Page 97 of Eternal

DAMIR

“Everybody Here Wants You” by Jeff Buckley

Present

F inally…

“Green suits you perfectly, partner.”

She lifts her glass without pause, but I catch it, a tiny twitch in her jaw, rage, or memory.

Both are mine .

She downs the drink. “You bleeding out on my bed was a better look on you.”

“I missed you,” I say.

She turns, smiling, but it’s soaked in alcohol and something meaner, tipsy, and angry. “Too bad. I didn’t.”

I lean closer. “ Liar .”

“Says you.”

“You left without a word.”

“You lied to me,” she fires, and there it is, soft, venomous, deadly regrets all over her pretty eyes. “And you thought I’d be all cute and happy because you’re here?” Her eyes cut through me. “You really are stupid, Damir.”

I sit beside her, ignoring the blade in her voice. I’ve bled worse for her.

“I didn’t come here to fight,” I say.

“No,” she hums, twirling her next drink, “you came to stalk me, flirt like you almost didn't die, and get pissed because someone else touched my hand.”

“You didn’t just let him touch your hand.”

She smirks, all pretty, and fuck I missed her. “Alexander?” Her tone is pure gasoline. “You jealous?”

“Jealous is a polite word for this.”

“Oh?” she asks, cocking her head. “What would you call it then?”

“Territorial. Violent . Like I want to end him. That kind of mood.”

My eyes drop down her throat, to her collarbone, to the slit in her dress. It’s criminal how much leg she’s showing, it’s criminal how it’s not mine.

“I missed just looking at you.”

“You’re not subtle,” she mutters. “Bit loud for an ex-partner.”

“ Still-partner . I’m not the type to share.”

She laughs, “Possessive much?”

“Haven’t seen me at my full potential.” I brush her cheek with my thumb, trace her lip, her jaw, her goddamn pulse.

“He would never be good enough for you.” My fingers skate down the line of her collarbone.

“I’m better, way better. I’m the only option actually.

” And under her chin, “Don’t make me kill him tonight. ”

She quirks a brow. “This is Vesper. You can’t kill anyone here.” A pause. “Plus… if you do, I’ll finish what I started last time.”

The laugh breaks out of me, but it tastes bitter, then she starts to get up, probably to walk back to him.

No.

She shifts, about to get up, but I move faster.

One hand wraps around her waist, the other hooks beneath her thigh, and I pull, not gently.

A soft breath escapes her lips, her body dragged right back into mine, seated where she fucking belongs, straddling me.

Chest against mine, heat, danger wrapped in a woman who once stabbed me and still has my goddamn affection.

“You always run too soon, partner.” My lips ghost her ear, voice low enough to melt steel. “I wasn’t done with you.”

She exhales like I lit her fuse.

Hands on my chest, but not to push, she stays, her arm slides around my neck, her thigh presses hot against mine.

My hand doesn’t hesitate, it knows where to go, her waist, her hip, her thigh, because she’s all mine.

“He’s foolish,” I murmur. “To think he could have you.”

She stills slightly as a few heads turn our way. “You should let me up,” she says lightly. “Before people start rumors about Vegas’s favorite hit duo.”

“They wouldn’t be wrong,” I whisper against her neck. “I did kiss you last time.”

“And I stabbed you.”

“Still bled on you.”

“ Fucker .”

“You’d like fucking me.” I reply smiling, and I catch her small smirk.

Good.

Her eyes flick to the clean-cut cop across the room, Alexander, pretty, orderly, safe . The opposite of me. Exactly why he pisses me off.

“I need fun,” she says suddenly. “Why won’t you let me have fun, Damir? Partners don’t cock-block. They assist.”

“I’ll give you fun,” I reply seriously. “However you want it. On your back, against the wall, mascara running, legs shaking. Anywhere .”

She opens her mouth, but I don’t let her.

“You think you can cry for me, Azra?”

She laughs, “You can’t do that.”

“You mean tears? I’ll give you those too.”

Blushed cheeks… soft .

“I need stranger kinda fun…” she replies.

I laugh. Not funny. I grab her face, making her look at me, gripping her thigh tighter. “I’ll kill you and him, Azra. You know that, right?”

My fingers find her scar, the one I didn’t cause, but I memorized. The one I want to kiss again and again and again.

She leans in, her arms looping around my neck like chains. “Then you better try harder,” she whispers. “It’s your mission, right?”

Fuck.

“God,” I breathe, “why did my last mission have to be you?”

She smiles, mean and beautiful. Perfect . “Why? Guilt? Or weakness?”

My lips ghost hers, close enough to taste memories. “Because killing you would kill me.”

She freezes, just for a beat. Then I kiss the corner of her mouth, quick, like punishment. Feather on her lips, enough to breathe better.

“Don’t do that again in public,” she whispers. “Not in front of them.”

I nod, even though we both know I will. “Because your Alexander is here tonight?”

Jealousy . Fucking jealousy.

“He’s not better than you,” she says, rising from my lap. “Men are all the same. Pretty faces, biceps, zero usefulness. One word and my libido flatlines.”

“Funny,” I say, rising after her. “Bet if I whispered dirty things in your ear, it’d spike.”

She walks, hips swaying like sin on stilettos. “Try me.”

“Oh, I will.” And I will win.