Chapter 36
I pulled my robe tighter around myself and flopped back onto the bed.
I groaned as my muscles protested the movement.
Dash had gotten me up while it was still dark out to go for a training run.
We’d hit the weight room afterward and then headed to school.
After classes, we’d done hand-to-hand and magic training.
I was getting better, but I wasn’t where I needed to be.
The bed depressed next to me and I jerked upright, a hand flying to my chest. “Geez, make a sound when you move, would you?”
The corner of Trace’s mouth kicked up. “Maybe you need to pay more attention.”
I let myself fall backward again. “Too much effort. If you’re an assassin, you can just kill me now.”
Trace squeezed my thigh. “Feeling a little rough?”
“Like I got run over by a Mack truck and then put through a meat grinder.”
He began massaging my thighs. Normally, the action would’ve had me jumping him, but I didn’t have it in me.
“Do we have to go tonight?” I whined.
“I’m afraid so, Little Bird.”
I groaned again. “I hate parties.”
“You’ve only ever been to one.”
I pinned him with a stare. “And look how that turned out.”
Trace’s ministrations stilled. “We’ll be sticking close this time.”
I was a jerk for bringing that up now. Trace had lost it when he found Damien feeding from me. I shivered at the thought.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “But you have to help me up. I can’t do it on my own.”
Trace chuckled but took my hands and pulled me to my feet. “I can do better than that.”
I arched a brow in question.
“I’ll dress you,” he said, pulling me toward the closet.
I tugged back on my hand. “I’m not sure the god of lust should be in charge of my outfit.”
A mischievous grin spread across Trace’s face. “I like that you think of me as a god.”
“Men,” I huffed.
He laughed, and it was one of those rare Trace laughs that was full-out. The sound could warm me from the inside out.
“Come on, Little Bird. Let me have some fun.”
“Fine,” I mumbled. But the truth was, I could never tell him no when he was like this. Playful Trace was my absolute kryptonite.
He led me into my closet, Briar following behind us. My cat hopped up on the island dresser in the center of the space and meowed loudly.
Trace turned and scratched Briar under the chin. She purred loudly, like the little demon hussy she was.
“Okay,” Trace said, abandoning Briar. “Let’s start with the most important piece of an outfit.”
“And that is?”
“Lingerie.”
I gulped as he moved toward a drawer. “There’s nothing in there—”
My words cut off as I saw that it was now stuffed full.
“I went shopping for you,” Trace said, pulling out a lace bustier.
It was a dark purple that reminded me of Trace’s eyes.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, running a finger over the delicate fabric.
“It’s going to look perfect against that creamy skin.”
A pleasant shiver raced through me.
Trace dropped it to the island and pulled out a garter belt and thigh-high stockings. “Been dreaming of you in this.”
My mouth went dry as he pulled out a thong next. He dropped to his knees and tapped on my leg. “Lift.”
I obeyed, and he slid the thong around one leg.
“Lift.”
We repeated the action.
Trace’s eyes went hooded, and he skimmed the fabric up my legs, pulling it gently into place as he stood.
“Your breaths are coming quick, Little Bird.”
“Can you blame me?” I whispered.
He pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “I love that I have an effect on you.”
“Cocky,” I muttered.
Trace simply grinned a cat-that-got-the-cream smile.
I glared at him, grabbing the rest of my undergarments, along with a random dress off a hanger, and stormed into the bathroom. “You’re not playing fair,” I called.
“I never do,” he yelled back.
The bass sounded from inside the house as we walked toward the party. Even a hundred yards away, it was deafening.
Colt paused to beep the locks on the Escalade, and when he turned back around, he groaned. “Are you trying to kill us, LeeLee?”
I bit the corner of my lip to keep from laughing. The dress I’d randomly grabbed had a slit up the back that verged on indecent.
“Blame Trace,” I said. “He picked out my outfit.”
Dash smacked him.
“Hey,” Trace clipped.
“The last thing we need is a fucking brawl because Leighton is too gorgeous for her own good,” Dash shot back.
I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure everyone knows by now that you guys are the only people I’m interested in.”
“They fucking better,” Ronan growled.
Students milled around the lawn, even though it was freezing, their supernatural abilities helping them fight the cold. But we made our way inside.
I cringed at how loud the music was as the guys moved toward the drinks. Declan handed me a soda. “Here you go.”
I popped the tab on the can, feeling eyes on me. I didn’t want to look up. Instead, I guzzled my drink.
Declan’s brows rose. “Thirsty?”
I shrugged.
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and dropped a kiss to the top of my head. “We don’t have to stay long. Promise.”
A little of my tension eased at that.
“Hey, Dec,” a girl I didn’t recognize crooned. “Long time, no see.”
My stomach twisted at the knowing smile she sent my mate’s way.
Declan cleared his throat. “Hey, Rena.”
She pouted. “How come you never call anymore?”
That twisting turned to nausea.
“I’m mated,” he gritted out.
Rena shrugged. “I don’t care about labels.”
Bitch.
I didn’t need to hear this exchange. I slid out from under Declan’s arm, muttering something about finding a bathroom. It wasn’t that I thought the guys didn’t have pasts. I knew they did. I just didn’t need to have it thrown in my face.
Moving through the crowd, I turned down a hallway in search of a bathroom, where I could lock myself inside for a few moments. I caught sight of an open door with a light on and moved that way.
Footsteps sounded behind me, and I started to turn, but before I could, someone hit me around the middle, and I was falling.