ryker! Wake up!

The voice in my head tells me to wake up, but from what, exactly? Because, in fact, it’s only now that I feel like I’m waking up from a dream when I look at this dazzling creature.

For God’s sake, I own a nightclub and a sex club, but it goes without saying I’ve never met anything more exquisite.

And yet, for the first time in my life, I have the urge to kick Eli in the balls, sew his mouth shut, and tape his eyes closed.

Where the hell is this coming from?

I have to find out. Get close to her and make her stop looking at and thinking about Eli, and start looking at and thinking about me.

I’m about to go downstairs when Eli leans down to her again, telling her what are certainly sweet lies, when I notice something.

This is good. Too good to be true. My eyebrows rise.

I’m impressed.