Page 54 of Sharing Shadow Secrets (High Five Novella #6)
A s a woman steps up in a bumble bee costume, I ask, “Do you want to be bitten?”
“Oh, yeah,” she says with too much enthusiasm.
I think the more seductive poses with Taylor were a mistake. I loved them, but now this line of women is expecting similar treatment. “Can I touch you?” I ask as the woman stands in front of me.
“That’s what I’m paying for,” she says.
I shake my head and get in character: a vampire seducing its prey.
I pull up her arm so her wrist is at my neck, then graze my fangs over her wrist before leaning down to touch them to her neck.
The photographer is doing a great job capturing these moments, seamlessly toggling back and forth from each person’s phone to his professional camera.
Taylor nearly skips over, phone in hand, lifting it as she gets closer.
I decide to be flirtier with the bumble bee.
I’m still holding the woman’s wrist. I dramatically step to the side, raising my other arm like a ballroom dancer, and the woman picks up what I’m putting down and spins into me.
With my arms wrapped around her waist, I pretend to bite her neck again.
Taylor makes an excited noise, and the bumble bee is beaming, staring up at me.
“Perfect for social!” Taylor says, then steps away into the crowd. I feel a little deflated about her reaction. I thought we had a special moment, but Brandon Dubois just kissed her. They are complicated.
When I see Brandon remerge, it clicks. They were both gone for a couple of minutes. I bet I know what they were doing.
“Brandon,” I call out. “Get in line.”
He shakes his head, and I check him out. While he’s a bad boy, he’s never looked it. But tonight, with the leather and face mask, he looks the part.
“You’re not shy,” I taunt, and the silence stretches as we look at each other. Then he gets in line.
Photo after photo, I’m on autopilot as I pose with the women. My mind is focused on what I should say to Brandon. I mean, he ghosted me after my dick pic. But he’s the king of ghosting. That’s nothing new.
“Can I bite you?” I ask when he approaches.
“No,” I hear him say beneath the face mask.
“Too bad. I’m biting you.” He chuckles, and I pull him into me so he’s facing me versus the camera.
Trailing my hand down the leather of his jacket sleeve, we hold a silent stare.
It’s been a couple of years since we were this close to each other.
“A ghost would have been a more fitting costume for you.”
He shakes his head, then softly says, “Hands off my girlfriend, Andrew.”
“But not hands off you?” I lean in to graze my fangs on his neck below his face mask. He audibly exhales as I make contact, poking his skin. “And I prefer Kyle,” I say into his neck. “You smell like sex,” I whisper, pulling back.
“You had her all hot and bothered,” he says, pulling his facemask down and stepping back. “I had to finish the job.” He flashes me a look I know to be flirty and walks off.