Page 46 of Pretty Lethal
His body leans into mine before he manages to pull himself back, and he clears his throat before pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek. It seems like it physically pains him to step away, his eyes remaining glued to my dress. “I’ll give Kai the opportunity to ruin that beautiful outfit,” he says, his voice dripping with sexual innuendo. “But, Little Sparrow, if you don’t come home with your lipstick smeared and your hair a mess, you’re fair game.” He winks wickedly. “And I’ll happily be the one to show you just how dirty you can get in that dress.”
Fucking hell.Well, now I’m not sure if I want Kai to take the opportunity Hawk is giving him or if I want to find out precisely what Hawk has in mind if he doesn’t.
Kai scoffs, clearly having heard him, as he steps forward and wraps a possessive arm around me. “Don’t you worry your grumpy, little head, Davenport. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of our woman.” He smirks smugly. “If you’re a good boy, maybe we’ll even send you a video of just how good I can make her come.”
Oh, damn.Neither of them will have to do anything because my dress is about to go up in flames, and then none of us will leave the house.
“Please,” Wilder snorts, stepping forward until I’m encased by all three of them. “My Angel knows I’m the one who makes her come the hardest, isn’t that right, baby?” He wags his eyebrows suggestively, and my cheeks flame as memories of him driving into me in the bookstore and again at the frat house crash through me with such force that I swear I can feel the imprint of his dick in my pussy.
A horn blaring outside gives me some much-needed reprieve as Wilder gives me a final heated look before stepping away. “That’s my cab.” He glances at the others. “Show time, boys and girls.”
He heads out to his awaiting cab, and Hawk grabs his car keys to follow after him. Kai and I wait a few minutes before leaving too.
Like a true gentleman, Kai opens my door and waits until I’m sure my dress won’t get caught before he closes it and rounds the hood to climb in behind the wheel.
Nervous energy bounces inside me the closer we get to Wilder’s grandfather’s house, and Kai recites the rules—no going anywhere alone,andIam not allowed to go spying. I’m basically there to have fun, and if it weren’t for the fact that it’s a Clearwater party, I’d probably be more enthusiastic. My new friends from the English department are all going, and tonight will be the first time that I introduce them to Kai.
Admittedly, I am excited about getting to introduce Kai as my boyfriend. It’s the first time we’ve been out in public as a couple, around people we know. Although…
“If I introduce you as my boyfriend, how will that work when people see me with Wilder or Hawk?”
“You don’t have to tell people I’m your boyfriend, if you aren’t ready,” Kai says easily. I look over at him, surprised to discover that he isn’t the least bit offended by that. Hawk would probably blow a gasket if I suggested hiding our relationship, and Wilder wouldn’t even give me a choice. He’d probably show up at the party with a t-shirt on that says,‘I’m going to fuck this girl for the rest of my life’with an arrow pointed directly at me.
Reaching across the center console, I slot my fingers between his. “It’s not that I’m not ready. I am so beyond ready to tell everyone that you’re mine”—he flashes me that gorgeous smile of his—“I’m just wondering how it all works. What if people judge us?”
“Blackbird, people are always going to judge us. Doesn’t matter who you are or what you do. There’s always going to be vultures waiting in the wings to tear you apart. You have to decide whether you’re going to let them.” His hand tightens around mine. “You don’t think Hadley and the guys get some heat for their relationship? Especially on a college campus where gossip spreads like wildfire. But do they let it get to them?”
“No.”
“Exactly. They’ve found their happiness, and that’s all that matters.” His hand squeezes mine. “We’ve found ours. Don’t let anyone ruin that.”
He’s absolutely right. So instead of being nervous when we pull up outside the Clearwater’s expansive Georgian mansion, I have a smile on my lips as I link my arm through Kai’s, and we head up the steps into the party.
* * *
The party isas extravagant and upper-class as I anticipated. Alice wasn’t lying when she said the champagne was top-notch, and the food was exquisite. I don’t even know what I’ve been eating from the trays of tiny canapes, but I can’t get enough.
Even Kai laughs when another waiter strolls past and I fling my arm out to snatch three bread-type things from his tray.
“Whomever their chef is, we need to steal him and keep him for ourselves,” I mumble around a mouthful of food.
“I’ll get on that,” Kai responds with a chuckle.
With his hand on my lower back, we continue moving through the crowd. We spotted Wilder and Hawk across the room a while ago, but other than a brief clashing of gazes, we ignored one another.
Other than that, we haven’t seen anyone else we know. Faces we recognize, sure. Kai has noted a few people who are clients of Nocturnal Enterprises—celebrities, famous politicians, and CEOs—and there have been several other recognizable faces from news reports. It’s obvious you have tobesomeone in order to be invited.
That, or be unlucky enough to teach English at Ridgeway.
“Why do you think the Clearwaters donate so much money to the English department?” I murmur quietly to Kai as we navigate our way around the room.
I casually take in the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, numerous crystals hanging from and twinkling in the light, the marble fireplace with a roaring fire, and the various sculptures and vases dotted around the place. All of it drips money, making me skirt around the ornaments, leaving a hefty gap for fear I’ll accidentally knock over something priceless.
“Probably so they can brag to all their friends that theydonate to the arts.” He saysdonate to the artsas though he’s got a stick up his ass—exactly how I imagine someone from Wilder’s family saying it—and I can’t help but snort ungracefully into my champagne flute.
“You’d think they’d choose music or drama or something instead, then.”
Kai shrugs, not having an answer for me. “They probably divvy up all their philanthropic causes between them, and the Clearwaters got stuck with English because the others were already taken.”
