18. In Which a Drunk Learns a Lesson
Chapter 18
In Which a Drunk Learns a Lesson
I t wasn’t technically stalking. Evander had originally planned to go to the Lotus Lounge, but as he passed the event, he paused. There was Ellie on one side of a table, gesturing wildly. She was laughing; the setting sun sparkling behind her setting her hair ablaze. He came to a standstill and stared. She emanated light. Liam stopped with him and shot him a look, to which he grunted, mumbling something about not being in the mood. Which is how he found himself sitting in the ship’s lobby listening to karaoke.
Terrible karaoke.
He justified his behavior by convincing himself he was only following orders—conveniently ignoring the order from Athena to kill her. Striding through the lobby, Evander decided a pair of club chairs were more favorable than sitting near the maddening machine. He was confident he would go unnoticed, tucked into the corner as he was.
He was wrong.
“So, stalker.”
His head snapped up, meeting Ellie’s annoyed expression.
“You mind telling me why you’re brooding here in the corner all glistening bloodsucker? Don’t make me change your name.”
“Umm.” Stumbling, he didn’t have an answer. His mind was suddenly blank.
“A girl calls you cute once”—she held up a finger—“and you follow her around like a lovesick puppy dog?”
Evander smiled. “Oi, I thought you were complimenting me.”
One side of Ellie’s lips quirked up. She flopped into the club chair beside him, setting her bag on her lap. “If I’d known the repercussions of that compliment . . .” She watched him from the corner of her eye.
Evander scratched his chin. “Didn’t you also call me beautiful, and a chiseled god? A man will follow any woman who thinks he is a god.” He made a playful gesture and Ellie rolled her eyes.
“I don’t remember it happening that way.”
“I remember it happening exactly that way.”
“We really need to get you a girl. And fast. I’m concerned about your brooding health. The next girl to come along and you’re gonna hog tie her and drag her back to your lair.”
Evander rolled his eyes at her playfully. “Where’s the date?” he asked, looking around.
“Which one? I went on like ten. Meh.”
“No Prince Charming in the mix of singles in this floating city, eh?”
She frowned. “They were nice enough, I suppose, but none fitted my fancy.” She twisted her lips. “Except one.”
Evander instantly became annoyed. Which annoyed the hell out of him. “Oh? And what type of man tempts my Ellie?” He frowned as he said, “my Ellie.” The phrase caused an odd feeling to course through him.
“No, no.” She laughed. “Not like that. This dude was on his way to getting shit-faced. He was handsy and loud. I wasn’t sure who was more uncomfortable, me or the other people.”
His jaw clenched, teeth grinding against each other. “Shit-faced? And the man you went with? Not charming either?”
“He was nice enough, but, eh.”
“What happened to your drunk date?” Cocking his head at her, he hoped it came across as interest and not annoyance mixed with anger that bubbled up out of nowhere.
Ellie shrugged that one shoulder. “When he grabbed me the second time, I left.”
“The second time?” he asked, his voice low, his hand clenching into a fist. “He grabbed you? Twice?”
Ellie gave him the strangest look. “Like I said, he was drunk. Besides, I left.”
“Maybe we need to find you a man. A sober one. I’m concerned about your spinsterhood.” Evander attempted to change the subject before he went to find the prick who grabbed her. A grin exploded across her face, and he noticed how it made her eyes crinkle.
“My spinsterhood?”
“Of course,” he said, flipping his wrist. “A charming match could have been made, but you won’t hear it. You turn your nose up at perfectly eligible men. Bald and married, belligerent and handsy. So picky. Add to that all those hours reading and crocheting.” She was laughing now, throwing her head back, her curls bouncing. “It’s very granny,” he continued. “A problem. The lads and I had a meeting, and we’re concerned for you.”
She playfully tapped his prosthetic arm. “Oh, you are, are you?” she said between giggles.
“Poor eyesight, poor posture, stiff fingers. It’s definitely a problem.” He faked a whisper. “And a tad anti-social.”
Ellie was shaking her head, her shoulders bobbing up and down. Her grin widened, showing several teeth. Her eyes twinkled as she reached into the bag on her lap and pulled out a ball of yarn and set it on the table between them. Then she pulled out a book, placing it next to the yarn.
Evander glanced between her, the yarn, and the book. “You brought these to a date?”
Ellie just grinned like a Cheshire Cat and reached into her bag. Her tin of dominoes emerged, and she clunked it down with the growing pile. He sat in stunned silence, staring at the mound. Evander erupted into laughter. He threw himself back into the chair, his arms limp on the armrest, his head back. Several patrons turned to glare. Ellie folded herself in her chair, giggles coming from her hunched frame.
“Why would you bring those to a date?” he asked, his voice strained with laughter.
“What if I get bored?”
Still smiling, Evander gave her a quizzical look. “If you get bored? What was your plan? Take out a ball of yarn during the conversation. Poor chaps never stood a chance.”
“Is that weird?”
They both burst into a fit of laughter again. When they had settled down, she gathered the items and stuffed them back into her bag. Comfortable silence stretched between them as a man sang “When a Man Loves a Woman” off-key. His gaze fell to the armrest, to where Ellie’s hand rested inches from his own. Catching a whiff of her scent, he breathed in slowly, savoring it as he stared at her hand. She glanced at him and then down at his arm. The overhead lights glinted off the metal. Self-conscious, he flexed his hand. Knuckles and joints bent with ease, the fingers well made. His joints moved fluidly as his hand turned over, palm side up.
“How did they make your arm?”
Her eyes snapped to his, and her cheeks pinked. Such an endearing quality.
“I’m so sorry. I—I—”
“It’s alright.” His eyes were soft. He watched her shift her weight. “It was specially made for me, a custom design by one of the world’s best.” He flexed his fist several times upward and turned it over to lie flat. He omitted the part where Hephaestus crafted the metal after Hypatia performed the calculations and made the prototype.
Ellie cleared her throat. “Oh, yes, I see.” She looked away towards the stage for several breaths.
Just as Evander opened his mouth to change the subject, a boisterous voice boomed from across the room.
“I found you. You left the event so soon, we didn’t get a date.”
Ellie pulled her lips into her mouth and sat up straighter in her chair. The stranger approached them, listing to one side as he rounded several chairs.
“I was hoping to catch you alone, but this will do.” In seconds he had pulled up a chair and sat across from her. Evander watched the exchange, both hands closing into fists.
Ellie took a short, shallow breath. “I’m not interested—”
“Of course you are. Why else would you go to speed dating?” He huffed and pointed his thumb at her, shooting Evander a look. Ellie’s gaze darted between the obvious unwanted guest and him. His magic surged, causing a jolt to spark through him. He tamped it down. He didn’t lose control, prided himself on keeping his magic contained, but the urge to protect her flooded him.
“I went to the event for fun. I wasn’t expecting anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Let me buy you a drink.” Ignoring her, he snapped his fingers at the server.
“I don’t want a drink.”
“Sure you do. I’m paying. Come on, have a drink with me.”
“Sir.” Ellie’s drawl turned cold. “I am a grown-ass woman; if I want a drink, I don’t need someone to buy it for me.”
“Loosen up.” He snapped his fingers again. “Where are you from?”
Evander gripped the armrest and glared at the intruder. Ellie stared, giving her head a little shake.
“Look, honey, I’m trying to be a nice guy here. You went to the event, so you were obviously interested in a date. I saw you out of all the chicks and knew we would hit it off.”
“I’m not interested,” she repeated.
The man had the audacity to look offended. He reached across the small expanse of space and grabbed Ellie’s knee. A growl rumbled its way through Evander. Mr. Nice guy curled his lip.
“She yours?”
Ellie scowled. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Look, I’m just trying to be nice. You’re the one taking it personally. You and I didn’t get a date. It’s only two minutes.” He leaned forward. The hand on her knee tightened, and Evander had to force himself to keep his seat when she shrank back. “You can’t afford to be so damn picky.”
“Take your hand off her.” Evander warned.
Ellie shot to her feet and rushed to one side of the club chair. Every muscle fiber pulled taut, ready to spring into action as his magic pushed against the shield he created. He was holding on to his control by a thread.
“Your sweet words could charm the dew off the magnolia,” Ellie drawled as she batted her eyelashes before she rolled them. “I told you, I’m not interested.”
Evander glanced between Ellie and their uninvited guest. Her sass was her second endearing quality.
“Look, bitch,” the man snapped as he stood. He grabbed for Ellie’s wrist, but catching her elbow, he gave it a good yank. “I’m just trying to be a nice guy and get you a drink. Your fat ass should be thrilled anyone looks at you.”
Evander growled and shot to his feet. “I think it’s evident the lady is not interested,” he said behind clenched teeth. The man looked up at Evander, who towered over him and squinted.
“Who the hell are you?”
Evander opened his mouth, but Ellie spoke first.
“I reckon I’ll go to my room now.” She stepped backward, wriggling her elbow to free it. The passenger stepped with her, and Ellie flinched. Fear sparked in her eyes as she tried to wrestle her arm free.
“Let go,” she protested.
“I say again,” Evander hissed a low warning. “The lady has made it clear she wants nothing to do with you.”
“Fuck you, guv-nuh ,” the guy spat out in a mocking English accent.
The world slowed down and then sped up simultaneously as Evander moved with precision. One second, Ellie’s elbow was in a vice grip, and the next, the nice guy was plowing through barstools and customers and skidding to a stop on his side. He stood quickly, sputtering curses, and flailing his arms. Evander stepped in front of Ellie and with one hand, he tucked her behind him, shielding her, the other balled into a fist.
“Touch her again, I dare you,” he growled. The sound came from somewhere deep, primal, and unbridled. A cruise member stepped between them, his arms out shouting something.
“I apologize,” Evander heard himself say. “We were just leaving.”
He took Ellie’s hand and roughly placed it into the bend of his arm. She whirled as he turned them both and headed towards the cabins. He was walking at a good clip, struggling to contain his rage, when she wiggled her hand out of his arm.
“Okay, okay,” she said as she slowed down. Evander was breathing hard. His jaw ached from clenching. Staring up at him, her face was clouded, her expression pulled tight. Inhaling deeply, he pressed his lips together. He was dangerous like this, unpredictable. He needed to be back in his cabin before he gave in to the urge to go back and beat the hell out of that rude prick.
“I’m escorting you to your room,” he snapped.
When Ellie objected, he interrupted. “Don’t fucking argue, Ellie.”