Gage adjusts his pants, and then he guzzles his drink. "This is terrible. We'll never get anything accomplished in this air. We should go."
Thad shakes his head while pointing to the top of the stairs.
"I've got a meeting with Dulgar. He's a little unpredictable. Stick around. I might need a hand if he tries anything."
Gage takes a shaky breath, and then his eyes find mine again briefly before turning back to Thad.
"Why aren't you as affected?" he questions suspiciously.
"I took the edge off. You should probably do the same. There are plenty of willing women in here. I'll help out Alyssa."
Fo
r the first time in a while, that actually sounds gross. He just screwed another girl, and now he's flirting? Ew.
"Ha," I release sardonically, and he pulls me into his arms while casting a patronizing stare down to me.
"Don't be like that, pretty girl. It's just sex. You need to get it off the pedestal and put on a foot stool where it belongs."
I just laugh at his candor, and then he leans in to steal a kiss. I promptly push him away before those dirty lips reach mine, and his lips pucker in response.
"Fine then. I'll get on with my meeting."
Gage puffs out his frustration as we watch Thad leave us behind.
"I have got to get something stronger than this girly thing he brought over. You need more?" he asks while clanking around the ice in his cup.
"Please," I dramatically release, and he laughs while taking my glass and walking away.
Before he's even completely out of sight, familiar arms are wrapping around my waist with a rough, aggressive touch, and spinning me around to meet the green eyes behind a red mask.
Kane.
My heart patters heavily against my chest as he forces me into a dance in the center of the floor. I stare helplessly at his incredible body wrapped like a designer present. His black suit holds a touch of red at the pocket, and his blood red shirt matches his mask.
His dark hair sweeps over the upper rim of the mask as he stares down at me with a tense jaw and hostile eyes.
"What are you doing here? Do you know what this place is?" he whispers.
"Yeah. It's the home of a suc-"
He clamps his hand over my mouth to silence me, rolling his eyes as he does so.
"Not so loud. Why are you here?"
He releases his hold over my mouth, but I've tasted his touch, reveled in the feel of his skin on mine, and felt the need for more flowing through my veins. With this toxic air, I'm just a seduced puppet, and the lingering feelings I have for this devil are taunting me right now.
"We're looking for answers about the people who took my mother. What does it matter to you?" I strain out, trying not to sound as affected as I am.
His eyes look around, as if he's searching for something, and then I see the small bit of sweat forming on his brow. He's being affected, too?
"I'm here to find one of my friends. He has a lead on my sire. If you're looking for her, then you-"
"We're not. I'm telling you the truth. You're hurting me," I grumble as I try to escape his too-tight grip.
"Not the way you deserve to be hurt," he growls, genuine pain and anger in his eyes.
"Whatever. Let me go."