Page 60 of To Crave Madly
Nope. I wasn’t going to cry. My make-up was on point and I was not going to let this asshole ruin it. “You should get back to her. You shouldn’t have to babysit me if you’re out with your future wife.”
He winced. Served him fucking right.
“Lori, I can explain—”
“I don’t want to hear it. You clearly had your reasons for withholding the fact that you were engaged to be married, despite the fact thatyoualmost kissed me!” Shame washed over me anew as I said the words out loud. I couldn’t believe he’d made me feel like we had a spark and not told me he was already taken.
He looked at the floor and took a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have let it get so far. I’m sorry.” His voice dropped to a whisper as he uttered his apology. I wanted to let it go, but dammit, he hurt me. And he hurt me badly. So, I said nothing and let the awkward silence hang heavy between us.
He looked back at me, his beautiful eyes… nope. Couldn’t think of them as beautiful anymore. His not-ugly brown eyes were swirling with emotion as they met mine and I nearly caved. He lifted his hand and reached out to me, but I stepped back.
“Don’t touch me.” My words were venomous, and I almost regretted saying them when hurt flashed in his eyes, but I stayed strong to the anger burning through me.
“I’ll get Cassian to come and collect you. He’s on patrol in this district tonight.”
“Fan-fucking-tastic.” I knew I was being a bitch but I couldn’t find it in me to care.
Fenris typed something out on his comms device and a few seconds later there was a ping for an incoming message.
“He’ll be here in five minutes. Stay here, please.” He looked at me pleadingly, so I nodded back. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at my agreement. “I will find Torsten and the others and tell them what’s going on.”
“Don’t tell the girls. They’re having so much fun, I’d hate to ruin their night. Just tell Torsten that I have asked him to see to their welfare while they remain here and to see them safely home. I am sure Cassian will enjoy telling me off and I would rather not have an audience for that.”
It was my turn to look pleadingly at Fenris and I was grateful when he agreed.
“Goodbye, Fenris,” I said as he headed back towards the dance floor. He cast one final glance over his shoulder at me, that look saying more than a thousand words ever could, and then disappeared through the doorway. I hoped that one day we might get back to being friends, but my heart grieved in the knowledge that movie nights would never be the same again.
Chapter 19
LORI
Ice cold air surrounded me as I looked up at the bright stars in the sky above me. I could make out Orion and a small smile curled my lips. The mark on my chest warmed me as I stood in the frigid air, waiting for Cassian to come and collect me like a wayward schoolgirl. It was my fault. There was no denying it. I’d coerced Saskia to come out with me and I had enjoyed it until Fenris showed up and became the biggest party-pooper ever. The argument had cleared my head somewhat, as had the cold night air, but I still felt a little bit tipsy and giddy as the Dragon Tears careened around my system with merry bliss.
I leant back against the wall at the mouth of the back alley behind Midnight Sin and enjoyed the peaceful quiet of the night. I could still hear the faint thuds of music coming from deep beyond the walls, but it was far enough away that it didn’t ruin the alone time I was currently enjoying.
“Why can’t you go just one day without being a pain in my ass?”
Ah, Cassian. Always choosing the most inconvenient time to make an entrance.
“And you’re always such a constant fucking delight.”
He sauntered towards me, the moonlight making his hair seem brilliantly white, almost ethereal. The shadows played against his sharp cheekbones and, coupled with the full tactical gear and black leather jacket, he looked fucking deadly. A shiver ran up my spine as he closed the distance between us. And it wasn’t from the cold.
My heart rate picked up as he came closer, the deadly edge to him set my skin afire as the dangerous thrill of adrenaline flooded my body.
“Are you going to behave and come quietly?”
I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or my body’s natural reaction to being goaded, but I cocked my head to the side and grinned. “Why don’t you come and find out?”
His hand shot out and went to grab my wrist, but I slammed my other hand into his forearm to block his attack. He lunged forward, forcing me to sidestep his advance. I twisted behind him and managed to thrust my hands between his shoulder blades propelling him into the wall.
“You’re getting sloppy, Cassie.”
He wasn’t. I was just getting better.
He turned back to face me, murder radiating from the cold eyes. “Why can’t you just do as you’re told?”
“I would tell you to go fuck yourself,” I said, my smile wide and garish, “but I’m pretty sure you’d be disappointed.”
