1. Soul #2
She glances over her shoulder toward the assholes who are still watching her. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Beat the shit out of the guys following you?” I guess, fully prepared to do just that if she wants me to.
What wouldn’t I do for this girl?
“No, not that.” She pushes her dark waves off her shoulders as she takes a step forward.
Her perfume is sweet and spicy. Orange blossoms and cloves. Unforgettable like her. She floods my fucking lungs as she takes another step, and everything in me resists reaching for those perfect hips of hers and tugging her to me.
“You needed a favor?” I ask, clearing my throat.
She wets her lips as her gaze drops to my mouth. “Kiss me like I’m yours.”
I have no idea what the fuck brought her over here—especially for that. But I don’t hesitate a second. One moment, I’m standing with my back to the bar, the next, I’ve snagged her hand and pulled her against me.
My fingers thread into her silky hair as I lower my lips to her perfect mouth.
She tastes as good as she smells, and just as sweet. Like caramel and candy. Her body melts into mine, and I’m fucking gone. Her teeth tease my lower lip, and when she opens, I devour.
Her little moans.
Her exhales.
She arches her back as I dip her lower, and I do exactly as she asked—I kiss her like she’s mine.
I can’t remember the last time I had a girlfriend. That I spent more than one night with a woman. Dating is pointless when people around me tend to die. But damn if I don’t wish for a second that this could be real.
When I finally break the kiss, her blue eyes blink up at me. A blush colors her cheeks, and her lips are puffy. I brush my thumb over her mouth, and I can still feel her lips on mine as her breath tickles the pad of it.
How good would those little pants feel tickling my neck in bed?
The girl in pink takes a step back, and sound returns to the room. I didn’t realize it had gotten so quiet in here.
People all around cheer, and I realize midnight must have struck because everyone is going wild. Confetti bursts in sparkling clouds all around.
To my right, Chaos is talking to Venom, who must have finished chatting with that girl and met us at the bar. If he said something to me, I didn’t hear it because I can’t take my eyes off the girl in front of me.
She looks over her shoulder, finding the space the guys were standing in empty.
“Thanks for the kiss.” She smiles, immediately turning on her heels to leave.
For a second, I’m frozen. In shock as I stare at the back of her head and watch her walk away.
“What the fuck was that?” Chaos asks, watching her as well.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”
“Want us to wait for you?”
I turn, walking backward, grinning at him. “Nope.”
Whatever is going on with this girl, I’m not letting her out of my sight tonight.
Thankfully, her pink dress is a beacon that guides me across the casino floor. She tries to disappear, but I snag her hand by the craps tables.
“Hey.”
Her blue eyes widen as she spins to face me, and I hate that there’s a flash of fear in them before she realizes who’s standing in front of her.
“Oh, it’s you. Sorry about that.” She bites her lower lip, wringing her fingers together when she pulls her hand free. “I didn’t mean to put you in such a weird position. I was just trying to shake those guys and figured that might do the trick.”
“I got that. Did you know them?”
“No, but thanks for helping me out.” She starts to turn again.
“So that’s it then?” I ask, and she pauses, glancing over her shoulder. “You give me the best kiss of my life and then just walk away. At least leave a fucking shoe or something so I can find you again.”
Her eyebrows pinch, and then the biggest, brightest smile spreads on her face as she laughs. “Does that actually work on women?”
“Which part?” I cross my arms over my chest, grinning.
“All of it. The best kiss of your life? Fairytale references? Really?”
“You’re the one who came onto me,” I remind her. “Besides, I’m just calling it what it was: a great fucking kiss.”
“Well, I appreciate the compliment.” She shakes her head. “But I should go.”
“Why? Are you going to turn into a pumpkin now?”
Her eyes roll. “I’m not a princess.”
“Yeah, well, that works out because I’m no prince.” I step closer; this hit of her is addictive. “Come on, it’s only midnight. And it’s New Year’s. You came out tonight to celebrate, right? Let’s do it.”
She glances around, shifting on her feet. And even if the guys are gone, she’s still nervous about something. “I guess I did.”
“I’ll tell you what, let fate decide.” I eye the slot machine nearby. “One quarter. I lose, I walk away. I win, you give me another kiss.”
“Slot machines are notoriously rigged against the player.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Are you a gambling man?”
“I’ve been known to take a risk on occasion.” I smile.
If she knew the kind of shit I get myself into, she’d run. But she doesn’t, so intrigue sparks in her eyes.
“I don’t even know your name.” She crosses her arms now, pushing her perfect tits even higher.
“Hayes,” I tell her when her eyes fall to the patch on my chest.
No one calls me by my legal name. I don’t know why I even said it. I’ve gone by Soul as long as I’ve been patched into the club. But when she repeats it, all is right in the world.
“Hayes,” she says like she’s mulling it over. “I’m Emery.”
“No last name?” I don’t know why I even care. I don’t follow up with the girls I fuck. I’m a one-and-done kind of guy. And sure, that makes me an asshole, but it’s better for them in the long run.
“You didn’t give me yours,” Emery challenges.
That bit of fire is something I can’t get enough of.
“Fair enough,” I concede, knowing Ghost can probably pull everything I need to know about this girl later. “So, you in?”
“Just a kiss?”
“Just a kiss.” I nod.
Fuck if I don’t want more, but I’ll take what I can get.
“Okay.” Her eyes narrow. “One quarter.”
I grin, pulling one from my pocket.
We stop at the slot machine, and I hold the quarter between us.
She almost looks nervous as I stick it into the machine. My odds are one in a million, but she’s still standing here, so I figure they’re working in my favor. Pushing the button, the cards on the screen begin to spin. It feels like forever until they slow to a stop, one at a time.
“And here I thought you were lucky.” Emery laughs when I lose the hand just like she predicted.
I shrug. “You were worth the shot.”
“I’ll tell you what…” She reaches into her purse, pulling out two more quarters and smiling big as she looks up at me. “Best two out of three.”