His words settle in my head. What have I got to lose? Would it be so wrong to experience pleasure for a night? I’m a prisoner. When I get back to Orca Cove and say yes to Lucas, I won’t feel guilty. We’re not really together now… I didn’t say yes.
He’s been with so many girls during his stint at university. Why isn’t it my turn? Why shouldn’t I have fun for one night?
I pour more of the fae wine into my cup and hold it up to cheers Dayton. “Here’s to drinking, dancing, and finding a damn good lay.”
His eyes widen for a moment before he holds his cup up to mine. “Here’s to that, blossom.”
35
Rosalina
Thisisthebestnight of my entire life, and it’s not just the fae wine talking. Okay, maybe it’s the fae wine talking, but I don’t even care. Everything here is amazing!
The food? Delicious. I’ve eaten two nuts and fruit plates, plus three baskets of bread, and more olives than I can count.
I have no clue how much I’ve drunk, but it’s because wine keeps getting delivered to our table. Dayton and I can barely hold a conversation because so many people keep coming over to talk to him, offering us food and drink.
Right now, he’s across the bar, telling some farfetched story to a group of enraptured patrons. I like observing him from afar. Tall and beautiful, he draws people to him like planets around the sun. And he’s so charming, giving everyone his full attention. Though a part of me yearns for him to return to the table.
I should focus on Operation Hook-Up, but I’m quite content where I am. There is no shortage of beautiful things to look at from the marble pillars, to the hanging golden lights with dangling colorful gems, to the painted murals. But the most beautiful thing of all are the fae.
I can barely take in their elegant faces, pointed ears, elaborately done hair, and flowing sheer outfits that leave little to the imagination.
“Looking for me?” Dayton falls back down to his seat.
“Checking out my options,” I tell him.
He raises a brow, then leans across the table to tuck a turquoise flower behind my ear. “Got you a present.”
Warmth blooms in my chest, and I reach for my wine.
“Slow down.” Dayton places his palm over the top of my glass. Shit, his hand is huge. How have I never noticed that before? I grab his hand, suddenly wanting to inspect the callouses on his palm.
I giggle and intertwine our fingers. “The wine is fantastic.”
“Alright, I-can-hold-my-liquor-Rosalina,” he laughs.
I stare at him just so I can take him in. He’s more handsome than all the fae here. His sun-kissed skin glows in the dim light.
“Why are you looking at me like I’m a new research book?”
“Your smile right now. It’s one of my favorites,” I say, my head feeling light and sparkly.
“You have a favorite smile of mine?”
I nod and push the hair away from his face. “You have lots of smiles. Cocky ones, flirty ones, sarcastic ones. Ones where you’re really sad, but you don’t want anyone to know.”
“Alright, alright.” He shakes his head, taking a long swig. “You are observant, aren’t you? What smile is your favorite?”
I lower my hand to his strong jaw. “I call it your secret smile. You have it when you think no one’s watching. I’ve only ever seen it when you look at Farron. But tonight, you looked at me and… And it’s special.”
The beautiful smile is gone from his face in an instant, and he stands, dragging me up with him. “You have a certain smile right now too, blossom.”
“I do?”
“Yes,” he growls. “A dopey, drunk smile. You’ve had too much wine.”
“I have had just enough.” I giggle. This is better than any human alcohol has ever made me feel. “What’s the deal with you and Farron, anyway?”