There are two bars at Club Sip. I guide Kaleb to the opposite side of the building and to the bar that is further away from the dance floor. My hand hovers just over the small of his back, my kraken urging me to shift so I can place a tentacle there instead.
Kaleb sits on one of the tall stools, leaning his back against the bar top. Now that we’re alone, or as alone as one can be at a club, I study him. Light shimmery makeup dusts his cheeks. His eyes have a stunning smoky look to them, too. In this costume, with all this makeup and long blond hair, Kaleb toes the line between feminine and masculine; totally rocking the whole androgynous look. Is this his normal style? Because I’m so freaking here for it.
I wince when I realize I’ve started assuming Kaleb’s pronouns. Smiling nervously, I extend my hand and repeat my name, glad I don’t have to shout over the loud music. “Darius. Darius Storm. He/him.”
Kaleb’s ocean-blue eyes sparkle. “Kaleb. Kaleb Dumas, also he/him.”
My smile wavers for a moment. How does he know his given name? I’m surprised he knows it, let alone uses it. I make a mental note to ask him about it someday.
He must see something on my face, because his grin drops too. “Is everything okay?”
I force out a laugh and shake out my hands dramatically. “Sorry.” I bite my lip. “It’s just been a long time since someone has made me nervous,” I say honestly.
Kaleb’s lips part with shock. “I makeyounervous?” He shakes his head. “There’s no way. You walked into the club like you owned the place. You looked so determined, I thought you were looking for your date.”
I arch a brow and smirk, some of my normal confidence returning. “You were watching me?”
A light blush spreads across his cheeks, only adding to his allure.
Over the next thirty minutes, we chat easily while sipping our drinks. At first, my questions are aimed at finding out if he is familiar with the paranormal, but after a lighthearted exchange, I realize he knows nothing. Which makes my life much harder.
In the past, I’ve only dealt with cases of adults who had at least some kind of magical awareness or children who were easily convinced. If I tell Kaleb the truth, who knows how he’ll react to the supernatural? He’ll probably be scared or think I’m crazy. Probably both.
I’m going to have to tread carefully. But even as I come to that conclusion, I can’t help but become captivated by Kaleb Dumas. He has a sassy and sweet personality that draws me in. I want to linger in this moment and get to know him. I want to find out if he’s the beautiful stranger from my dreams.
As if he’s unable to fight this crazy magnetic pull between us, he leans forward. “What’s got you smirking over there?”
“What would you do if I said it’s you who has me smiling?”
That tempting blush returns as he peers down at his drink. Deciding to test the waters, I do a partial shift, letting my kraken show through my eyes. To most humans, I know the change from brown to golden swirls that glow can be frightening, but luckily for me, I can always blame it on the strobe lights.
“You know,” he says, still looking down. “I love the mask you’re rocking, but honestly, it doesn’t look like much of a costume,” he jokes. “Not to mention, I’m sure it hides a really handsome face.”
I chuckle low in my throat, my kraken preening that he finds us attractive.
Mate.My pulse picks up speed as I take in what my kraken just said. Mate. My fated mate.Could it be true?I shove the thought away. The longer I chat with Kaleb, the more I want him to be the man from my dreams.
“Is this your way of saying you want to see me?” I place a hand on his before toying with his bracelets. “Well, go on. Look at me, beautiful.”
His ocean-blue eyes trail up to mine. He gasps, leaning forward on his stool so that our legs are touching. He studies the golden light reflecting in my gaze. “Your eyes.” Tentatively, Kaleb reaches out before digging his fingers into my hair. A shiver slides down my spine.
Kaleb easily finds the ribbon that holds my mask in place. He tugs lightly, and suddenly the mask is falling, dropping away and exposing my face to my potential soulmate. Damn. No fucking pressure or anything.
His breathing becomes shallow. I can tell he likes what he sees, and the feeling is mutual.
There’s the tiniest little scar just above his lip. I’ve never particularly cared for scars before, but somehow this mark adds to his beauty. I trace the tiny spot with the pad of my finger before wandering down to the curve of his lips. “You’re the most stunning merman I’ve ever seen.”
The words slip out before I can stop them. His large eyes widen with shock. Pupils dilating and swallowing up the blue.
I’m probably pushing my limits here, but I reach for his hand and ask, “Do you believe in magic?”
Kaleb nods, looking hypnotized.
Small magical sparks fly from his fingertips, but he doesn’t seem to notice. I’m both surprised and thrilled when Kaleb doesn’t pull away from me as he glances into my golden gaze. Instead, he closes the distance between us.
Kaleb’s lips press against mine. Soft and tempting. The world around us falls away. The music fades, and I swear, the people dancing around us disappear. My entire world rights itself as I focus on Kaleb.
Power unlike anything I’ve ever felt before swirls between us, stealing my breath. I should pull away, but I can’t. My palms grow sweaty.
