Page 73 of The Hunger
Fenris made a satisfied noise when I set the container on the table.
“Gran says that I can carry more than one person when I hell gate. Want to give it a try?”
“I’d rather not tempt fate by visiting hell in person,” I said. “Could we carpool instead?”
Megan and Oanen agreed, but only if we took my car so they didn’t have to drive back. With our things stashed in the trunk, we headed to the club. Arriving there was so different from going to the Roost. There was no deep thump of music outside, only the cold winter wind and a small line at the Uttira entrance to greet us.
“Wow,” Megan said. “It’s impressive from the outside, too. Did you let your mom know that we’re coming?”
“Yep.” We started toward the end of the line, but the troll at the door saw me and waved us forward.
Megan grinned even as the people in line grumbled.
Heat gusted out when the troll opened the door, but it wasn’t until we stepped inside that I heard the steady thump of music.
“And, it’s even more impressive on the inside when it’s in use,” Megan said as we handed over our coats.
I agreed as I looked around for Mom. People danced in the main area, highlighted by colored strobing lights, while others stood at cocktail tables. A collective cloud of lust hung in the air. The allure of so much of it tempted me, and I moved closer to Fenris.
He winked at me and set his hand on my lower back, sticking close as we wove our way through the throng. Instead of steering us to the bar or the stairs, Megan led us right to the dance floor where the lust was the thickest.
Fenris turned to me and grinned wickedly.
“Let’s show them how it’s done.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
He dipped me low, making every nerve endings fire with all of the body-to-body touching as he slowly righted us. The people around us melted away as we flowed together in tempo with the heavy beat. We didn’t just dance. We echoed each other, our movements perfectly in sync, one flowing into the next. His finger trailed down my front, and I arched back to enable the dipping touch. He caught me, brought me to him, and my lips grazed his before he twirled me out.
I reveled in the freedom he gave me and barely noticed the lust climbing around us until the song ended.
“Enjoy this short video intermission,” the DJ said before stepping off the stage.
The lights behind the glass separating the people from the stage went out and a slow country twang filled the air.
“Ladies and gents,” a deep voice said, “this song and dance goes out to the woman who will always haunt my dreams.”
Like the rising sun, the lights behind the stage slowly illuminated a small, flying creature in familiar chaps. While Piepen looked flat like a video and sounded nothing like himself as he began to sing, there was no mistaking him.
The words struck a chord of familiarity, and I recognized the country song as Piepen tossed his hat aside and ran his hand through his recently cut hair. He lifted his gaze and found me on the dance floor as he sang that he didn’t want to steal my freedom or make me love him.
Then the little flitter winked and turned a slow circle, rotating his hips as he went. It wasn’t until he faced away from the crowd that I saw there was no back to his chaps. His tiny brownie butt was out for the world to see.
I groaned. Next to me, Fenris fought to cover his laughter. The crowd on the dance floor roared with approval, forcing me to question their sanity and good taste.
Tearing my gaze from the spectacle, I looked around for Mom. She stood at the top of the steps, humor lighting her expression as Dad grimaced at her side. When the song ended, she found me in the crowd and waved for me to join her at the same time the stage lights went out.
I turned to Fenris and scowled at his wet cheeks.
“It’s not that funny,” I said.
“People are already using their phones to try to find the video. I know at least one person recorded it. That lucky little guy might have just become the first celebrity brownie.”
Taking Fenris’s hand, I pulled him through the crowd towards Mom’s office. The guard at the bottom of the steps moved aside as we neared, but his gaze shifted to something behind us. I turned back and saw Megan and Oanen following. Megan’s grin told me what she thought of Piepen’s performance.
“Did you allow that?” I asked Mom when we reached the top of the stairs.
“I did. And now I’m going to suggest that you talk to the boy so he knows once and for all that a relationship with you will never work.”
