Chapter 14
Ineeded this. More than I thought I did.
Taking my mind off everything was the right move.
As my hips sway to the music, my head empties.
I ignore the sweat-soaked bodies brushing against me and let go.
In my head, I’m an incredible dancer. My arms sway in a fluid motion, and my ass—oh my ass is on fire.
A giggle escapes me, and I clamp a hand over my mouth. “No giggling,” I whisper to myself and catch Percy’s eye.
“What are you doing?” she mouths. Or maybe she’s shouting and I just can’t hear her over the bass and people singing.
I shake my head, then drop my hand. Giggling isn’t my thing. I do not giggle. Except apparently when I’ve had more than a few drinks.
Now that I’ve stopped moving, I cringe at the sweat streaking down my neck and between my boobs. I lift my glass, then pout when I find it empty.
I grab Percy’s arm and haul her closer to shout in her ear. “Going to get another.”
She nods, and I snake my way through the crowd. I end up bumping into every single person as I make my way off through the sea of people. I forgot how crowded clubs get. Especially on a Saturday night. When I reach the edge of the dance floor, I pause to catch my breath.
I close my eyes as I inhale, trying to get my bearings. The floor sways beneath my feet, and I wonder if I’m at my limit yet. Will one more drink put me over the edge from happy buzz to blubbering mess?
One more. You deserve it.
For once, I don’t argue with the voice. “You have a good point. One more is an excellent idea.”
I glance around, wondering if anyone caught me talking to myself.
Sometimes I forget how to act in public.
I’ve been so focused on everything else, I usually opt to stay inside.
What if my sister came home? What if she sent a distress signal and I wasn’t there?
The guilt would eat me alive. This is the first time I’ve gone out since I moved to Lark’s place.
When I turn to plot my course to the bar, I freeze.
A man stands several feet away, staring at me.
He’s chiseled angles and dark mysteriousness.
I snort at the thought. Is mysteriousness even a word?
Another giggle threatens to escape, and I swallow it down, focusing on the man again.
There’s something familiar yet enigmatic about him. I’d remember meeting a man like this.
I smooth my sweaty palms down my thighs, using the move to try to tug down the skin-tight dress.
Lark must have shrunk since the last time I saw her.
If she was wearing this, she wouldn’t be able to bend over without showing her whole ass.
Much like me. Then again, I didn’t care after the fourth drink.
His brows pull low and his nostrils flare. I glance over my shoulder, hoping there’s someone behind me. When I swing back around, I stumble to the side. He takes a step as if he’ll somehow catch me, but I’m able to right myself. I wiggle my fingers at him with my bottom lip between my teeth.
Not sexy. Stop it.
Immediately, I drop my hand as my cheeks heat. He probably won’t be able to tell. I get red as a tomato when I dance. And when I exercise. And when I fuck. Another giggle escapes me, and I press my lips together in chagrin. I really need another drink to stop this weird phenomenon.
“He probably isn’t even looking at me,” I mutter, wobbling forward.
I shouldn’t have worn the heels. Percy convinced me, saying they’d be a good weapon should we get into trouble.
It was a ridiculous argument. If someone were to attack us, we’re fucking witches.
We could kick ass with our witchy selves.
I snort, knowing the only thing I’ll be kicking is every piece of furniture in the house later.
The man steps into my path, and I move to the side. We’re in a strange dance I’m not entirely prepared for. Finally, he’s right in front of me. His dark hair flutters in what I assume is the air conditioning, though I’m still overheated.
“Excuse me,” I say sharper than I intended.
He shakes his head, and I huff. If he’s just going to stand there and stare, my buzz will flee faster than Jeremiah when threatened with shriveled balls.
Then again, I did say I was open to having a good time.
I scan him from his head to his toes, and his form wavers. Maybe I shouldn’t have another drink.
I paste on my best smile, intent on at least trying to flirt. “You come here often?”
Inwardly, I cringe. Outwardly, I show too many teeth and bobble my head. This is not fucking working. I’m too tipsy to flirt. He’s basically glaring at me like I stole his dog, anyway. I feel like a fool, and it doesn’t even make me feel good. This whole interaction is awkward and weird.
“Listen, I don’t know what your deal is, but I’m taken,” I shout when the bass drops.
Dimitri’s face pops into my head, and a genuine smile pulls at my lips.
No, that bastard abandoned me for Hell. He might not have had a choice, but I didn’t even get a note, or a call, or a carrier pigeon.
The least he could’ve done was let me know he’s okay.
The ball of fear I’ve been studiously ignoring pulses in my gut.
He could be dead. Do demons die? I can’t remember what he said about that.
Ever since he left, I’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Which doesn’t make a lick of sense. He was a blip in my life, and I have bigger things to worry about.
Yet I can’t stop my brain from conjuring him at the most random of times.
Like when I’m awake. Or when I can’t sleep. Or when he invades my dreams.
“Are you going to move?” I ask, and he lifts an eyebrow in question.
“What? Want me to gush about my amazing boyfriend? Fine. I will. He’s tall. Probably taller than you. Muscles for days, yet light on his feet, like he could take flight at a moment’s notice if I was in danger. Am I in danger, mister?” I give him an expectant look, and he smirks.
I rear back and swallow hard. The expression is exactly like the one Dimitri kept throwing at me when I would snap at him.
As if my annoyance was cute and he couldn’t help himself.
No, Dimitri has grey skin. And pure black eyes with purple irises.
And his skin cracks sometimes. He’s electrifying and possessive and caring.
Besides, he’s cursed and constantly collapsing. This man hasn’t even spoken.
“Name?” he asks, his tone low and gravelly, yet his voice carries over the music.
“Dimitri, if you must know. And he’s waiting for me, so…” I shoo him away.
He doesn’t move. Instead, he leans close, and I tense.
Maybe my heels are going to get a workout.
I wonder if blood will come out of the fabric.
Percy will forgive me. If I stain the dress, though, Lark will kill me.
Then she’ll use her handy necromancer book, resurrect me, then kill me all over again.
She’s very protective of her clothes. It’s part of the reason I stayed out of her room.
His lips touch the lobe of my ear, and I freeze. “I have been waiting for you.”
The man’s words filter slowly through my alcohol-soaked brain.
When they finally do, I rear back. I’m pretty sure he’s being a dick.
Or a creep. Either way, I’d rather not entertain this charade anymore.
Those warm fuzzy feelings I had vanish in a puff of smoke.
Much like Dimitri does when he fucks off to Hell.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but…
” My mind blanks as he stares at me expectantly.
I completely forgot what I was going to say.
It was going to be really fucking good too.
Like the kind you brag to friends about.
Frustration builds in me, though it’s muted by the blanket of liquor seeping into my bloodstream.
When I don’t continue, he smirks. “Nice to know you think I’m so amazing, spitfire. Would have been nice to know we’re dating. I’ll let it slide, though. Oh, and to answer your question, I may be a danger, but I’m not a danger to you. Thought you’d have figured that out by now.”
Realization slams into me and I scowl. He crosses his arms and waits for my reaction.
Well, he’s not going to get one. I’m going to turn around and march away.
Bastard thinks he can trick me? Waltz into my girl’s night and crash it?
Does he think I’ll just fall into his arms and swoon? I shall do none of those things.
I lean away and my head suddenly feels too heavy for my neck. I’m going down and I doubt I’ll be able to save myself. Shock spreads across his face, and I close my eyes. I don’t need to add to my embarrassment. After this, I’m definitely getting that drink to numb the pain—physical and emotional.
His strong arm snakes around my waist, and he picks me clean off my feet. All my resolve disappears and my body dissolves into him. At least, that’s what it feels like. It isn’t often I’m dangling in the air, yet here we are.
“How much did you have to drink, Mari?”
I glance up at him and blink slowly. I trace a finger between his brows, smoothing out the deep grooves etched into his flesh. He scowls and his eyes flash purple, revealing the demon hiding underneath his human disguise.
“So serious,” I murmur, fascinated by how soft he is despite the chiseled cheekbones and hard jaw. I bite my lip as something rigid presses into my stomach. His jaw isn’t the only thing that’s hard.
“Answer the damn question, Mari.”
“I dunno. But I was having a perfectly fine time before you showed up.”
He rolls his eyes, then drops me onto my feet. It’s more like a slow slide along his body. My ankle ruins the whole thing by forgetting its main function. A yelp leaves me, and yet again he catches me around the waist.
“You’re done,” he growls.
“What? No,” I plead. “I promise I’ll be good. It’s just these damn shoes.”