Chapter Four Maia
Chapter Four
Maia
Iwasn’t sure parties were my thing. And as much as I loved these shoes . . . they freaking hurt.
“What’s wrong?” Erik asked, raising his drink as he twirled.
I grimaced. “I think I’ve lost circulation in my toes.”
“Sacrifices must be made, my darling girl. And those shoes are worth it,” he said.
Henry glanced down at my feet and frowned. “They look like they’d be hard to walk in. But they’re very pretty,” he hurried to add.
I laughed, taking the last sip of my drink. “They aren’t the most practical.”
Violet pinned me with a stare. “Slut era, remember? Who is your chosen conquest?”
She took me by the shoulders, spinning me around to peer at the crowd.
I tried to take in the people, but it was hard to really see them, what with the masks and all.
The dancing had been fun until my feet started to hurt, but thinking about picking a random person to take home didn’t exactly have my libido flaring to life.
I turned back around to face Violet. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m a conquest person. No dicking down for me.”
She let out a huff. “Seriously? This outfit is dick-down gold.”
“I get it,” Henry offered. “I’m not really into the casual-flings thing, either.”
“I am,” Erik singsonged. “For the right man, of course. But I think we all want true love, right? That world-stopping, can’t-sleep, can’t-eat, everything-just-explodes love.”
I frowned at my friend. “That doesn’t sound healthy.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh, sugar, it’s not. But if you’re lucky, it settles into something that is. It’s just the beginning that’s intense.”
“I think I need another drink,” I muttered, already moving for the bar.
I wasn’t sure I wanted something that would throw me that far off my axis.
That seemed terrifying. Walking through the world as if gravity had lost its hold on you, as though you could just up and float away.
I liked my feet firmly on the ground. Maybe that was why I’d never walked away from Jackson.
“There she is. Beautiful Maia. You look absolutely ravishing tonight, my darling.”
I tried not to let my lips purse like I’d sucked on a lemon as Frederick took my hand and lifted it to his lips. Instead, I forced a smile and pulled away as quickly as possible. “Thank you so much for having us, Mr. Ashford.”
“I’ve told you time and again, call me Frederick. And you are welcome in my home anytime.”
The way his gaze skimmed over me had me fighting a shiver. “Right. Well, thank you.”
I started to move around him, but Frederick blocked me. The move was slight, nothing overt that would have me screaming for help, but it was enough to have my pulse thrumming quicker.
“Tell me. What do you think my best sighting has been out those back windows?” he asked.
I gripped my clutch a little tighter and wondered if he would stop donating to the preserve if I beaned him with it. “I bet you see a lot. Deer, mountain lions, maybe a black bear?”
Frederick smiled as he tapped his glass of champagne with his finger. “Wolf.”
My brows rose. “Wow. That’s incredible.”
I meant it this time. Wolves were being slowly reintroduced in Colorado, but I had yet to see one in the wild. I could only imagine what a special experience it would be.
“Think about sipping your morning coffee right over there and seeing one of the most majestic creatures known to man. That could be you anytime,” Frederick all but purred.
Suddenly everything about the encounter felt slimy and gross. Even though I’d only dated one person ever, I understood the undertones. “I think I’m good with where I have my morning coffee. But thank you.”
This time I didn’t give Frederick a chance to block me. I feinted left and then dodged right, using the same move I’d seen Deck make countless times. He always made it look effortless, but it was a little clunky for me.
I managed to succeed and made a beeline for one of the darker hallways off the main room. I had to dodge and weave some more once I reached it, this time trying to avoid a couple frantically making out.
Hurrying down the hall, I finally found an empty bathroom and slipped inside. I turned the water to ice cold and let it run over my hands. I would’ve splashed some on my face, but Erik would’ve killed me if I ruined his makeup.
Instead, I took some steadying breaths. I wasn’t about to let some creep ruin my night. Maybe I’d ditch the stupid shoes and dance it out with my besties. Request some early-2000s pop classics. Britney for the win. Always.
Shutting off the water, I dried my hands and headed back out into the darkened hallway. I moved toward the main room but halted in my tracks when I saw a familiar figure. His mask covered half his face but I knew the hair, the suit we’d bought together for a business gala he was attending.
Jackson.
Jackson and a woman who was very much not my cousin. And given the fact that she was currently giving him the hickey of his life, I doubted she was simply a pickleball partner.
Crap. Crap. Crap.
I looked around for an escape, but all the doors were closed. I tried one. Locked. Another. Also locked. I simply froze.
This wasn’t happening. Not my ex with a new fling on the anniversary of our brutal breakup when I was here alone. No.
Movement caught my eye from the end of the hallway opposite from Jackson.
A tall, broad figure walked down the hall with an aura of power that had me swallowing hard.
He wore a mask that made him look like a dark knight—or maybe a masked vigilante.
His jaw was cut like granite but covered in thick stubble.
And his hands. There was something familiar about his hands. Long, thick fingers. Scarred in places.
I looked up, up, up into eyes I couldn’t determine the color of. “I’m so sorry, but I really need you to kiss me right now.”
I was sure I sounded completely unhinged, but I still took the man’s suit jacket lapels and tugged him toward me. His gaze dropped to my mouth, stalling for a fraction of a moment before he closed the distance.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but it sure as hell wasn’t what happened.
There was no hesitation in the man’s contact, in his taking of my mouth. His fingers slid into my hair, tipping my head back as his tongue stroked mine. The scents of leather and spice swirled as I drowned in the taste of a smoky whiskey.
Suddenly it was like gravity had lost its hold on me. But I wasn’t floating. I was flying.
It terrified me, but I only wanted more.