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“Chatting and all,” he drawls, his golden-brown eyes still scowling. It’s his complex character, with its many layers, that started this whole fascination, I’m sure of it. Because I’d gladly peel them off, wrap myself in them, and throw away those that hurt. Connor’s so full of pride and anxiety that I want to tangle myself around him, squeeze him close and share whatever burdens he might be carrying.
The thought makes me whirl my head back to the window. Where the hell did that come from? There’s no way I can really want that, though the idea that we’ll just go back to living our lives like before, once we finish our business here, is outright terrifying.
I don’t want that.
“Listen, about earlier—”
“Don’t.” He takes out his phone and presses his huddled form against the window as he fiddles around.
“I don’t get it,” I admit.
He doesn’t even look up from his screen. “Don’t worry about it,” he mumbles, “I’ve got my answer.”
“What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?” I scoot closer to him, wanting to crawl inside his personal space, and warm up his leaner frame with mine. He stops me with a hand, shaking his head. “Back off, okay?”
“We’ll talk later then.”
He offers me a sad smile. “No, we won’t.”
I want to shake him, to punish him for putting his guard up. I want to kiss him until these sweet lips are wet with lust, but our female officer-slash-driver takes that moment to stop the car. “We’re here.”
In the trendy neighborhood ofle Marais.
Exiting the car, my eyes greedily take in the mixture of chaos and history and I inwardly smile at its cobblestone streets, historic spots, and quirky boutiques. If I ever decide to follow my dream and settle down in Europe, it’s got to be this neighborhood. The numerous gay bars only confirm that motivation.
“This is so cool,” Connor sighs next to me. When I find his gaze, he sends me a sizzling twinkle and a tentative smile.
“Yeah, this is the Paris I wanted to visit.”
“Me too,” he surprisingly admits, and it does something to my insides. “Come on.”
Touché radiates class—the venue is richly decorated with stylish lamps and glitter and an impressive, round bar in the middle that creates a natural division between the lounge area and the dance floor. It’s just after nine when we head into the center of the place, carefully eyeing the other guests for anythingoff. I’m annoyed by my own lack of professionalism. I might be an arrogant asshole, but staying safe is the golden rule in The Void. Connor’s apparently back to bombing me with non-stop murderous glares and those coming from his sweet face, are making my kitten look sexy as hell. Making me annoyingly sloppy in my usual precautions.
Despite it being a Monday night, there are several groups of guys hanging about, checking us out like the fresh meat we are. When they size up Connor, I know what they see—endless, strong legs in fitted jeans, and athletic shoulders covered by a fitted navy-blue shirt. While I follow his stiff back, I shoot them all a filthy scowl.
We get to the bar, but realizing quickly that the person we’re looking for is not here, I’m back on high alert. “Five minutes,” I hiss, annoyed at being completely ignored by Connor. Instead, he throws the cute twink behind the bar a toothy smile. The bartender is of the usual type—tank top and too many tattoos—and he gives Connor his full attention. I fight the growl that rumbles in my throat when I see my partner in crime showing a side I didn’t know existed. Casual, with a hint of flirt. They talk about god knows what and it doesn’t take me long to realize he never planned to include me in the first place, perhaps because I deserved it. That phrase from before rolls through my mind again, as if it wants me to find the obvious clues.
“If you, do you think that we… I mean…”
What the fuck did he mean? Barely sparing me a glance, Connor hands me a beer. “You look like you could use one,” he mumbles and the coy bartender has the courage to laugh at that. Flipping them off, I turn my back to the bar, leaning against it as I take a swig. The place has become more crowded and the music level has gone up in an attempt to entice early dancers.
“Bonsoir loulou,” a breeze of air tickles my ear. I turn to stare at a slender guy dressed in tight skinny jeans and a large, oversized shirt. Next to me, Connor lets out a laugh at something the bartender says, making me lick my teeth in annoyance. “Well hello to you,” I croon, making sure my voice is as low as the music allows. He gives me an elated smile as he seductively brushes a hand through his dark, disheveled hair, then tilts his head toward Connor’s back. He’s a gorgeous thing and knows exactly how to show off his soft, delectable features. “That your boyfriend?”
“Why?” My lips curl into a sly smile. “If I say no, what are you gonna do?”
“Well…” The guy checks on Connor’s back one more time, then lightly starts to sway his hips to the beat of the music. “I’d ask you if you wanted to, I don’t know, dance or something. Or talk some more, though my English is bad.”
I lean forward to be eye-to-eye with him. He’s got pretty, fair eyes that widen in surprise with my bluntness. “Really? Is that what you’d do?” I brush my lips against his neck and his smaller frame shivers against my mouth. “Because I can think of other things that I’d do.”
“Oui,” he mumbles breathlessly.
“What thehell?” I look up, only to find Connor, his brown eyes blazing with fury. “Seriously, I leave you for two minutes and you’re already flirting?”
The twink in my embrace lets out a seductive chuckle. “Oops, trouble in paradise? Don’t worry, Jules isveryloyal to his man.” Then he takes my hand and plants a kiss on it, his gaze zoomed in on Connor. “Speaking of, there he is.” With an elegant bow of his body, he turns and sashays away through the crowd.
I turn to look at Connor and open my mouth to say something, but he shakes his head with a “Don’t you dare” look on his beautiful face. God, it’s moments like these, when he taunts me with his dignified pride, that I just want to wrap myself around him and hang on for dear life.
I want to claim him.And I have no fucking clue what to do with that feeling.
