Chapter 17 CRANE
SEVENTEEN
CRANE
Never mind Sierra being all red and breathless—I need an award for being able to go through that without fucking up.
Her skin—man, her skin—was so soft and smooth. It was almost porcelain, practically translucent, revealing her veins. Every time I’d looked at her, I’d caught her watching me, then she’d moved my hair from my eyes, and I was done for.
She’s just Sierra.
Yet there’s no such thing.
The very idea of her working in Potion makes me feel violently sick. Knowing how she behaves around guys only makes it worse.
Maybe I should tell Kai.
Yeah, tell him about the ink too; see how that goes down.
So she’s got an interview—it doesn’t mean she’s going to take it, right?
She’s fine.
But I still find myself standing at the bar an hour later, scanning the room for any sign of the girl with the secret tattoo.
Although it’s beaming sunshine outside, it’s dull and dark in here. Tacky chandeliers hang from the ceiling with a miserable yellow glow, highlighting the dirty tables and broken stools.
There are so many people in here it’s hard to move, but I’ve wedged myself in between a man with a thick golden chain and a belly filled with takeout and beer and a woman who’s eyeing him up over my head.
Well, through the one eye that’s focusing on him, anyway.
The other moves around the room.
Christ.
This is the place for misfits.
Criminals.
The lowest end of society, with zero fucks left to give.
Even the police don’t come here.
My dad would be perfectly at home.
“Whiskey, rocks.”
“Vodka, no ice.”
The orders fly around me, and I stare at the ceiling, wondering if Sierra knows what she’s getting herself into.
Where is she?
I’m already getting suspicious looks, because it’s clear I’m not a regular. Not giving a fuck, I turn and order a large whiskey, neat.
The girl behind the bar looks exhausted, but when she reaches up for the Jameson, I’m treated to a view of her ass cheeks and the thong between them.
Not a bad view, truth be told, but I can’t imagine these fuckers checking out Sierra like that.
“Hey, I haven't seen you here before,” purrs a pretty girl in hot pants and a bra. She’s checking me out, and under normal circumstances, I’d have been interested. But now I just want to find Sierra.
“Yeah, not my usual haunt to be honest.” I sip my whiskey, wincing at the cheap brand. I’m not fussy either, but this tastes like gasoline. “But my…friend has an interview here today.”
The girl arches her brow, narrowing her eyes.
“The blonde or the brunette?”
“Blonde.”
“They’re with Will. In the back room. Enjoy your drink.”
Back room?
I don’t like the sound of that, but before I can rip the place apart looking for her, she emerges from the back room. Her eyes scan the room, her tongue wetting her lips as she smooths down her dress.
For a moment in time, I see her like any other girl in a bar.
I want to stop her as she walks by me, pull her over to me as I gaze at her wordlessly.
Take her out of this fucking dive and hold her face in my hands, telling her how fucking beautiful she is.
But she deserves better than me and all my shit.
I’m here to make sure my best friend's little sister is okay.
Sierra follows Kiki to the bar, and some fucker puts his hand on her waist, making her flinch because of her recently inked skin.
My blood boils as he leers at her chest, whispering shit she doesn’t want to hear in her ear.
Kiki rolls her eyes and orders a drink, leaving Sierra with the prick.
Before I can stop myself, I’m on my feet, pushing through the throngs of bodies until I reach her.
“Sierra.”
I’m not looking at her; I’m eyeballing the fucker with the hard dick in his pants.
“Crane!”
Sierra appears relieved and inches closer to me, a desperate look in her eyes.
“Come here, baby,” I mutter, dragging her into my arms as the fool watches with jealous eyes.
“Sorry, man, didn’t know she was taken.”
“You didn’t ask,” I snap back, turning my back to him and moving Sierra to my front so he can’t look at her.
“Thank you,” Sierra mumbles, shooting a look at Kiki. “Fuck, he was grim.”
I stare down at her, the way her lower lip trembles slightly, showing her fear.
That fucker scared her.
“Did he touch you?”
We’re moving closer together, her hands skimming my biceps as she shakes her head.
“No.”
“Good. Shall we get out of here?”
Sierra tilts her chin back, her gaze holding me captive, refusing to let me go. My fingers slip through her hair, my thumb stroking her jawline softly.
She closes her eyes, pushing her face into my hand as she presses her lips to my palm.
Fuck.
How can a kiss on the hand be so intimate?
I stare at her, unable to resist her for a second longer. I’ve wanted her for so fucking long, and seeing her like this, vulnerable and scared…like she needs me?
It does something to me.
Fuck it.
My left hand presses her close to me, and I move her face to mine, blood rushing through my ears as I drop my mouth to hers.
She tastes sweet, and I push my tongue against her lips, eager to see what else is in store for me.
Sierra takes control, tugging my hair as she loses herself in my mouth, neither of us coming up for air as we explore one another for the first time.
I’m inhaling her, inhaling the whole experience. She’s moaning against my lips, taking gasps of breath as we move our heads around, trying to get closer together.
The music fades around us, and the room fucking spins. It’s a high I’ve never experienced, but it’s one I’m already obsessed with.
It feels like hours before we break apart, only to smash our mouths back together again, our hands lacing together as I hold her to me, creating our own bubble in this shithole.
“Sierra, I got you a—oh, shit!” Kiki yells from beside us, and this time we break apart for good.
I can hardly breathe, but I know that I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
“You taste of whiskey,” Sierra murmurs, her eyes locked on mine.
“Sorry.” I laugh, glancing around us. “I taste of whiskey ninety percent of the time.”
Sierra tilts her head, pushing her hair behind her ear with a goofy grin.
God, she’s pretty.
In here, she looks like an angel lost in hell, and I’m the only one who can save her.
“I want to taste of whiskey too!” Sierra pouts, ignoring Kiki completely who is staring at us both with a stupid grin.
“Then come with me.”