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I looked over at Lucas, finding his gaze on me. I thought he’d say something else about the topic, or butcher Sebastian’s name again, but he only winked at me. Smug, as if he knew how good he looked, winking in that costume and that mask. And dammit, all thoughts of maybe spotting Seb or any other celebrity vanished from my mind with a puff.
I stepped forward to Lina and Aaron’s side and Lina untangled herself from her husband with a kiss on his cheek, linking our arms and walking into the party, leaving the two men behind.
After crossing the more dimly lit dance floor, we made it to the opposite end of the venue and took a spot at the bar, where the guys rejoined us.
“I think we might be a little early,” Lina said, looking around us and pointing at the few and scattered groups of people that had gathered. “What time did it say on the invitation, Aaron?”
His arm came around her waist, his palm settling on her stomach. “Eight. People will come. Don’t worry. This is one of the most popular events of the year. Only the bachelor auction beats it.”
“Oh, I definitely remember that one.”
“I do, too.” Aaron’s head inched even lower and he pressed his lips to her shoulder, turning my best friend into a Lina-shaped puddle of blue goo.
My face must have been showcasing every single one of my emotions—happiness, longing, that pang of good-hearted but sharp jealousy—because one of my curls was tugged by the man that was learning to read me like an open book.
I turned, finding Lucas a little closer to my side than he was a minute ago. “I’d love to have a drink,” he said, looking down at me. “What about you, Lady Rosalyn? Would you care for a beverage?” He flashed me his prosthetic fangs. “Perhaps some O-Negative?”
I could not help but laugh, so I did. “With pleasure, Good Sir. But make it blood-free.” I wrinkled my nose. “Only the thought is making me dizzy.”
Lucas’s lips twitched and he nudged my shoulder with his, his expression brightening his eyes.
After that, we ordered those drinks and hung out in our little circle, chatting animatedly while the place filled with more and more people.
And with every minute that ticked away and every newcomer arriving to the party, my side inched closer and closer to Lucas. So much that without knowing how, I was leaning my shoulder on his. And it felt good. The easy chatter, the way his arm felt against mine, our inside jokes, the times I’d see his gaze dipping down to meet mine, or the way he’d ask me if I was having fun. It all felt so goddamn good.
It felt exactly as if we were on a double date with my best friend and her husband.
Comfortable. Exciting.Real.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Lucas
Aaron had been right, thiswasa popular event.
It was hard to take a step without bumping against someone. The place was bursting with people. People, I assumed, who moved in social circles I knew nothing about. People who attended masquerade balls in impressive halls of hotels I’d never consider booking a night in. Not because I couldn’t but because it wasn’t my choice.
I wasn’t used to being in crowds like this one. Oranycrowds, unless we counted the folks attending a tournament or a competition. But I had to admit that I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I’d anticipated. And sure, it had to do with tonight being Halloween. But it also had a lot to do with the girl pressing her shoulder against my arm. I was here for her.
And if it was up to me, I’d have her tucked into my side, much like Aaron had Lina. Not because I wanted to—which, don’t get me wrong, I did—but because the free space around us was starting to run out. And the crowd was starting to get tipsy, and therefore, careless.
I hadn’t liked it when some zombie pushed us from behind, and I hadn’t liked it any better when it was some superhero I didn’tknow. At this rate, our drinks were at risk of being knocked out of our hands, Rosie might get hurt, and I might have to punch some drunk idiot in a mask.
Checking on Rosie’s glass to see if she was done with her drink, it was physically impossible to stop my eyes from wandering around. All the way up to her face. Down her neck again. Hopelessly dipping back to her neckline.
It wasn’t the first time I’d done it tonight, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. I seemed unable to help myself.
Not when the swells of her breasts were pressing against the neckline of her dress in a way that made my blood swirl and flow to certain areas of my body that were starting to feel a little tight against my clothing. I was only a man. And I could only take so much when that soft-looking skin on display was making me think thoughts not appropriate for the current venue. Or company.
“You okay?” Lina asked, forcing my eyes away from Rosie. Lina tilted her head. “You look… weird. Are you hungry or something?”
I schooled my face into the easiest smile I could summon. “I’m always hungry.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rosie snickering. “Other than that, I’m okay.Gracias, prima.”
As if on cue, someone bumped into me and Rosie from behind. Again. Probably someone else trying to place an order at the busy and slightly chaotic bar.
With a curse, I finally stepped to the side and parked myself behind Rosie. Then, I snaked an arm around her side and leaned my elbow on the bar top, creating a wall behind her.
Rosie moved her head, her hair swaying with her scent.
