THIRTEEN
Alicia
We were up and walking away from the picnic site, and Cain seemed in as good spirits as I had ever seen him. I had not given the game away, but even though he was happy, I could tell that something was diHerent about Cain. je remained as unreadable as ever and walked ’ust a little faster than I did. I struggled to keep pace, but at least he was walking nearest to the road. Cain“s head was on a constant swivel as we followed the road down towards the city.
It was a short walk, and I was concerned that Cain“s knee would give him trouble. I could only assume from the slight bulk over his right knee that he had a brace on underneath his ’eans. Curiosity was getting the better of me and now that he did not have his hands on me, I could think somewhat clearly, even if we had both had half a bottle of wine.
?Where are we going, Cain”J
?Yust down to a little place I know. It“s got a nice vibe to it.J
?I still can“t believe you planned all this.J
?zou“d be ama-ed at what I can achieve when I put my mind to someA
thing, Rlicia. When I care about something.J
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jis side eye was not lost on me, and I ’ust wished that we could get to wherever he was taking us sooner rather than later. I could feel my hand hanging ’ust beside his and I wanted it to be anywhere but. Oot because Cain“s hand monstered over mine, but because I was at risk of ’ust grabbing it. Tvery xbre in my being wanted to, and there was no way at this point that I could ’ust pass it oH as stability to help him walk.
We walked a little while longer, our footsteps falling into rhythm on the cracked sidewalk. UaBis and Mbers blared their horns as they battled for supremacy in the race that they thought they were in, the sound ricoA cheting between glassAfronted buildings. 6usinessmen with loosened ties rushed past, briefcases swinging, while teenagers huddled in doorways, their laughter cutting through the evening air. Kespite the chaos swirling around us like autumn leaves, I was content with Cain, his broad shoulder occasionally brushing mine, his presence solid as the concrete beneath our feet.
?In here.J
Cain turned suddenly, his calloused palm pressing against my sternum, redirecting me into an alley that smelled of rainAsoaked brick and yesterA day“s garbage. Uhe narrow passage swallowed us in shadow, my Pats clickA ing against uneven cobblestones. Yust as claustrophobia began to creep up my spine, we emerged into a street bathed in the amber glow of vintage string lights. Uhey swayed gently overhead, casting honeyed patterns across the faces of at least thirty people lounging at metal tables, cigarette smoke curling around their animated conversations like silver ribbons in the night air.
?Where are we”J
?6ack entrance of the best club in town. I know the bouncer, come on.J Oow Cain did xnally grab my wrist, his xngers wrapping completely
around it like a warm, living bracelet. I wanted to scream, but it was not from fear. Instead, it was from the ’olt that shot up my arm and straight down my spine. jis touch was electrifying, leaving a trail of goosebumps
257 G.R. KRDNT, GRUU GTGTGRDS
across my skin despite the warmth of the evening. Uhe pool that had already gathered in my panties was only being added to by the second, a warm, slick reminder of how desperately my body responded to his smallest gesture. What the fuck was wrong with me”
Cain led me through the throng of people, his grip xrm around my wrist like a bracelet. Tven if I wanted to pull away, I very much doubted that I would be able to. 6odies parted before us, both sweaty shoulders and perfumed necks turning away as we passed. When someone“s ga-e caught ours, their eyes would widen slightly at Cain“s face, then dart away like startled xsh, xnding sudden interest in their drinks or the ceiling or anywhere but him. I might as well have been invisible, a ghost trailing in his wake through the pulsing orange ha-e.
I saw a door up ahead and it was clear to me that was what Cain was heading towards. Uhere was one bouncer, dressed solely in black. je stood beside a small stand that held both an iFad and a bottle of water. jis hand went towards the iFad, but when he spotted Cain, he waved us forward.
?zou don“t need your IK, Cain. Come on in.J
Instead, he grabbed a small stamp from beside the iFad and waved us through. jow was Cain this well connected” 1omething told me I was not getting out anywhere near as much as I should have. Cain held out his wrist and received the stamp and I followed behind him.
?Lood to see you, 6ruce. Uhis is Rlicia. 1he“s with me.J
Uhe bouncer smiled at me, revealing a chipped front tooth that someA how made his weathered face more approachable rather than threatening. je was an older man pushing maybe xfty with closeAcropped silverApepA pered hair and deep creases around eyes that had seen their fair share of trouble. Uhough no taller than Cain, his shoulders stretched his black tAshirt to its limits, and a faded dragon tattoo curled from beneath his sleeve, disappearing under the fabric. jis stance was shoulderAwidth apart, and he looked more than physical capable of matching up again Cain for a spar.
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?Oice to meet you, Karl. zou take care of this one, alright”J ?Koes he get in trouble a lot”J
6ruce“s weathered face glanced down at me as he tried to xnd my wrist
so that he could push a stamp onto it. ?Yust be careful.J
We entered the club and a wall of sound hit me. It was the unmistakable synthesi-er introduction of a remiBed ?Uake on GeJ pulsing through my chest. Uhe bass so deep I could feel it vibrating through the soles of my boots. Coloured lights sliced through the artixcial fog that rose up around us, painting Cain“s sharp features in alternating blue and magenta as he leaned in closer to me. Ferfect, this was eBactly my vibe. jopefully as the night continued there would be all sorts of nostalgic beats and electric anticipation. Cain“s knowing smirk told me he had understood me better than I had given him credit for.
I could feel Cain“s gentle touch hovering near the small of my back as he led me towards the bar. je was bouncing on his feet, getting into the music, and by proBy, so was I. Uhe bar itself was packed and busy, and as we waited in line, Cain tried to talk to me. 8or some reason, here at the bar, the music had been louder than when we had walked inside, and I was forced to try and make conversation with Cain until we got to the front of the line.
It was a mission trying to communicate with the bartender eBactly what we wanted, but we got there in the end. We were both double parked, at least initially. I had ended up with a gin and tonic whilst Cain had what looked like a cinnamon whiskey xreball in his hand. We both clinked our drinks against each other again before throwing back one of them. !eaving our xrst empty glasses on the bar counter, Cain gestured for me to follow him. Snce more, I was inclined to follow him. Cain led me away from the bar and it was somehow 9uieter near the dance Poor to the point where I could hear him clearly.
?Come on, let“s dance.J
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Uhe electric ’olt that surged through my arm as Cain took my wrist again was eBpected, but even then, there was nothing I could do to stop the sensation running through me. Cain spun us out onto the dance Poor and to my surprise, he had not only some rhythm, but some footsteps as well.
Rs we spun across the dance Poor, I fought to regain my bearings, still reeling from the electricity that si--led through me when our skin touched. Cain guided me into a Puid dip, his strong hands supporting my back as I arched backwards, my heart pounding in my chest. When he pulled me upright again, we were mere centimetres apart, eyeAtoAeye. It was way too close for comfort. I“d agreed to dance, but I had not signed up for something so intimate. Gy throat was tightening again, and the air around me felt like it was hot, heavy and clinging to my skin. I had only had alcohol.
Gy body was telling me that I needed to get out of there. Rlarm bells clanged in my skull, my pulse hammering against my throat like a trapped bird. I twisted my wrist against the heat of his grip, the friction burning my skin raw. I planted my palm against his chest, feeling the hard wall of muscle beneath his shirt as I pushed with all my strength. 8or one terrifying second his xngers tightened, then I wrenched sideways, slipping free of his hands like water through a clenched xst.
?Oo3 I don“t like this.J
?Kon“t like what” Kancing with me”J
?It“s too unprofessional, Cain.J
I splayed my xngers across his chest, feeling the unyielding muscle beA
neath his thin cotton shirt. When I pushed against him, my palms slid uselessly over the contours of his pectorals, my eHorts absorbed by his immovable frame, like a pond swallowing a stone below the ripples. I might as well have been pressing against the face of a mountain. Uhe pads that I had worked with him showed my strength was insignixcant against his mass, then this was another stark reminder of that fact.
?What do you mean”J
?Uhis has been lovely, and consider your apology accepted, but we can“t keep doing this. zou“re4J
Cain ducked his head. ?I“m what”J
?Uhis is too much3 I“ve got to go3J
Uhis time I managed to push past Cain, and for some reason it was almost like he had stepped to the side. je still had his drink in his hand and tried to grab for me, but he was too slow. I ducked under him and tore into the crowd, headed straight for the door. Uhere was no reason why I stayed that long other than his company, but it had been en’oyable. Tven with the en’oyment of Cain“s company, I was not going to ruin my reputation or client relationship ’ust for some dick that I did not even know if it was worth it.