Page 45

“Mhm.”

Kal could be short for anything, she reminded herself.

“Well,Kal, lead the way.” He ushered a hand forward, grinning and wiggling his brows.

Shaking her head, she grabbed his hand and dragged him behind her.

Pulling him with her, she slid into the washroom. Kallie faced the door, away from the man, as her fingers grazed the metal lock and slid the lock into place.

When she faced the stranger, her gift hummed in the pit of her stomach, but she stuffed it back down. She didn’t need her gift right now. Not when the man stepped forward, gaze saturated with a blazing heat.

His fingers slid across the side of her face and twisted into her hair. The skin on his palm was smooth, with no callouses to be felt.

It was almost sweet, but Kallie didn’t wantsweet.

She fisted his shirt and tugged him closer, eliminating the space between them. Her lips met his, and she focused on their softness. When his tongue poked at her lips, she parted them. Whiskey and tobacco coated his tongue. And she let herself fall into it.

The music outside continued. The dancing and laughter only getting louder.

She pulled him closer, smashing their mouths together.

Still, it wasn’t enough.

“More,” Kallie demanded, and she sensed the unexpected release of her gift. It was too late to call it back. The command was out there, and the stranger eagerly obeyed.

His hand moved to the back of her neck. His kiss became fiercer. He dug his fingers digging into her waist. Her heart pounded. And even though his body was pressed against hers, she could still feel the prickle of guilt on her tongue.

Not enough.

She broke their kiss, her hands flying to his shirt. She unbuttoned it as fast as her fingers would allow. At the last button, she tugged his shirt down, freeing one arm.

“More,” she growled.

He slammed her against the door, and the doorknob dug into her back. His cotton shirt hung off his arm as the command bid his will to hers. The man’s warm breath against her skin was a reminder of just how small the space was.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

She forced her body to relax against the door as his hand found its way down her body. She focused on the movements of his hands, the way his hand skated over the side of her torso while the other weaved into her hair. She focused on how his fingers bunched her skirt together at the side. How the faint breeze that brushed against her ankles did little to cool her down as the air grew thicker, their combined breaths heating the room.

He began trailing kisses along the side of her face, and she leaned into it.

Sweat beaded at the back of her neck. She was too hot, too crowded.

Fabric rustled, and the faint smell of ash wafted toward her as he unlatched the button of her cloak. “Too warm for a cloak, don’t you think, Kal?”

Kallie’s eyes sprung open as if her head had been dunked into cold water. She gaped at the man before her.

Panic rose in her chest. She tried to shove it down, tried to ignore it. But she couldn’t. Not as it rose within her like a tidal wave, unstoppable and all-consuming.

The stranger’s head tilted, his eyebrows raising in question. “Are you—”

Kallie didn’t hear the rest of the man’s question before her fingers flew to the lock, unhooking it. She threw the door open and slammed it behind her.

Her chest rose with each breath as she leaned back against the door. A few nearby patrons glanced at her with wary gazes. An older gentleman shook his head as he took in her disheveled appearance, the untied ribbon of her corset, the tousled hair, the wrinkled dress.

With one hand, Kallie straightened her skirt and reached for her hood. Her hand brushed the back of her blouse. She groaned, cursing herself.

Kallie had forgotten to grab it in her haste.