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I clamped my mouth shut and rolled my lips between my teeth. If I was silent, he wouldn't know I was still in here.
"I know you're in there," he said. I blinked at the closed door. He couldn't really know that. "Sammy, please come out."
Not on my life.
"Fine, stay in there, but we will talk about this," he said, and I could hear the sigh through the wooden surface. I pressed my hands against the smooth, cool wood, followed by my forehead. I would avoid him for as long as possible. I was absolutely not talking about this. Call me childish all you want, it wasn't happening. "I'm needed at the station, so I have to go," he continued.
The next blink of my eyes knocked the tears gathered on my lashes, sending them trailing down my face. Silent tears flowed unchecked as I collapsed onto the floor, still pressed against the door. Everything I had ever wanted, and I couldn't have it. His footsteps slowly faded, and the front door opened and closed before I allowed myself to actually sob out loud.
CHAPTER 22
Samantha
When I sayit was hard to dodge a persistent Raiden, I wasn't lying. He wouldn't let the kiss drop. He texted me about it, even tried calling me, so I sent him to voicemail, only for him to leave me painfully awkward messages about needing to talk. I had gone back to the dorm that night, camping out in my unreachable room for the rest of the weekend. Yes, I was a coward.
Sunday evening the need to get out and hunt was riding me hard. My skin itched with it. I could feel the demons in the city, like a niggling teeny little irritation on the edges of my mind. I had never noticed it before, but maybe that was because I was always hunting. So I got ready.
My ribs only hurt when I twisted wrong. My face was another matter and had turned a pretty shade of green and purple. My smaller knives were strapped firmly in place in the hidden pockets of my leather pants and my dagger, thankfully recovered when they found me in the forest, was securely in its holder. If I had been able to reach any of those while tied to the tree, I would have been able to escape.
As I walked down the street, I kept my senses open for any demons in the area. It was still a little early, and I might end up heading over to the club. I sort of hoped to run into Bellamy. He would help me forget Raiden and the mess I made by kissing him.
You kissed each other, my mind whispered, unhelpfully I might add. Because the moment I thought about the kiss, the only thing I could see was him slowly leaning in to press his mouth to mine. It sent butterflies flapping in a flurry of motion in my stomach, battering each other in a bid for freedom.
Gah, where was a demon to kill when you needed them?
Breaking into a light jog, I headed for Fantasia. Maybe a drink would help. The bouncer eyed me with boredom before grunting and stepping aside to let me in. I made a beeline for the bar Lex served at. Flirting with him always made my night brighter. His face lit up as he saw me, and he made his way down the bar.
"What happened to you?" he asked as soon as he was close enough. He ran a clean rag into a glass he was holding, drying it off as he waited for me to answer.
"I think I ran into some of those demons that are coming through the portal and working together." I shrugged, trying to give off a no big deal vibe. The look on his face told me it didn't work.
"We couldn't close the portal. I know Alastor was going to try something else. But I haven't seen him since then." Lex made himself busy with making a drink for one of the Pixies that fluttered up to the bar next to me. He held up his hand and gestured for someone behind me. A backup bartender came over and hopped behind the bar with supernatural grace. Vampire. He gave me a toothy grin before Lex slapped him with the towel he had hanging off his shoulder. "I'll be back in a minute." Heopened the counter area that let him out and motioned for me to follow him.
"Sure thing, boss," the vampire called after our retreating backs.
As soon as he closed the door for the VIP area, the music died to a low hum. He crossed the space and took a seat on a red and black leather couch behind a stripper pole. I had always wanted to try one of those. It reminded me of the playground when I was a kid, and we lined up at recess to do tricks on the bars. Only this one was vertical. I strolled over to him slowly, taking in the room this time. One-way glass showed a view of the club and the supernaturals dancing on the floor. A long leather bench seat took up the whole area below the window on the opposite side of the couch with the stripper pole.
Once I was close enough to him, I reached out to the pole and spun around it slowly. Getting a feel for the cool metal. I could see how this could be sensual, and one day, I wanted to try it. Maybe Lex would let me.
"Did they die?" he asked, gesturing to my face.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. "No, the cowards had me tied to a tree. I bet they wouldn't be so brave if I had both my hands free and my dagger in my grip." I flexed my fingers, letting go of the bar, and looked up at him. "But don't worry, they are at the top of my list."
He smiled and relaxed back on the couch. He had recently trimmed his beard, and it was nice and tidy, just the way I liked it. The reddish-gold of his hair beneath the spotlight that was on him reminded me of Scottish kilt-wearing warriors. Nothing like the Greek demigod I knew he was. He should be dark and pale, right? Like Alastor was. But maybe his mom slept with a Scottish warrior and that was where he got his coloring.
"Well, then I'm sure you'll take care of it," he replied, pulling me back to the present. "What brings you to Fantasia?"
"I came to see you," I said.
"No, you didn't." He kicked out his legs and hooked a finger into my waistband. "But since you're here—"
Although my body perked up at the thought of sex, I wasn't in the mood. Besides, I was pretty sure I was starting to catch feelings for the man sitting in front of me and that was bad. He would run for the hills if he knew. No more one-night stands, or whatever they actually were. I had to spread out those intimate moments, or I'd become attached, and I didn't do that. Usually cutting my losses as soon as the inkling of emotions entered the picture was my M.O. But this time, I allowed him to tug me between his legs, his hands softly grazing my sides as he leaned forward.
"Lex—"
His roaming hands stopped immediately as he pulled his gaze up to mine. "Sam?"
"Not tonight."
