Page 68 of A Lesson in Deceit
I smacked my lips, purposely prolonging my reaction. “It’s actually really good. You could always put bartending skills on your resume.”
“You can come work under me.” I heard Mateo’s voice and turned around. Corrin hurried around the counter and huggedme, pulling back and assessing my outfit. She gave me one small nod that spoke volumes.
Introductions were made and the conversation flowed seamlessly. Mateo had mentioned that their sister was tending the bar, so she was sorry she had to miss us tonight. The music entrapped us and soon the beat was one that I could move to and River knew exactly how to find a rhythm with me. Marianne was chatting up a girl in the kitchen, while Corrin and Mateo danced enthusiastically with each other. I held my drink in one hand, careful to keep it in the glass. River spun me around and pressed me against his chest, bringing his forehead down on mine. He grabbed my hips, sliding his hands back and gripping my ass, which bunched up my dress.
“Any higher and the whole worlds going to see what we share.” Grayson came up behind me, his body heat surrounding me. His fingers played along with River’s, teasing at the hem of my dress.
“We have a lot of plans for you tonight, gorgeous.” River leaned in to kiss me. Grayson slipped my drink from my hand and I pulled away from River’s kiss.
“Hey, I wasn’t done with that.” My tone was playful.
“We need you to be coherent and willing tonight,aking sinta.” That phrase again. Something about it made my insides flutter.
“Well then, water it is for the rest of the night.” I placed my hands on River’s chest, reaching up to try to kiss him and then I heard a crash.
“What the fuck was that?” River’s mouth formed into a hard line and he groaned. “I’ll be right back, don’t go anywhere.” He kissed my forehead and then went in search of the reason for breaking up our good time. Grayson followed him and I pressed my hand to the back of my neck.
Water actually sounded amazing right now since I felt like I was burning up. I started to head towards the kitchen when a hand gripped my forearm. I turned to come face to face with a burly guy who I’m pretty sure I’d seen around campus.
“Can I help you?” I asked, trying to pull my arm out of his hold.
“You can dance with me.” His voice was a little slurred.
“I’m okay, thanks.” I tried to remove myself from him, but he just held on tighter. “You can let me go now.”
He laughed a little, teetering on his feet. “It’s just one dance. You had no problems with the two guys before.”
I gave him a forced smile. “Well, I know those guys and I don’t know you, so let me go.”
He pulled me into him, causing me to smell the alcohol on his breath up close and personal. “You can get to know me then, come on.” He started trying to drag me to where a throng of people were dancing, but I planted my feet and pulled back.
“Just let me…”
My entire body was yanked backwards into a hard chest. Fingers held my arms, moving me to the side. I looked up, coming face to face with the person who had pulled me away.
Asher. He had on a grey henley that shaped his body nicely; it was hard not to look at him.
The burly guy blinked, looking more annoyed. “Go find your own girl.” He shoved his hands against Asher’s chest.
River’s brother let out a deep laugh. “I wasn’t aware she belonged to you.”
The guy looked past Asher at me, scanning my body in a way that made me think I was completely naked. “She might if you’d stop being a massive cockblock and let me show her a good time.” He tried to move past Asher, who didn’t hesitate to pull his arm back and connect his fist with the guy’s face.
I watched him stagger back, shaking his head, becoming even more unstable on his feet. He lunged toward Asher who moved out of the way, grabbing a beer bottle from the coffee table and smashing it over the guy’s head. He stumbled and fell on the ground with a loud thud.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” River placed his hands on either side of his head, looking at the mess around us.
Asher placed the other half of the broken bottle on the coffee table. “I fucking live here.”
Grayson pointed to the unconscious body on the ground. “You didn’t kill him, did you?”
Corrin and Marianne fought through the crowd, crouching down next to the body. Corrin pressed her fingers to his neck. “No, he’s fine. His pride will probably hurt like a bitch though.” She fluttered her fingers, moving her hand over his body. A shimmer of magic laid over his body and then disappeared. “Just for good measure, but he’ll be fine.”
She looked up at Asher, her eyes widening. Both she and Marianne looked at me, mouthing ‘are you okay’. I nodded, more concerned about the people now giving me way too much attention.
River came over to me. “Baby, are you okay?”
“You really shouldn’t leave your girlfriend alone for drunk idiots to try to prey on,” Asher chastised.
