Chapter 28 #2
He conceded, and bets went around the table, laughter and teasing flying as fast as the cards. The first hand stretched on longer than the game in the coach, spades being thrown twice, which meant another two rounds of liquor.
My head grew lighter with every swallow.
The burn leaving my chest warm. My lips loose.
My laughter spilled out unguarded, rising with the chorus around the table.
I stopped caring whether Alec’s hand rested on my stomach or not; I leaned back against him, letting the firm line of his body mold to mine.
I let myself imagine—for a fleeting moment—that maybe this was enough.
Cards slapped down one after the other until Lady Okeri leaned back with a victorious grin.
She was declared the winner, and the room erupted with groans, cheers, and another round of shots.
I winced when Alec revealed we’d only taken one trick.
That meant two articles of clothing would need to come off. One for me. One for him.
Okeri clapped her hands like a drumbeat and shouted, “Take it off!” Others joined in, the chant swelling as more guests banged their hands on the table.
I laughed and whooped with the others, taken by the sultry spell the liquor had woven.
And I wanted to be caught in it. For once, I wanted to feel free.
I wanted to feel like I belonged. I wanted, for the first time in my life, to have fun.
Alec rose, lifting me gently from his lap as if presenting me to the table. Everyone clapped and cheered, but his attention never wavered from mine, steady and playful, daring me to laugh along with him as he tugged at the ties of his sash. The black silk slid loose under his fingers.
The sight jolted me, and I stopped laughing.
As if Bastien had slipped inside my mind, the world around me dulled until all I could think of was him.
I thought of Bastien in the steamy bathhouse, kneeling in front of me, and the way he twirled my sash around his long fingers.
The way his eyes had devoured me. Worshipped me.
I forced myself back to the present. To the music and the man in front of me.
Bastien wasn’t here, which I was very happy about.
If he was here, no one would be having this much fun.
He was the darkness that swallowed fun. But if that was true, why did my body ache for him as soon as Alec’s robe slipped free?
There was no denying he was very attractive. With flawless bronze skin, unmarked by war. Save for the angry scratch marks on his arm. So soft to touch and warm under my palms. He was nothing like Bastien. I couldn’t decide if it was his best quality, or his worst.
“Your turn,” Alec said, coming closer and running his hand along my curves, stopping when he reached my corset strings.
I wasn’t wearing anything underneath my skirt except a petticoat and undergarments. When the corset was off, my breasts would be bared for everyone.
I should be nervous, but right now, the liquor was making me feel braver. Many others were completely naked, and I wanted to feel like I belonged. But more than that, I wanted to silence the questions I’d asked myself earlier. If I’d been fed lies about Dark Witches and vampires.
Slowly, he started pulling on the strings, loosening the front of my corset with each tug. His lips skimmed over my bare skin, tracing up one arm, across my shoulders, then down the other. I couldn’t believe I was doing this—Bastien would be furious—but the alcohol dulled my inner voice.
I’d drink anything—kiss anyone—to stop the whisper of what if? What if it had all been a lie?
With Alec’s urging, my corset slid down my hips. With another wiggle and a tug, he pulled it over my head and tossed it beside his robe. I cupped my chest and let out a burst of ridiculous laughter. This was mad. I was mad.
“I was wrong,” Alec said, slowly easing one of my hands off my breast so he could spin me around. “You are more than beautiful. You’re radiant.”
Our eyes locked, and the anticipation that he was going to kiss me settled over me once again. Cupping my face, Alec pulled me close. His hardness pressed against my belly. For whatever reason, another bubble of laughter crested my lips.
“Say the word, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”
I hummed in response. I wanted… what did I want? For the room to stop spinning. For everything to stop being so funny.
Giggling, I closed my eyes, and pretended he was Bastien. I couldn’t say why, but the vampire’s frustrating image formed behind my eyes and wouldn’t leave. Or, maybe… I didn’t want it to leave. I swayed where I stood and chuckled as Alec righted me.
“I want you to kiss me.” The words just… came out. I wasn’t sure who I was talking to, the man inside my head or the one standing in front of me, and right now I was too drunk to care. Just as he lowered his lips, nearly touching mine, the unmistakable crack of Bastien’s cane struck the floor.
“Your Grace!” someone gasped.
Alec let me go so that he could bow, just as everyone else did.
I didn’t.
Slowly, I turned to face him. He was impeccably dressed, of course, with a cravat tied at his throat. I dropped the hand banded over my chest. If he’d come to see me, then he could see all of me.