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“Mmm… that one. What, does he talk about that too?”
Caelan makes a noncommittal noise, one that sounds almost like an electrical crackle coming from him. “Ehh. It’s come up.”
I wonder what else they talk about, face heating up as I recall some of the nights when things took a distinctly less innocent turn. But then again, if they talk about the sex they’ve had with me, I damn well want to hear about their sex life together too.
That’s something for later consideration, maybe. Caelan seems more prone to gossiping than Elias, so I’ll have to ask him at some point.
“Anyway,” Caelan prompts. “Past the coffee shop?”
“Right. There’s an entire line of places down that street. There’s one club that always seems to have strobe lighting going and on the other side of the road, a bar with an outside fronting that seems popular. And one place that always has a giant inflatable display on the roof, I don’t know what that’s about. And a taco restaurant with a bar area as well. I’ve been to that one. Once.”
He raises his eyebrows, somewhere between concern and amusement at my response. “You reallydon’tget out much, huh?”
“I don’t know why you don’t believe me when I tell you these things.”
“’Cause you got the same sense of humor as Elias. You say things in that straight-ass deadpan way, but it’s something so absurd or exaggerated that I have no idea if you’re serious or not.”
I laugh at the thought of Elias catching Caelan out like that. And I can just imagine the quietly self-satisfied, smug smile on Elias’ face when he succeeds.
“Not going out much is hardly that absurd, but sure,” I say.
Caelan makes a vaguely dismissive gesture. “In any case, I like the sound of the strobe light place.”
It’s as good as we’re going to get, apparently, and it’s getting cold standing around outside. I didn’t really think about the weather when I picked this outfit.
Fortunately, it’s not too far away. My nerves pick up again as we get closer.I’m not one for clubbing. What do I even think I’m doing here? Dressed like this?I take Caelan’s hand for reassurance. He glances down at me with a bemused look but gives my hand a soft squeeze.
The place we picked is leaning toward the club side of things. It’s not a big one as there’s only one large room inside, visible through the glass windows that make up the full frontage of the building, and barriers create an extra outdoor area for people to spill into. It’s busy but not heaving. The strobe lighting is in full force, and either the place is very smoky or they have a fog machine too. There’s a rumbling beat of heavy bass that I can feel thrumming as we approach the bouncers.
I show my ID, and Caelan shows something of questionable legitimacy, but he’s let in anyway. Maybe it’s just another extension of his glamour.
“It sounds like it’s gonna be pretty loud,” I say to him. “Might be hard to talk.”
Caelan shoots me a feral grin, something predatory in his eyes that makes my stomach flip. “I didn’t come here to talk.” His hand falls from mine, sliding over my ass and giving my thigh a soft squeeze instead.
A small pulse of heat shivers through me. “Oh. Okay.”
“Drink?”
I nod. “Sounds good.”
Leaning against the bar while Caelan orders for me, I take a moment to look around. It’s unfamiliar territory but not unpleasant. Not with Caelan here. Alone, I know I’d feel out of place. I don’t know any of the songs playing, and I don’t have the confidence to dance by myself. Everyone else seems to be having fun, and I don’t want to sit in a corner like a loser, bringing the vibe down. Because I know that’s what would happen under normal circumstances. Or, previous circumstances, I suppose. When I didn’t have an excitable, horny demon for a boyfriend.
He brings me my drink while chugging his own, and I raise an eyebrow. “Can you even get drunk?” I ask, voice raised over the music.
“Not really. Unfortunately. But I can kinda like…” he gestures vaguely, “… choose to let the alcohol have an effect if I want to.”
That’s genuinely interesting, and I wish I could ask more about it.Something to do with demon physiology?But it’s not really the place for such talk, even if I could hear Caelan’s replies properly.
I drink my cocktail—something fruity and strong, but I don’t know enough about alcohol to place it from that alone—at a more sensible pace. Caelan stands beside me, waiting patiently for me to be done but thrumming.
It’s odd, yet somehow this sort of place suits him. Something about his power makes it feel like there’s a low electrical hum around him. The rumble of the music accentuates it like Caelan could vibrate right along with the bass. For him, it’s like sinking into a warm bath after a long day and just being immersed in something in a way that feels right, something that energizes him.
I wonder if that was what drew him to music in the first place.
After I finish my drink, Caelan pulls me out to the dance floor. Both of his hands are on my hips, the claws hidden beneath his glamour digging into me through my skirt. I wrap my arms around his neck and dance.
My body is pressed right up against Caelan’s. I don’t know how to dance, and this is a different kettle of fish compared to the ballroom dancing we tried at the gala. So, it’s easier just to let Caelan move me in time to the music.
