Page 34 of Neon Flux

His grin sharpened into something predatory. “You came down here for a little Magenta fun, didn’t you? This is where the real fun is.” He raised an eyebrow, a challenge wrapped in a question.

It was for the act. He’d be suspicious if I didn’t take it. That was the excuse my brain gave as the green liquid danced in my eyes—an old friend. I snatched the vial from him, barely remembering to look like I didn’t know what I was doing as I held it to my neck. I fumbled with it, and his hand closed over mine, steadying it as the microneedle engaged.

His Vector was military grade. The hit was immediate—pure.Straight from the source.God, it felt good. Like going home. Like sinking into the perfect dream. Every part of my body tingled, my nipples going hard in an instant. I felt my Flux surge and all I wanted was to let go, let it consume me.

Get it together. This is life or death.

I shook my head and shoved everything down.

“First time?” Cy asked.

“Yeah…yeah…”Get it the fuck together.

“You’ll be a pro in no time.”

We played another round. It was close, but obvious he was letting me keep pace.

“I think I’m getting this now. I bet I could have you in the next game.”

His arrogant smile grew. “How about a wager, then? Loser has to take another dose?”

I winked at him. “You’re on.” I had to be careful. I hadn’t done Vector this strong—ever. That beautiful bliss was already slipping over me like an old friend, the noose tightening around my neck.

This time, he didn’t hold back, and soon the score was so lopsided I could only win if I hit a sixty-point shot.

“Hey, no fair! You were holding back before,” I whined.

He winked. “Never said I was a nice guy, doll. Should I just put you out of your misery now?” He pulled out another vial, and it was all too easy to let him inject it again.

The electricity in my blood sang, and it would’ve been easy—oh so easy—to just give in and let it dance.No. Focus.Vector had originally been designed to enhance POM’s Flux-capable security agents. For me, it would strengthen me—if I could just stay focused.

He watched me with hungry eyes as I wobbled a bit, letting my eyes defocus. I stumbled, and he caught me, holding me tight against him.

“Take it easy. Don’t want you getting hurt.” He leaned in, and I felt his mouth land on the sensitive skin just beneath my jaw. I hated how my whole body reacted—my thighs clenching together, my skin alight with Flux and Vector. He knew it too, and his hands grew bolder.

“One more round?” I asked sheepishly.

“Oh, I don’t think so. You’ve teased me enough.” I felt his tongue snake over my neck, and I bit my lip.

“Then a new wager on this game?”

He raised his head to meet my gaze. “This game? It’s over.”

“Then you’ll get whatever you want.”

He considered this, then leaned in again and whispered in my ear, “How about if I win, I take you out back and see how expensive you taste?”

I smiled at him—and this time, I let a bit of the real me slip through. I leaned in close. “All right. But if I win, how about you take me back to your place and fuck me until I can’t walk tomorrow?”

I leaned back. He stared, stunned, mouth slightly agape. “Shiiittt. I really played myself here, didn’t I?” That lopsided grin returned.

“We’ll see.” I held his hungry stare and threw my last dart. I didn’t have to look to know where it landed—right on triple twenty. He glanced over, and his eyes went wide.

“Did you just hustle me?” His mouth twitched with annoyance, but his pupils were blown wide—and it wasn’t just the drugs.

I leaned into him, wrapping one arm around his waist beneath his jacket. With the other, I stroked through his long blue bangs, pushing them back behind his ear. As I did, I carefully ran my fingers over the circuits of his Vysor. This was precision work—but luckily, I was made for this. I let the Vector focus me, power me. My Flux pulsed the tiniest amount, sending a microscopic EMP through the Vysor’s communication circuit. It was so precise it didn’t trigger any other systems. He wouldn’t even know it was fried—at least, not until he tried to use it.

He wouldn’t be focusing on that anytime soon.