Page 43 of Outlaw Witch

That’s when I realize I’m being stupid. I figured it would be nice, introduce her to our world a bit. Get to know the area.

But it seems she’s been here plenty of times before.

“Some of them are bars that are too trendy to bother with a sign,” I tell her, which causes her to scoff derisively. “A few are underground rings for fight nights or things like that.”

Most of the buildings around here are actually legitimate businesses. We just have some less than above-board places mixed in. But I don’t go into any more detail. I’m not about to give away all our secrets. That’s what Z was worried about when I told him I was taking Silver out. He wanted to come with me, but he had another meeting across town. One that needed a stoic front and a terrifying scowl more than a blabbermouth.

“Anything you need for your apartment? Clothes? Or are you hungry? Want a snack?”

Her stomach rumbles as I say the final words, so without waiting for an answer, I drag her over to the nearest cafe.

It’s not too busy, so I find an empty couple of seats and drag her over to them. I then head up to the counter, eyeing the glass-domed plates of cake and pastries. My mind hovers over Silver’s slightly scrawny appearance. Deciding she needs feeding up, I get one of everything and a couple of bucket-sized coffees for us both.

She gives me a bemused smile as I plop the full plates onto the table in front of her and I blush like a schoolboy.

I’ve never done this before. Never taken a woman out. I’m more of a quick fuck in the club toilets or in one of our offices when I get bored. Sometimes, Z and Fabian wind up joining in and we blow some lucky woman’s mind for a few hours. But it never carries through into the daylight hours.

I’m still supposed to be wooing Silver, so I suck up my panic about this being the most date-like non-date I’ve ever been on. My brain jumps from topic to topic as I try to think of something to say. Silver seems happy enough observing the other customers and gives me a small smile when her gaze meets mine.

“So, are you guys alternative society types?” I ask. “Is that why you live where you do?”

She snorts before cocking her head to one side, scrunching up her nose. “You’re serious?”

I nod, confused. Why the fuck else would anyone live on the outskirts of the city like they do?

“Your, uh, sister-slash-friend seemed the type. All anti-establishment and anti-shoes”—Anti-underwear. That kind of thing—” I guess I just assumed...”

“You know this town is snobby as hell, right?” Silver interrupts me before I can make a bigger ass of myself. “If you don’t have the right name, you can’t get into the right academies. If you don’t have an education, you can’t get work, even in one of your bars or underground clubs.”

I blink, but she’s not done yet.

“And if you don’t have a last name at all? You’re screwed. If you don’t have a permanent address in the city and no last name? Yeah, no chance of getting a job anywhere in this city, or finding a landlord willing to rent to you.”

“Damn.” Now I feel like a tool.

Naïve.

Which is weird as hell. It’s not like our world is squeaky clean or anything. There’s a lot of shit go down that would make your hair curl. And yet, I apparently have no idea how some people in this city live.

Blissful ignorance.

I feel even more like a dick since while she was talking, her face went all flushed and those weird starburst eyes of hers sparkled. Seriously, I didn’t notice them straight away, but it’s like looking at a picture of a gas giant or something. Her irises have this bright ring of color around them that I can’t stop staring at. These little circles of pink formed on her cheeks too, and my mind went to dirty places. Places where I’ve got her under me and those lips open wide, taking me deep into her throat.

Shit.

I’m meant to be wooing her, not ogling.

“I, er, didn’t realize. Shit. Sorry.”

She shrugs, taking a massive bite of muffin before chewing. When she licks the crumbs off her lips, my dick hardens like a needy little fucker and my pants go tight.

Shit. Dammit.

Need to get myself under tighter control. I don’t know what’s happening to me right now. It’s not like I’m a teenage kid who lets his dick call the shots. I’m a grown-ass man.

... with an inconvenient boner.

Fucking hell.

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