Page 15 of His Haunted Desire
“You don’t have to sound so shocked,” I say, turning back to her.
She slides her hand through her hair, like she needs to do something, anything, to relieve some tension. The movement makes her tousled hair even wilder.
“I can’t think of anyone better,” I say.
“But… why?”
Because those thick hips make me want to squeeze my hands against them, even if it’s all for show. Because, arrangement or not, tasting those pouting lips would be sweet.
I don’t say any of this. It’s not relevant. If this is going to work, it’s going to be all business.
“You understand the importance of Halloween,” I say. “You enjoy wearing a mask and all that comes along with it: the pretending, the shift in your personality, becoming someone else. When you’re on my arm as my date, it’ll be like wearing a costume. And if it helps with your situation in the meantime, hell, that’s just a bonus.”
She moves to tug on her hair again and freezes, correcting herself. It’s like she’s fighting her instincts.
“It’s more appealing when I put it that way. You’re thinking about it.”
“Do you alwaystellpeople how they’re feeling?”
I approach her again, then take off my suit jacket. Her cheeks blossom crimson.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you my jacket. That way, you can get started. I should’ve brought a change of clothes so you wouldn’t have to wait.”
Her eyes flit to my arms, my shirt hugging them tightly. I’ve never been much of a showoff with my physique. Working out is a means to an end, the end being outrunning demons and staying fit.
Now, I like it. I’ve been checking her out; she’s repaying the favor. The difference is, I don’t feel guilty about it like she clearly does.
“Fine. Thanks,” she says, taking the jacket.
I hold onto it for a moment as our fingers brush.
“We could make this work, Aurora. You’ll just have to follow my lead. Do what I say, when I say it.”
She snatches the jacket. “No, thank you. I was just curious about why you were asking me. Now I’ve got my answer. Bye, Raiden.”
I shrug as if it’s no big deal. “Goodbye, Aurora.”
And really, in the grand scheme of things, it’snota big deal. I can find someone else. As I leave the shop, a sour mood tries to overtake me. When I was inside there with her, I thought about what it’d be like to go to the Retreat with her, and it was so much more exciting and inviting than going alone. Or with someone else.
Perhaps it’s because she doesn’t want to go with me like so many women in this town would. For my money. For my name.
I walk onto the street and immediately hear grunting and rustling coming from the alleyway.
A gruff voice mutters, “Gotta be some dirt in here.”
I glance down the alley. Two tall, wide men are rifling through Needle & Muse’s trash can. I approach them. “Afternoon, gentlemen.”
They turn at my words. One has a nose that looks like it’s been broken a couple of times and a scar across his lip. The other has teardrop tattoos under his eyes.
“Help you, big man?” Teardrop grunts.
“You can help me by getting the fuck out of here.”
For some reason, my heart picks up speed, my instincts getting ready for a fight.
“The fuck you say?” the scarred man growls.
