“The underground part of the market.”
I nod. “Yeah, but what do you think it was originally for?”
He looks around, shrugging. “I’m honestly not sure, we’ll have to figure that out somehow.”
“Yeah, because when I’m curious about something, I have to know.”
He smiles, eyes twinkling with dark pleasure. “Oh, I know.”
I purse my lips at him. Not willing to discuss our blood play kink in public.
We come back out and Beckett leads me down the road and into an alleyway. I take in the brick wall covered in gum. “Oh.” I pause, and then dig around in my purse for my gum. I shove a piece in my mouth, offering some to Beckett. He laughs, shaking his head.
Once I get it chewed up, I stick it to the wall, smiling. “That’s unsanitary,” Beckett comments.
I shrug. “I don’t care. I want to be a part of it.”
* * *
We all sitin the hotel bar, everyone sipping on a drink, besides Primrose and me. We are only missing Devlin, but Madden said Devlin and hisfriendwould be down soon. I look to the lavish bar area, sleek white marble floor and cream-colored walls. It’s high class, menus with no prices next to the items. There is even a giant aquarium dividing the eating area from the bar section. Classic music one could honestly mistake for elevator music plays softly in the background.
We’re all dressed semi-casual-slash-formal. I have on my white jeans, my shirt embroidered with shades of gold and green beads, wrapping around my neck and tied at the back, leaving my stomach exposed. I finally got to wear a pair of my heels. My gold, strappy six-inch heels I got for a really good deal. Beckett wears a deep black sweater, a pair of jeans, and loafers. A watch that sparkles more than the stars in the night sky, and his coat discarded. He looks like a businessman having a casual day. It’s a peek into his other life, the one that exists beyond the forests surrounding our campus. He’s classically handsome in a way old money is. The picture he’s painting right now makes me realize how different our worlds are. It’s like he’s at one end of the spectrum and I’m at the other. Like oil and water, I’m not sure our two worlds could ever mix.
“What are you so deep in thought about, Rabbit?” Beckett asks, leaning on the bartop next to me.
I drown the lemon in my water with my straw, shoving the end through the acidic flesh, pinning it to the bottom of the glass. “Just feeling a little out of my comfort zone.”
He nods, sliding his hand up my thigh and squeezing. “We can always ditch them. “
A smile twitches at my lips. “No, it’s fine.”
“About time,” I hear Madden mumble.
I turn to look over my shoulder and see Devlin and… Kate? Kate from algebra class who doesn’t like me.Great.I wave lightly at Kate. “Hey.” Kate’s smile is less than nice, more of a sneer, as she waves back.
“Excuse me?” Amiyah says, lips twisting at Kate.
“It’s fine. She’s not my biggest fan.” I shrug, taking a sip of my lemon water.
“Okay, but why?” Amiyah asks, pushing her long raven hair over her shoulder, lips twisted in anger.
“I don’t know. I tried talking to her once and she was so put out by the end of it.”
Beckett sighs. “I feel that way sometimes, too, when I talk to you. Maybe give the girl a break?”
I smack his shoulder and he grins. I hear Prim giggling and look over to her, but Vance catches my attention instead. The way he looks at her… it’s enchanting. As if nothing in his world makes sense if she’s not in it.
“So, what are we doing tonight?” Devlin asks, tucking Kate into his side. “I vote we go clubbing.” He grins.
I grimace. “Yeah, that’s not really my scene.”
Devlin’s smile slips. “Right. Would a shady strip club be more of your scene?”
I flinch. “Watch your mouth,” Beckett speaks, voice calm and low, but his eyes are murderous.
“That’s uncalled for, Devlin,” Madden says, eyes narrowed in warning.
Vance lightly shakes his cup as he watches Devlin, as if waiting for the right moment to throw it at him. “I, personally,” Primrose speaks, voice barely above a whisper, “think bowling could be fun.”