Page 54

“And I watched you the next night, too,” he continued, breaths shallowing. “And the night after that. I kept watching. Probably shouldn’t have. Sorry.”

Did he honestly think I was surprised by this? “That’s okay, kitten.”

It was what I’d been aiming for. I’d wanted him to watch.

He blinked and began to frown at me, no doubt for the little pet name I’d let slip, but seemed to get distracted when my tongue swiped over my lips. His already heavy eyes grew even more hooded, and then I felt his fingers thread through my hair.

I tensed, holding perfectly still, my scalp tingling with pleasure.

“You’re so annoying,” he breathed, which made me freeze in surprise for a second before I laughed.

“Yeah?”

He nodded, and his face ended up a little closer by the end of it. “You annoy the shit out of me, but…”

“But you like watching me suck my own dick?” I asked with a sly smile.

He nodded again, his eyes a little unfocused as he inched even closer until his breath ghosted over my jaw. “You just… look like you’re really good at it.”

I smirked. “I am.”

“I can’t stop thinking about it.”

My nuts tingled at the admission. My fingers tightened on his back, and I tensed when I felt his mouth brush against my jaw.

“Ewen…”

“Yeah?” I answered, my voice a little strangled.

He didn’t reply, just turned his head slightly so the tip of his nose trailed over my cheek. My pulse leaped when his lips hit the corner of my mouth, his intention unfailingly clear.

Then I smelled the alcohol on his breath, and my stomach plummeted.

Shit. He was drunk.

I quickly tilted my face away and leaned back a little, looking down at him with an easy smile so this hopefully didn’t get too unbearably awkward too quick.

Because it was going to get awkward. It was Rafe.

Guilt twisted my gut as he blinked hard, then stiffened before hastily yanking his arms free from around my neck. Fuck. I shouldn’t have let this get that far.

He went to step back too quickly, so I tightened my arm around his waist to keep him from stumbling. My brows drew into a frown when he swayed and rubbed his face, suddenly looking kind of fragile in a way that made my chest tighten.

I knew he’d had a fair amount to drink, but he was a ghoul—ghouls could handle a hell of a lot more than most other species. I’d once witnessed Vince slam ten shots in a row then do a backflip off a six-foot-high wall and land perfectly on his feet.

I eyed Rafe with concern, noting how utterly exhausted he looked, his face drawn and sallow.

“Have you eaten?” I asked with a frown.

“Huh?”

“Food, Rafe. When did you last eat?” I tried to tuck the hair hanging in his face behind his ear, and he swatted irritably at my hand.

“Uh… I dunno. This morning.”

I sighed. Well, that explained it.

Tugging him tighter into my side, I started leading us toward the door. “I’m taking you home. You need to eat and sleep. And take some aspirin.”