“I’msorry,” he says, sounding more serious. “About everything earlier. I shouldn’t have sunk to Tristan’s level. I know he doesn’t mean anything to you.”
“He’s my friend,” I correct, a little annoyed that he’s bringing Tristan back into the conversation right now. The angry, unfulfilled buzz in my clit agrees. “But you can’t feel threatened by every male friend I have. That’s not healthy.”
“Not all of them,” he agrees. I start to relax, but then he adds, “Only the ones trying to manipulate you into fucking them by throwing their money around.”
“What?” I stop dancing in the center of the floor. Other couples in tuxedos and satin have to divert around us.
“The donation. The spa thing. He’s trying to buy you,” Zed explains earnestly. “He knows you don’t care about money, so he’s using his money to play on your emotions.”
“He cares about the cause!” My raised voice catches the attention of people around us on the floor, so I lower it slightly.
“He wants you,” Zed says stubbornly. “He doesn’t give a shit about the cause. If you liked preserving the waterfront, he’d donate to Save the Beach. If you were teaching literacy to littlekids, he’d throw his money at the San Drogo Public Library or wherever.”
Part of me, deep down, knows there’s a core of truth to what he’s staying. But I don’t like this petty, jealous side of Zed. And I don’t like thinking that I’ve been manipulated, either. I knew what Tristan was doing at the spa. I’m not stupid, and it’s offensive that Zed thinks I’m that gullible.
I pull him off the dance floor into the hallway the food service staff uses to ferry fresh champagne to the guests and dirty plates to the kitchen. “So what if that’s true? I’m not saying it is, but for the sake of argument. He’s still doing good things with his money. If the end result is positive, does it matter what his motivations are?”
“Yes!” Zed nearly roars, grasping his horns with both hands in frustration. “Good things done for bad reasons don’t count. It’s all a lie. It’s fake. The second he gets what he wants, that shell of goodness will crumble and disappear. You’ll see.”
I feel myself detaching emotionally. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s all a lie. But in the meantime, he’s saving hundreds if not thousands of animals. Would you rather he kept his money in the bank and his intentions clear?”
“I’d rather he kept his hands off you,” Zed growls, his golden eyes glowing as he steps toward me. “I don’t care what the fuck he does with his money.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, his hands aren’t on me,” I snap, backing up until I’m pressed against the wall and he’s only inches away. I put my palms against his taut stomach and push him with all my strength until he steps back and gives me more space, chest heaving as he eyes me warily. “I’m the one who gets to decide that, not you.”
“Is there a problem here?” Tristan asks, striding up to us. “Is he bothering you, Caroline?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” I cross my arms and lean back against the wall, feeling miserable.
Tristan kneels in front of me so we’re closer to eye level. Both of us ignore the snarl that rips out of Zed at the gesture. Tristan clasps my hands in his. “What can I do to make this better? I can have security ask him to leave. Or we can just ignore him. He’s nothing, really. He wasn’t even supposed to be here. Let’s forget him and have the night we planned.”
He turns his gorgeous gaze on me, and I feel my heart twinge, ready to go along with his plan.
“Don’t fall for it, Cari. He’s not playing fair,” Zed warns quietly.
I pull my hands out of Tristan's, a million emotions running through me. Tristanistrying to manipulate me. He wants me to himself, so he’s reminding me that he had dibs. But IinvitedZed to come with us. I wanted him here because I love his stupid, jealous, stubborn ass.
Zed didn’t crash Tristan’s date with me because we didn’t have date. I wasalwaysclear with Tristan that we would never be more than friends. When he asked me to come, I already had my own ticket.
Now that I think about it, I’m the goddamnguest of honorbecause of my years of dedication and hard work. And they both think this event is aboutthem?
I’m so, so disappointed in both of them.
“Answer one question for me, Tristan. You have to promise to be honest.”
“I swear.”
“Do you really care about the AAW? Would you have donated the same amount if I weren’t here?”
Tristan smiles reassuringly. “Of course.”
“He’s lying,” Zed blurts out.
“You don’t know that,” I remind him.
His scales darken, and his tail lashes behind him. “Yes, I do! He’s a goddamn incubus! He wants you, and lying to get what they want is what demonsdo.”
“What?!” I rip my hands out of Tristan’s and stare down at him, horrified. “Is that true? You’re a demon?”
