Page 975 of One More Kiss

Right on cue, her face lifts, and she waves at me, eyes glittering with the hope of a night in the sheets. Shoving down my own self-hatred for the time being, I cross the bar, dodging drunk humans and supernaturals alike, and find my seat.

"Drexel, you handsome bastard. What can I get you?”

“A whiskey. Thanks, Paula.”

She pours my drink and hands it to me, leaving the bottle just as she does every night. “Long night?” When she leans over the bar, her impressive breasts all but spill out. I’ve had my hands on them, my mouth, my dick between them—and yet I cannot even summon an ounce of lust for the woman who wants what’s between my legs.

Which is why it works. She’s not looking for anything I can’t give.

“You could say that.” I help myself to another glass then turn to face the club. “Busy night tonight?”

“Definitely. I’ve had more than a handful of supes thrown out for being dumbasses.”

“They tend to act that way at times.”

“So do humans,” she counters. Something brushes against my neck, and I whirl. “Blood,” she says, holding up a napkin smeared with red.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” She winks and moves down the bar to deal with a group of women who, based on the veils, are celebrating a bachelorette party. I can’t help but watch them, mainly the blonde in the front. She’s wearing a sash that reads Maid of Honor, and when she sees me watching, her cheeks flush with color.

She reaches up and toys with the ends of her hair, watching me as I watch her. Hair the color of the sun, it reminds me of the one I lost.

Of the one I’m searching to find. And even though it’s wrong, I have to fight the urge to cross the room and make a move if only so I can pretend for just a night.

But it is wrong. And while I might have changed, I’m not that much of a fucker. My phone rings, so I withdraw it and stare down at the name on the screen. It brings me immense joy to see the name, so I don’t hesitate to answer. “Rainey Astor. I thought you might be dead.”

“Not yet,” she laughs into the phone. “Where the hell are you these days?”

“Vegas currently. Though I think I may be leaving soon.”

“I swear, kid, you’ve taken this entire blood legacy to a whole new level.” As a hunter herself, Rainey was the one who trained me. She and her husband Elijah stepped up and taught me everything they knew. It wasn’t until they took off to travel that I even considered leaving. And it was still another two years before I did.

When Magnolia left, I really had no reason to stick around.

“World needs saving, and you’re too busy off on vacation.”

Rainey snorts into the phone, but her humor lasts only for a moment. “You found her yet?”

The words are a knife to my heart. “No. And I’ve stopped looking.”

“I’m truly sorry, Drex. If I knew where she was—”

“It’s really not a big deal,” I lie. “How was Prague? You guys just left there didn’t you?”

She sighs. “It was great. We’re headed back to Billings in the morning, though. Going to check in on things and see my nephew and nieces.”

“Tell Delaney I said hi.”

“I will. Don’t die.”

“You neither.”

The call ends with our typical sign-off, so I shove the phone back into my pocket and toss three twenties on the counter. Then, I turn away and head straight for the back exit so I can avoid any and all other conversation.

Magnolia on my mind is not an unusual thing. Truth be told, most nights are spent with me thinking of her. I don’t know where she went, whether she’s still alive or not. The witch and I may have not met under the best circumstances, but she quickly became a part of me. We’d been inseparable—or so I’d thought.

I suppose death changes things, and sometimes there are just certain things you can’t get back. Our innocence was one of those things.

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