Page 56 of Saving the Rain (Crimson Ridge #4)

Raine watches me for a moment, but it’s hard to see the exact expression on his face between the pulse of lights and people getting in the way.

Something knowing twists on his lips, and he turns back to lean both forearms on the bar.

It’s an open invitation, laid out for me to either take it or walk away, and I know right there in that thud of my pulse and tightening in my chest what my decision is.

Glancing back at the bar leaner, then over at the dance floor, I catch Luke’s attention.

When he nods, I point at the drinks waiting for the four of them.

He bends to speak into Sky’s ear, before she shoots me a bright smile and waves.

Once they’re headed over, I make a show of my empty glass and slink my way to the bar.

Feeling his penetrating stare with every step, utterly helpless to resist his allure.

Right now, I’m the rabbit willingly stepping into the snare.

When I get a few steps from the bar, I dart a glance at the Chaos Twins in their pig onesies, both of them too busy slinging drinks to notice us. I hate that this is the first thing I think of, that I hesitate rather than feeling like I can stroll right up to Raine and be with him.

I’m tongue-tied and fumbling around inside my own head before I’ve even gotten close. Which is ridiculous; I gotta shake this off because it’s just talking, and that’s something I do easily whenever I’m here.

My eyes do a quick once over, just a tiny, brave look as I close the final few feet to stand by his side.

Goddamn, does he have a nice ass.

I clear my throat, feeling like a skittish foal when I set my glass onto the bartop, slipping in just close enough that we brush shoulders. At that point of contact, it’s like my blood starts damn well singing beneath my skin. Everything goes tingly and bright upon catching a glimpse of his scent.

“Demon?”

“Archdemon, actually.” Raine tilts his head my way, voice low and gritty. “Here to collect your soul.”

My dick is already starting to stir as that masculine hit of how good he smells weaves through my senses. Curling a wisp of a finger beneath my chin and placing an invisible hold around my neck. He’s gotta damn well know that he has me in a chokehold already, turning up here, looking like that .

“Ah, well. Vampire .” I touch my tongue against my incisor, before gesturing up and down my body. “So, you’re out of luck... I don’t have one. ”

His lips twitch as his gaze rakes over me, and damn him, that leaves my pulse jittering. I could never have pictured Raine at a Halloween party, but goddamn, I can’t get over how unbelievably sexy he looks.

“This is...” With one hand, I swirl around my eyes, imitating the face paint he’s got on.

“All Tessa’s doing.” He makes a groaning noise. “Apparently, I’m here so she can live vicariously through me while being at home pregnant... or some shit like that.”

Before I can reply, just as I’m opening my mouth, our little bubble is unceremoniously burst.

“ Hiiiiii .” A loud, tipsy voice slides between us.

We’re overrun by a group of girls sporting crooked halos and fluffy wings, all in various stages of undress—or maybe that’s the entire point of their translucent-white costumes—and long eyelashes framed by a thick caking of glitter bat my way.

The majority of her friends crowd the bar, giggling while I hear one trying to get the attention of a little piggie I’d like to fuck as she presses her tits together .

On the other side of the girl swaying in front of me is a matching outfit of minuscule proportions belonging to a girl who is her clone.

Both blond. Both sporting heavy fake tans. Both one shot of vodka away from a nipple-slip.

Raine turns, leaning his elbows back on the edge of the bar, and lifts an eyebrow my way. There’s absolutely nothing I can discern in his gaze. Does he want this? What would he normally do on a night like tonight when there’s a girl confidently rocking up to him with lust in her eyes?

Obviously my expression, or lack of ability to form words, must give him a signal that I don’t think I intended to give.

But also, leaves me stranded in a place where I can’t do anything right here right now.

This is a disaster, and once again, I’ve fucked everything up because he turns that handsomeness to focus on the girl wearing little more than a bikini.

She’s overtly hitting on Raine. Reaching out to touch his arm while nibbling her lip. And I don’t know how to handle any of it, because we’re not together.

Fuck this. Jealousy slithers up my spine.

A wild unspoken protest swirls hot and demanding inside my chest. Bitterness lines my throat as her fingers slide higher to play over his bicep.

I’m not giving an ounce of attention to the girl in front of me who is still yelling over the music, far too many drinks in, to notice that my eyes are fixed elsewhere.

Raine must surely feel me watching?

He can’t possibly go back to being the aloof, cold-hearted asshole who ignores me?

Not now. Not after everything we’ve shared.

However, my collision of thoughts and inability to know what to do at this moment are sideswiped. A soft hand slips into mine, tugging to lead me into the crowd. The drunk angel skips ahead, dragging me to follow as she shouts over her shoulder at me.

“C’mon, sexy. Dance with me, and then maybe I’ll let you bite me later.”