Page 63 of Dragon Touched
Fin’s attention shifted to the other empty car pulling away, with the occupant nowhere to be seen. “Damn.”
He jogged to the double glass doors of a bar called The Cactus Apple and threw them wide.
His eyes scanned the undulating crowd ahead. It was Friday night, and every resident of the city must’ve been in attendance.
Country music blared from the live band on stage, and tables surrounded the dance floor in a rectangle. The joint was enormous.
Gods above, what a horrible racket. This is going to be impossible. I’ll have to cast a still spell.
He shuddered at the thought of wasting precious magic on a place like this.
Miniature, green lights in the shapes of cacti draped from the ceiling, and at least twenty different neon beer signs hung on the wall. The smell of peanuts, body odor, and perfume made his eyes water.
Roving his gaze over the crowd once more, he twisted the ring on his finger. “Come on. I know you’re here; I can smell you, and that’s saying a lot.”
Two girls, one in cut-off denim shorts and cowboy boots, the other in a low-cut blouse, eyed him.
Short-shorts beamed a smile. “Hey there, honey, lookin’ for a partner?”
“Sorry.” His stare roamed the crowded dance floor. “Already spoken for.”
Holding his hands out, he shoved a path between the females’ bodies.
“God, what a rude jerk.” More angry mutters pelted his back, but he ignored them. He had eyes for one person.
There, right there, her back to him. His heart skipped several beats, and his loins tightened. Even though he couldn’t see her face, he’d recognize those wispy black curls anywhere.
He took an empty stool at the bar and pivoted around to feast on her form.
Fin felt like a parched survivor roaming the desert for weeks, and she was the cool, refreshing oasis suddenly in view. He wanted to run his tongue over every inch of her body, starting with that little saucy mouth and then all the way to her toes, missing not one square inch of her sweet skin.
She sat at a table with a red-headed girl. Sacha gulped what he assumed was a virgin drink, unless she was using a fake ID. Her throat bobbed with the swallow, then she smacked the glass on the table and grinned.
Sacha’s laughter rang through the noisy crowd like a bell, and he wished the musical chuckle was for him.
What had he been thinking? How could he ever make her happy? He was from a different world, a different reality, a different way of life. A confession of his love sounded stupid, now.
She was a creature of this place, dependent on technology, used to the comforts of this planet, and not interested in an archaic, introverted man who could barely bring himself tolivein the world, much less interact with it.
It doesn’t matter, though. I’m not here for her.Well, that wasn’t the exact truth, though, was it?Okay, fine,I’m here to protect the little princess from a crazy ex-fiancé and assuage my conscience, that’s all.
He scanned the crowd again and stood when he felt the big man’s presence heading her way. “I don’t think so. Not this time, and certainly not with my princess.”
Chapter 37
Sacha
“Girl.”Kimmie’stallformand red hair bounced to the beat of the music blaring. “You look amazing.” Her mouth showed a mischievous grin. “It’s about time you got your nose out of those textbooks and into the world.”
Sacha laughed. “Well, if you say so.”
What was Fin doing right now?Sulking around in his tower, or in his world, conjuring demons and sprites to do his bidding? Another small chuckle rolled from her lips. Knowing his grumpy ass, the former seemed more plausible.
“Don’t look now, but I think you’re about to be asked for a dance.”
Sweat broke out on Sacha’s forehead. She’d be a blubbering, falling mess.
What was I thinking? I should be home studying for my landscape composition and life sketching classes, not—
