Page 280 of The Spider Queen
“I don’t do one-night stands,” I stated.
He downed half the flute of champagne in one long swallow and then set it aside. His lips curved into a feral smile, full of devious and sinful intent.
“Is that what you thought this was going to be? A one-night stand?” He didn’t give me a chance to reply as he continued, “For the record, my little hummingbird, I don’t do one-night stands either.”
Chapter 7
This man played all the games.
He knew the rules and how to break them and get away with it. I wouldn’t stand a chance against a predator like him who loved the chase.
But damn if I wasn’t intrigued. The art of seduction wasn’t lost on me. I witnessed it every night when I went out to bars to find people to help. I’d watched it countless times and never understood it.
Now I wanted to understand it. The thrill of it zinged through my veins, making me feel light and resilient.
I laughed and I swore Lucifer’s eyes darkened.
“You’re good, I’ll give you that.” I took another sip of the heady champagne, wondering why it seemed to affect me differently. I swore I was nearly drunk after just a few sips. Drunk on champagne bubbles. Maybe it was my companion’s presence. I’d been off kilter since the moment we’d locked eyes.
“Question for you. Are you always this blunt?” he demanded.
“Why, is that a bad thing?”
“Did I say it was a bad thing?” he asked calmly.
“No. You didn’t have to—”
“In my line of work, I have to deal with a lot of”—he paused—“nuance. And reading between the lines. It’s refreshing to be around someone who speaks her mind. Who means exactly what she says.”
I tried not to let his compliment go to my head, or read more into it than anything but a simple statement.
“What line of work are you in?” I asked.
“Trade.” He shrugged. “Deals. That sort of thing. It’s boring, actually. Let’s not talk about it.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I want to talk about you.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “I want to know everything there is to know about you. Now, does that sound like a man who’s only interested in a one-night stand?”
“Whatareyou interested in?” I asked.
“I thought that was obvious.”
We fell into a charged silence. His indigo eyes were bright despite the dim lighting of the restaurant. His cheekbones looked sharp enough to carve the figurines I put in my snow globes.
The more I stared at him, the harder it was to look away. He was beautiful. And terrifying. I feared him. Not fear for my safety. Not fear for my physical self. No. I feared he might reveal part of me no one had ever seen before.
My self-preservation suddenly kicked in. I reached for my clutch. “Will you excuse me for a moment? That champagne is hitting me.” He stood when I did, causing me to blink in confusion. “What are you doing?”
“It’s good manners to stand when a lady leaves the table.”
I barked out a laugh. “In what era? And who says I’m a lady?”
His indigo eyes blazed. “I’ll wait here. Take your time.”
Flustered, I nearly stumbled away from the table. As I scurried toward the restroom, I chanced a look behind me.
His gaze was bolted to me and he smiled ever so slightly. Feeling like a trapped hare, I managed to find the hallway leading to the restroom. I passed it and kept going, following the sounds of the kitchen.
