Page 18 of The Deceptions
“Why was it so bad?” he asks innocently as the corner of his lips tilts into a salacious smile filled to the brim with so much heat, a sweat breaks out across my flesh.
Well, until I remember why I’m having such a rough day.
Oh, I don’t know, because I landed here in Greenwood against my damn will, where my stupid uncle took me to my own grave and forced me to stare into the eyes of my name. Oh, and then, he told me I would go to college here and parade around undercover as a man. Meaning, I need to cut my hair, bind my breasts, and wear baggy clothes.
Just another day of undercover work.
Malic moves impossibly closer, brushing his arm against mine. My body lights up like a damn firework erupting and heating my flesh.
Bad day? What bad day?
The heat of his stare, watching my every move, has me wishing for another drink. Come on, Nick. Come back and refill my empty glass that I don’t really need refilled—the same glass that Malic made out with and took like he owned it.
Like he owned me.
I lick my lips, attempting to ignore the heat brewing between us. “Just a bad day.” I shrug it off because I can’t give details to him.
“That’s a shame,” he mutters in a low tone, brushing against my arm again. “What could make your day better?
Every hair on my body stands on end with anticipation. My muscles lock up, and my breaths freeze in my lungs as Malic touches me again and again. His warm fingers work up anddown my jean-clad thigh. I swear tingles erupt under his heated touch, getting closer and closer to the promise land.
Is this how it feels to be picked up at a bar? The rush of knowing that in two point five seconds, this stranger will be inside you? Excitement races through my veins, and the rules of Veritas tick off in my brain.
Yeah, I think I’m about to take a walk–or fuck–into the wild side.
“There might be something,” I basically croak, trying to talk through the lump lodged in my throat.
“Well, I…” Malic trails off when a commotion erupts behind us and two men start throwing punches, stumbling from their booth and heading in our direction. My entire body tenses the more they punch and the more blood rushes from their noses and split lips. The urge to jump in and break them apart has me eager to leave my seat.
But I don’t have to.
For the first time in almost five years, someone fights for me.
Malic loses the lust in his eyes and stands tall at my side, cursing at the idiots coming our way. Malic growls, stepping into the line of danger when they run into the barstools beside me. Or would have, if Malic hadn’t been guarding me with his life.
“Back the fuck up!” he roars, pushing the two men to their asses as the security guard rushes over. “Don’t fucking touch her or come near her again. Or you’ll have me to fucking deal with,” he growls again, standing above the bloodied men.
“M-Malic! We’re sorry,” one of the men quivers, staring at Malic with wide eyes before they’re carted off and booted out of the bar.
Jesus.
Don’t fucking touch her.His words ring in my mind when he comes to stand beside me again, without missing a damn beat.His elbow leans on the bar, and he leans in close again–a breath away. A kiss away. A…
Well, fuck.
He hypnotized me again with the lust twinkling in his eyes. Maybe he sees the effect his protection has on me. Or maybe he wants to make my day better. Whatever it is, my body is on board and possibly my mind, too.
“That was close,” I breathe, licking my lips again.
“It was,” Malic mutters, watching my every movement again.
More sounds happen around us, filling the bar with yells and claps. But we don’t bother to take our eyes off each other.
“So, you’ve had a hard day,” he begins, leaning in more until his face is a millimeter from mine again. “I could offer to make it better.”
I lean my head on my palm, watching when his sparkly blue eyes find mine. “What exactly are you offering?” I know exactly what he’s offering, because my body buzzes with the need to let him fulfill that promise. But it strikes me odd that a man who was so hellbent on finding his sister’s whereabouts would all of a sudden want to take me back to his place and get down and dirty.
But the sizzling chemistry between us is undeniable. I’ve never met another person alive who ignites something so deep inside me like the three boys I loved before. This feeling, though? It’s more intense. Like he belongs to me and I to him. But that’s silly right? This is just my body betraying me in the worst possible way after a sexual drought. Right?
