Page 79 of Wicked Dove
Never in a million years did I think I would ever be wearing a denim skirt and a matching spaghetti cropped tank with Ocean. Well, almost matching, mine is the same shade of purple as my hair. Despite the amount of skin I have on display, the temperature makes me thankful. The Hut is heaving with people all here for a good time, and even though I’ve only been here ten minutes, perspiration clings to me like a second skin.
I’m tempted to peek at the little compact mirror Ocean gave me, just to look in awe at my makeup that she did, but I refrain, already feeling vain enough as it is. My hair is loosely pulled back in a wavy ponytail with a few tendrils hanging to either side of my face, and the soft sun-kissed makeup only accentuates my features. My cheekbones look cute instead of gaunt like they have in the past, and my lips are round and full. The slight dusting of shadow she placed around my eyes makes my blue irises pop.
It feels weird, but strangely nice.
“Get out of that head of yours and get into this drink,” Ocean says, nudging my arm in encouragement, and I roll my eyes, lifting my glass to hers before downing the liquid in one.
It’s warm down my throat, but before it burns, it melts into a sweet honey that has me eager for more.
“Good, right?” she says with a grin, and I nod, placing my empty glass on the high-top table we’re standing at.
It was the only spot left when we got here, which surprised me. It’s almost eleven and I thought we were too early, but it seems we were right on time. Despite the lack of seats, it offers a great vantage point of the room since we’re slightly elevated off to the side.
The music vibrates through my sandals, making me smile as I take in the space. The walls are clad with planks of wood and the bar to my left is decorated like a beach hut, with the bartenders offering out flower necklaces to anyone andeveryone. We’re on the far side of the room from the entryway, so we can watch everyone coming and going between us. The dance floor is a sea of bodies and I can feel the heat from here. The DJ is off to the right, the bathrooms down beside him, while the open archway to my left leads to what looks like a calmer vibe with pool tables and cushioned seating.
“Another?” Ocean asks, pulling me from my observations, and my nose crinkles with uncertainty.
“Maybe we need some water too?”
She pouts, but sighs. “You’re right. Give me two seconds.”
“Thank you!” I yell after her, hating how it feels to not offer anything in return except my presence. I tamp it down, refusing to berate myself when I promised to have a good time.
She’s back quicker than I expect, winking as she places two water bottles and four shots on the table. I should have known.
These ones look different. One has a pink hue to it, while the other is dark on the bottom with a creamy layer on top. “Do I even want to know what this is?” I ask, and she beams at me.
“This is some strawberry special, but this is the bartender’s specialty. He’s Irish, you need to talk to him later, his accent is to die for, but it’s not as good as this,” she insists, getting giddier with every word.
“What is it?”
“A baby Guinness, but don’t worry, there’s no Guinness in it. I think it’s a dark coffee liqueur on the bottom and an Irish cream on top. Regardless, it’s so good, and you’re going to need it for when I get you up dancing.”
In sync, we reach for the baby Guinness shots first, sipping them down with ease. “Holy crap,” I gasp, running my tongue over my lips to savor every drop, and she grins.
“Right?”
“It’s so good, but for real, it’s going to take more than this to get me up dancing in that,” I state, pointing at the dance floor,and she laughs, the sound easing the tension from my shoulders as the song changes.
My eyelids fall closed as the song takes over the room. It’s slower, but the kind that makes you sway your hips whether you like it or not. The type that leads to sex. My thighs clench at the thought of coming to this song and I feel my cheeks heat with the reminder of the last two orgasms I chased, both at the hands of assholes.
Totally worth it.
“Oh, looks like we’ve got company,” Ocean whispers against my ear, and I pry my eyes open to follow her line of sight.
I gulp, watching in awe as Kael, Rion, and Thorne step inside. I don’t know where to look first.
My gaze latches onto Rion, eager to make sure he’s alright. He’s wearing a fitted, short-sleeved, stone-colored shirt with a pair of jeans. Everything fits snug against his muscles, but it’s the curl of his lips as he glances around the room that makes me breathless. Kael stands a few inches taller to his right, wearing a blue t-shirt molded around his biceps with a pair of dark, denim jeans. It’s sinful. Thorne is standing to the far right of them, dressed head to toe in black. He screams regal, even in a shirt and jeans. It’s just the air he carries around him. It’s intoxicating.
The three of them glance around the crowd as if they’re looking for someone and my heart rate spikes at the idea that it might be me. Ice runs through my veins, however, as Willow saunters toward them.
I can’t hear them from here, and I’m too far away to even read their lips, but the sneer that tips Kael’s mouth up is undeniable, and five seconds later, Willow is storming off into the arms of Tiran. He doesn’t pay the three of them any mind, though, not even Rion after today, and I can’t help but findit odd. He looks like the type to seek revenge, but he sure is sheepish now. Maybe it’s just girls he likes to give a hard time to.
The comment of being Kael’spetripples through my thoughts, but I squash it down, refusing to let him get under my skin.
I need to pretend they’re not here and enjoy my night, but the second I think it, Thorne’s gaze lands on mine and the three of them stalk toward me in the next breath. I can’t tear my eyes away, watching them eat up the distance between us until they’re crowding round our table.
Rubbing my lips together nervously, I consider whether to call it a night, when Rion places his hand on my waist as he leans in. “Petal, you look stunning,” he breathes, and I shiver as his breath runs across the shell of my ear.
