Page 14

Very quickly, that same flutter of hesitation rose, and my fingers nervously twitched. Why, exactly, was he being nice?

Not once in the years I’d attended their events had he offered me a tour, let alone extended the opportunity for me to borrow books. I think I’d rather bathe in a barrel of flames than to accept the kind gesture, as it only left me suspicious.

I might not know him well, but I knew that Manic wasn’t particularly kind. He was usually quick to throw out backhanded compliments or stoke the fire in my blood. In fact, I was beginning to think I made a dire mistake in coming here tonight.

“Why?” I asked, folding my arms.

He only shrugged, the books still hovering between us like a peace offering. I knew better. This was Manic, not a friend, and I’d be a fool to think otherwise. Everything about him was controlled and deliberate. Calculated. He wafted an air of confidence that only placed him among the snakes in Vancouver.

One with a nasty bite.

“I’ve read them, and I think you’ll enjoy them,” he said casually, his gaze unwavering. “Is that so hard to comprehend, Princess? Just pick a few.”

My eyes narrowed at the term, annoyance replacing my uncertainty. He closed the gap between us with a single step, and my breath hitched at the abrupt movement. From this angle, I was backed into the shelf with a thud. Books dug into my skin, and my pulse quickened.

“Pick,” he ordered.

My gaze shot down. Despite myself, I held my breath and pointed to four. Then, very carefully, he pried my arms open and forced the books into my grasp before setting the last one on the shelf behind me.

He peered down his nose and braced a hand on the shelf above my head, a slow smirk crawling up the side of his mouth. I felt entirely too small.

And yet, for a moment, I became lost in his stare, his scent overwhelming me. He stepped closer, hips pressing forward, and the movement sent a tingling ache coiling low in my core. Heat rose up my body, uncomfortably settling in my face—something I had no doubt he saw. Shit.

This was not what I had planned for tonight, trapped between him and a shelf—unable to decide if I wanted him to bend me over or let me flee. I nervously swallowed and fixed my attention on the wall behind him.

“I won’t take no for an answer,” he said gruffly. “You can borrow them for as long as you want. Bring them back when you’re done.”

My eyes flicked back.

“I can’t borrow them if you won’t move,” I clipped, too aware of how he pressed into me, his overwhelming body heat, and the way he towered over me with conviction.

He huffed a quiet laugh and stepped away, slow and careful. The sconces showcased the mesmerizing grin plastered to his face, and it made me want to kick him. Instead, I cleared my throat and pivoted so that my back faced the exit.

As my fingers trembled around the books, I backed away with a convincing smile, straight toward the doors—itching to escape the snare of Manic’s gaze. Hungry and determined. The look of a predator sizing up his prey.

That look alone made me uncomfortable.

Only because I couldn’t tell if he wanted to eat me, or if it was something else entirely. Regardless, nothing but hunger blazed in his stare, his blue irises practically glowing with it.

“And how exactly would I get these back to you?” I asked hesitantly, though my voice wavered. “I’m pretty sure the only times I’ve really seen you have been at these… events.”

His hands slid back into his pockets as he watched me back away. “You can text me.”

I let out a dry chuckle. “I don’t have your number.”

“You do, actually,” he said so confidently, and my pulse beat harder. Even though his tone was soft and slightly teasing—as if merely speaking to a friend—it sent a chill down my spine.

Then he said, “I’m sure you’ll see me sooner than you want. Have a good night, Sutton.”

I turned and briskly walked out the doors, wondering when I had ever given Manic my number.

Embarrassment flooded me as I turned the second corner, positive that I was lost as only darkness greeted me.

The mansion was a maze of winding hallways.

I followed the noise of the ballroom and veered right, only pausing long enough to tilt my head and listen. The books were heavy, weighing my arms down as I tried to decide which direction to go.

I took another turn and let out a sigh of relief when the flicker of the grand foyer came into view. The ballroom entrance sat near the front.