Belle blushes, her cheeks turning a deep crimson. “You know me so well, Rap.”
Rap gives her shy friend a tight smile. It exudes more friendliness and encouragement than I’ve ever seen her share. “That’s why we’re friends. Both business owners and badasses.”
“A prince you say.” Charming perks up. “Why what a coincidence because?—”
“He’s always hoped to find his own prince charming,” I cut in.
Kaison shoots me a knowing smirk. “You know me so well,” he purrs, echoing the exchange between Belle and Rap.
Every inch of Kaison oozes blatant sexuality that promises twisted pleasures beyond imagination. Depravity and fun, likely to leave the participant dazed, shamed, and rocked by the aftermath of Kaison’s havoc.
The hooded eyes tracking him from around the bar only prove that he commands the room. I don’t doubt he could draw in a line of people ready to fall on his bed and suck and lick anything he asks of them with a mere look.
The thing is, the tingling in my Iron Maiden lets me know part of me is very willing to do the same. So I keep my face an implacable mask because I refuse to give him the satisfaction of thinking he has any effect on me.
Oh yeah, I’ve decided to call my neither region “Iron Maiden” because it’s metal as fuck, and I'm sure it will remind me that I’m foreboding and untouchable.
The glare I shoot him could make daisies curl up and die.
While Kaison remains unfazed by my murderous cutting gaze, I focus on cleaning glasses behind the bar.
But then he pulls out something from his back pocket and dangles it in front of me on one finger.
“I thought you might like this back,” he says coyly, his deep brown eyes sparkling.
Fae fucks. The shoe I tripped out of. My irritation turns into full-blown frustration as I reach for it, only for him to pull it out of reach.
I hadn’t told the Fairy Godmother I lost one of her magical shoes and I’d been dreading it. But now it’s here and a knot in my belly loosens. I reach again, but he dodges my grasp a second time.
The look in his eyes lets me know what the price will be.
We need to talk.
Ugggghhhhhh. I don’t wanna.
“Hey Rap, do you think I could take my break right now?” I ask through gritted teeth, glaring at the playboy prince I am seriously considering stabbing once I get a hold of that shoe with the very pointy heel.
Rap glances over the activity of the bar to assess if Goldie and Snow can handle it. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think they could.
Or maybe I would.
Because right now, I need to get Prince Charming’s ass the hell out of here.
Rap nods, signaling I’m good to go and I don't waste any time dragging Prince High-and-Mighty to the back. The loud, lively atmosphere of the Poison Apple fades as we hit the corridor, oursteps quick and my heart doing that annoying race thing it does whenever he's near.
I shove the door open to the breakroom, not bothering to hold it for him. The room lined in hot pink lockers—Goldie spray painted herself—suddenly feels claustrophobic. Giving him as wide a berth as I can, I decide I need even more space. Or at least, an exit at the ready.
I slink around the prince before propping the door to keep it ajar.
“Scared to be alone with me?” Kaison grins.
I shift nervously. His smile falters.
“I’m not going to bite you,” he says with all seriousness.
I fiddle with the buckles on my corset. “I know.”
I don’t know.
