Page 45 of Unholy Gambit: Checkmate in Blood
She kissed his cheek, stretching up to reach, her bare toes brushing the hardwood.
“No one’s ever given me red roses before. I mean, besides my dad after I won my first big tournament, but that’s it. Thank you!”
“I’d spoil you every day if you’d let me,” he said, but his voice came out husky, and his eyes kept dipping — to her cleavage, her thighs, back up. “I don’t know if it’s safe for you to go in public in this dress, Aurélie.”
She gave him another happy smile, stepped back, and turned in a circle. “It’s a killer dress, and it works even better with the boots. It’s almost a shame I’ll have to wear the coat over it, but it’s too chilly tonight without it.”
Aury let Axel get a little ahead just so she could watch his ass. The boots and jeans absolutely worked for him, such a different look from his usual slacks and dress shirt.
He was a good sport, wearing the western shirt with the leather belt and outrageous buckle cinched low on his hips. He’d even beat the jacket up a little, so it looked more like Rip’s.
When he opened the door for her to get in, she wondered when it might be appropriate to feel for his dick. To tease him. That wasn’t like her at all, and she realized the dress had put her in amood.
Also, the heels on the boots. Walking in them made her feel like a sex goddess.
“If you need to grab someone, just make sure it’s me,” he told her, and he scanned from her head to her feet and back up again. “I’m not sure it’s actually legal for you to be in that dress, in public.”
Her face flamed red, realizing he’d heard her thoughts about grabbing his dick, but he closed her door so she had to wait for him to walk around and slide into the driver’s side to retort, “Everything’s covered.”
“I might have to hurt anyone who undresses you with their eyes.”
She laughed. “Oh no. Rip doesn’t get jealous of men who ogle Beth. He knows she’s his. Others can look all they want because she always returns to him.”
“I researched them a little. Met as children, unbalanced relationship, and yet, Rip’s strong enough to be her rock, someone she can always return to. Count on.”
“Yeah.”
When they arrived, the party turned out to be everything she’d hoped: fog machines, creepy music, and fun costumes. Also, grotesque but tasty food, and lots of alcohol.
The hostess shrieked when she saw Aury, and immediately dragged her to the drink table.
Axel followed at a steady distance, watchful. Always scanning. She could feel the heat of his gaze every time a manlooked at her too long. Could sense the moment he went to pour himself a drink, eyes still on her.
He was possessive as hell, but it felt like protection. Like he’d die before he let anything hurt her again.
* * * *
Axel stood in the ridiculous clothes with the preposterous belt buckle, and watched his Aury cut up with people she’d known for years along with people she’d just met. She introduced him to everyone, and he could see a lot of curiosity about him. A dip into their heads told him a lot of the men had tried and failed to gain her interest, and they wondered what he had that they didn’t.
He wanted to tell them she’d always been his, but he mostly stayed silent, providing his arm for his Aurélie to hold.
He’d come very close to saying something catastrophic when he’d first opened the door and seen her in the gold fabric she called a dress.Holy hell.
And then she’d mentioned the coat, and he’d thought it might make everything okay, but three minutes after entering the party, a helpful little nerd offered to hang it up for her.
But these were humans. He couldn’t slaughter an entire house of partygoers. Well, hecould, but doing so wouldn’t be wise. Since he had to play human tonight, he walked to the bar and was happy to see a bottle of Buffalo Trace.
Not enough of a consolation prize to be forced to watch men undressing his Aurélie with their eyes, though. Not by far.
So far, he’d seen two other Beth/Rip couples, and his Aury put both of the other Beths to shame.
Not even close.
When Aury wanted to go outside to the fire, he suggested she might need her coat, and was pleased when her thoughts wenttowards him looking out for her, rather than wanting to cover all herdeliciouscurves.
Once outside, the conversation turned to where the various Sanatorium buildings had been on the property, and one of the neighbors said, “The local wannabe-witches had something of an altar.” He motioned his hand off to their left, up a hill. “We’ve seen more activity in that area than anywhere else, like maybe they managed to call something up that can’t find its way home.”
When the group decided to go up the hill and check it out, Axel considered all the ways he could point out how bad of an idea it was to go looking for ghosts, and worse.
