Page 47 of Twisted Gift

He chuckles, pushing away from the doorframe and approaching me. He takes a couple sleeves and helps me shift the others in my arms.

“Thanks,” I mumble, feeling the heat of his body against my skin. I stare hard at his chest, at where his navy shirt stretches over his muscles.

He nods. “Looks like a successful surprise party down there.”

I laugh. “Yeah, well, I’m glad you’re here.”

“Well, I couldn’t not come. Especially when it’s all Max has talked about at the office today.”

That brings a smile to my lips. “That... seems so unlike him. It’s cute.”

He arches a brow. “I wouldn’t make a point of tellinghimthat.”

I push the hair out of my face with my free hand and step around him. “We should get back downstairs.”

He chuckles. “Of course. We wouldn’t want to keep these cups from their drinks.”

I almost roll my eyes. “Let’s go, smartass.” After we walk into the hallway, I close the door and head down the stairs in front of him. Walking down the hallway toward the pub, I can feel him behind me, and the urge to drop what I’m holding, turn around, and kiss the crap out of him is overwhelming. I press my lips together until the pressure is uncomfortable and keep walking, forcing myself to keep my gaze forward.

Tristan and I set the cups behind the bar and mingle with the crowd. There aren’t many people I know, which means there are even fewer people that Tristan knows.

I manage to pass him off to Max and Oliver, and he starts a game of darts with Max. The sight of him smiling and laughing, having fun with his friend, makes warmth blossom in my chest. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my lips as I sneak away to find Nikolai. It’s time he shows me how to crowd feed. Anxiety crackles through me at the thought of losing control again, but as Nikolai said, this way is safer. I’m not focusing on one person, and there are plenty of humans here to pull energy from. It shouldn’t be an issue.

With a quick scan of the room, I locate Nikolai leaning against the bar, chatting with a group of girls.Color me surprised. I walk over, plastering one fake ass smile on my face, and poke him in the side.

He glances over at me. “Hey, gorgeous. Nice party.”

I nod. “Yeah, thanks. Do you have some time?”

His eyes study mine, and his brows rise as if he’s questioning me, so I nod again to confirm. “Of course.” He turns his attention back to the girls. “Excuse me, ladies.” He throws his arm around my shoulders and guides me away.

I scowl and try to push his arm off, but it’s too heavy. “Seriously, Nik?”

“Jealousy is a powerful tool, Aurora.”

Rolling my eyes, I elbow him in the ribs. “You are so annoying.”

He grunts, finally dropping his arm from around me once we’re off in the corner. “Okay, so let’s go over a quick game plan before we start.” The amusement is gone out of his eyes, and in its place is pure concentration that I try my best to mirror. “This is how I do it, and if it doesn’t work for you, we’ll find another way, but let’s give it a go. What you’re going to do is close your eyes and visualize each human in this room as their own color. Well, let me rephrase that; you can use the same color for more than one person, but try to see them as a different shade. You get what I’m saying?”

I screw up my face. “Sort of?”

“The idea is this: next, you’re going to see yourself as a blank white canvas.”

I offer a bland look. “Let me guess, I’m going to paint myself with their colors?”

He frowns. “Yeah. Damn, don’t look so unimpressed. I thought it was pretty cool.”

“Hey, if it makes me feel like I’m in control of myself, then it’s cool.”

“All right, go for it.”

I stare at him. “Uh,how?”

“You’ve never painted before?” he counters.

“Of course I have,” I say.

“Right, so just try it.”

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