Page 60 of Bleed the Shadows

That was the thing about being a girl in the world: somehow everything seemed to be your fault, and even when you managed to reason yourself out of the idea, there was always someone like Ethan Todd around to make you reconsider.

Or yourself, because internalized misogyny.

With that dress, it better be the best apology ever,Bailey texted back.

I saw the time on my phone and took a deep breath. Then I picked up my nice coat, grabbed the velvet clutch, and headed for the hall.

I felt like a kid on my way to prom making my way down the stairs and the first-floor hall. All of my adult dates had been casual dinners at chain restaurants, maybe a movie or bowling.

There was nothing wrong with those things, but the dresses chosen by Bram had sent a clear message that this was no bowling date.

He meant business.

I didn’t know what that meant exactly, but I knew I’d hit the mark with the dress and everything else when I emerged into the living room to find all three Butchers waiting.

I stifled a flood of affection when I saw that Bram was pacing like a father-to-be.

He was nervous too. Good.

“Holy fuck…” Remy said when he caught sight of me. “Why didn’t you tell us you were hiding a bombshell under those combat boots, killer?”

“I could have told you that,” Poe said, his blue eyes dark with something too complicated to call lust.

“That dress is amazing, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to tear it off you,” Remy said, his eyes still glued to my body.

“Do it and I’ll end you,” Bram said.

And if I’d felt nervous before, well, looking at Bram now sent my nerves into overdrive.

His black silk shirt revealed a tempting glimpse of the ink etched into his muscled chest, and a red brocade jacket made his dark hair and eyes look even darker. There was something about the contrast between the old-world luxury of the brocade and his scar that made him look even more beautifully forbidding than usual, and it didn’t hurt that his black slacks were snug enough to show off his undeniably big dick.

My pussy pulsed at the memory of him inside me and I ordered her to calm the fuck down.

He walked slowly toward me, but instead of getting up in my business like he had in the kitchen before I’d kneed him in the balls, he kept a respectful few inches between us.

His dark hair looked damp from the shower, and I caught the smell of his cologne (Bram owned cologne?), amber and spice that mingled with his own musky animal scent to create an intoxicating aroma that hit my system like a drug.

“You look beautiful, Maeve.” His voice cracked a little on my name and I realized it was the first time he’d actually used it when speaking to me.

“Thank you,” I said, trying to keep it cool. “You look nice too.”

He tugged at the collar of his shirt. “Thanks. Are you ready?”

I nodded and he took my coat gently from my hands and held it out.

I was pretty sure I was going to wake up from this bizarre dream at any second.

Bram helped me with my coat and Remy walked over to smooth Bram’s shirt like a proud father. “Now be a gentleman tonight, son. Be home by midnight sharp, and don’t do anything I would do.”

Remy stumbled as Bram shoved him away. Bram flipped him off for good measure, and then we were on our way down the stairs and out into the night.

Alone.

38

BRAM

I was nervous as fuck.More nervous than I’d ever been in my life.