Playing with Fire: A Standalone Dark Romance

Chapter Twenty-six

The drinks spill over the rims of the glasses as I shove my way back through the pulsing crowd on the dance floor, the dark lighting with the flashing strobes making it hard to see exactly where I’m going.

I finally push out of it, finding Willow in the booth I had left her in. She grins at me and accepts her drink.

“It seems kind of like bad karma to celebrate someone’s death,” I cringe.

She shrugs, “It seemed like bad karma when he leaked your sex tape.”

“True,” I agree, sucking up my drink through the red straw when my cell buzzes in my purse.

Pulling it out I see a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Where are you?

Me: Who is this?

Laying my cell down, I focus back on Willow, finally getting round to telling her about my involvement with planning the event. But my damn cell just keeps buzzing.

“What the fuck?” I growl, snatching it off the table.

Unknown: Malakai. Where are you?

Unknown: Answer me, kitten.

Unknown: Olivia.

“Jesus Christ,” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

I quickly save the number, and reply.

Me: Go away.

Future ex-husband: I can find you, kitten. I would just prefer you to let me know where you are.

Me: So, you can come fuck up my night?

Future ex-husband: No, so I know you’re safe.

Rolling my eyes, I show the texts to Willow. “That’s some weird foreplay, but alright, whatever floats your boat.”

“It is not foreplay,” I shove her playfully.

Me: We’re at Sinners. Happy now?

I wait for a reply, but it never comes. I can see he’s read the message, but I get no response. I guess just knowing satisfies him enough to leave me alone.

I wonder idly if he’d found my last little gift for him. I’m sure I’ll find out later if he had.

“Do you want to dance?” I call over the music.

“Is that even a question you need to ask?” Willow downs her drink and grabs my hand, yanking me up from the booth and shoves us into the crowd, pushing people out the way until she finds the perfect spot. It’s busy tonight considering it’s a weekday and it had been a while since Willow, and I have done this.

After my father died, I didn’t do much of anything.

My skin becomes slick with perspiration as we move to the music, my grin broad, body relaxed until I feel hands slip around my waist.

My eyes widen and I lurch forward, but they hold on tight, yanking me back. Panicked, I search for Willow, but she’s gone.

Shit.

Attempting to snatch out of their hold but failing, I choose to spin instead, my hands going for the chest, “I’m married, dickhead!” I yell.

Malakai grins down at me, “You have no idea how good it sounds to hear you say that, kitten”

My mouth drops open, “You’re here.”

His eyes dip down me, heating as they take in the dress, “I never got to see the dress before you left.”

My eyes narrow, “So you came here?”

He nods, hands sliding around my waist to press into my spine, bringing me flush with his body. I choose to ignore the flash of heat it brings, how my heart picks up and my core begins to ache.

We don’t want to fuck this man, no we do not, I tell myself, but I hear my own laughter mocking me, okay maybe we do. But only in our heads.

There’s a whole list of reasons why it would be a bad idea to let him between my legs.

But even as he begins to move us to the music, our bodies grinding together, his intense blue stare never leaving mine, I’m finding it hard to remember the reasons.

“Turn, kitten,” He purrs close to my ear, not waiting for me to comply before his hands start to spin me. He doesn’t let me get far; he brings my ass back against him. His hips grind forward as his hand splays on my abdomen.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

“We’re dancing, kitten.”

My breath is coming out in quick short bursts, my heart pounding so hard it feels as if it might break through my ribcage.

Bad idea! This is a bad idea.

Yet, I don’t stop him when his hand slides up my abdomen, through the valley of my breasts to my throat. His fingers wrap around my neck, while his other hand holds my abdomen, keeping me pinned to him.

“Look at you, kitten,” He rasps, “You’re not fighting me for once.”

“There’s still time,” I breathe, lashes fluttering closed as his breath whispers at my ear and goose bumps rise on my skin.

He chuckles, “Just let me have this.”

I open my mouth to say no, but my head is nodding already.

“Good girl,” He growls low, the vibration of his voice doing all sorts of crazy things to my body. I’m wet, I ache and I really, really want to be alarmed.

“Relax, my darling kitten,” He purrs softly, tempting me with that voice of his, “Dance with me.”

And so, I do, until I’m breathless and sweaty, the fine hair at my temples sticking to my skin, my dress feeling too stifling.

“I need a drink,” I tell Malakai, stepping out of his hold. It’s hesitant but he lets me go but not far as his hand links with mine and he begins to stroll through the crowd. They seem to part for him, none of the fighting like Willow and I had to do and I’m not mad about it.

I probably should be but I’m not.

At the bar he’s served immediately, and he glances to me, a silent question, “White.” I tell him.

He calls the order to the server and as he’s waiting, I turn to the crowd, searching for Willow, guilt blooming since I’d all but forgotten her while I was dancing with Malakai.

I start to drift away but Malakai tugs me back, “Where are you going?”

“I can’t find Willow.”

“Sebastian has her.” He tells me, handing me my glass of wine while he holds what I guess is two fingers of whiskey.

I don’t get a chance to ask where, when Malakai tugs me through the crowd again, but we don’t stop. We continue on until we come to the roped off section of the VIP area and the security guy lifts the rope without a question. I follow Malakai up a short set of black wide stairs, and I spot Willow the moment we’re at the top. She’s sitting between three massive guys. Sebastian is on her right while two men I’ve never met before sit on her left. She’s laughing at something Sebastian is telling her while the other two watch on.

“Well damn,” Bast turns to us, “I thought we were all gonna get a show with the way you two were grinding all up on each other on the dance floor. A nice change from her wanting to murder you, hey, Malakai?”

My cheeks bloom and I slide my hand out of Malakai’s, cradling my wine to my chest. I don’t miss the glare Malakai shoots at his friend who only responds with a shrug and a wink. Malakai guides me into the booth next to Sebastian, sliding in beside me.

I make sure to put space between us as I look past Sebastian to Willow who is already staring at me in concern.

“You okay?” She mouths.

I shrug because fuck if I know right now.

“This is Killian,” Malakai points to the guy closest to Willow. He’s around Malakai’s age with thick black hair and a beard. His eyes are the color of steel sat beneath dark brows. “And this is his brother, Dean.”

Dean is much like his brother, younger and without the full beard, more like stubble, but his hair is just as dark and his eyes a similar shade, more storm cloud over steel.

“Hello.” I greet them.

They give me smiles but they’re not warm, curious maybe?

“Get out your head, kitten,” Malakai whispers in my ear. “I just need a night where everyone in the room doesn’t want me dead. You can hate me again in the morning.”

I study his face, noting the crease between his brows, the darkness beneath his eyes.

Something in me softens toward him and I know damn well it’s a mistake. Know it’s the beginning of the fucking end, but I nod.

“Okay,” I tell him in a whisper.