Page 140 of The Fractured

“Are we lost?” Dean’s voice was muffled by his mask.

“No…” Seb responded.

“Our Uber dropped us off a little further than necessary,” Kira added, throwing a sheepish smile over her shoulder. Her curls bounced with every step.

“You gave him the wrong address, didn’t you?” Dean tilted his head, and I could almost see the unimpressed but slightly humored expression through his mask.

Seb held up a finger as he continued checking his phone. “Shush.”

“Apart from the cold, it’s a nice walk,” I offered with a shrug.

Dean tilted his head, definitely deadpanning at me. “Your teeth were chatterin’ before.”

“Okay, but it’s still nice to just be here, with you. Regardless of the fact we’re freezing our asses off,” I smiled, crossing my arms as I looked up at him. “Happy b—”

I staggered as my heel caught in a grate, leading me to hop right out of the shoe with my hand clutching Dean for balance. Without a word, he crouched down and plucked the heel from between the metal and then took the time to guide my foot back into the shoe. His hand rested on my calf until he dared to skim it up behind my knee. A warm, simple but loving caress that sent my heart soaring as he lowered my foot to the ground again. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I knew they were on my face the entire time.

It made me blush.

Dean stood and offered his elbow.

I took it gladly, reembracing that warmth. “Why, thank you, sir.”

We were three drinks in, and I offered to order the fourth round. I was lightly buzzed by the alcohol and feeling almost untouchable as confidence soaked through my body.

I leaned on the bar as I waited for one of the bartenders. Across the crowded dance floor, where bright colorful lightsflashed over dancing strangers in costumes, I could see our mini table, where Dean, Seb, and Kira waited, enjoying the music and atmosphere.

The smile on my face hadn’t diminished since the night began, and I doubted anything could make it fade.

Until an arm brushed against mine, followed by the voice of a man leaning in to speak to me as he arrived at the bar.

“Hey, beautiful,” he slurred. There was already a drink in his hand. “Watcha doin’ sittin’ here all alone?”

“I’m here with someone.” I focused my attention on the action behind the bar, hoping my lack of interest in him would diminish his interest in me.

It didn’t.

He leaned closer with a smirk on his face. “Sure, sweetie.”

With a quiet sigh, I turned and pointed to the area across the room. The drunk followed the direction of my finger. “See the tall guy in the mask? The one looking this way? That’s who I’m here with.”

He laughed. “How’d I know you didn’t just point out the meanest looking guy here? I think you’re playin’ hard to get.”

“Suit yourself, but I did warn you… You also havemaybetwenty-ish seconds to move.”

To my disgust, he leaned even closer, blanketing my senses with the stench of his breath. “Or what, doll?”

The smile on my face was neither impressed nor genuine. It was pure tipsy confidence and pettiness because I knew this man was not winning tonight.

“Scary boyfriend privilege,” I said, nodding in the direction beyond his shoulder.

He rolled his eyes and had another look. The smugness quickly dropped from his expression as he took in the sight of the 6’3” masked man heading straight through the crowd. Never mind the people around him, he was locked in.

The confidence in his stride created goosebumps along my arms and legs. I was about to melt into the bar.

To my mild surprise, Dean wasn’t approaching the stranger. He was coming to me.

I turned to face him, leaning back against the bar as he lifted his mask enough to reveal his jawline and lips. The second his boots were planted on either side of my feet, he cupped the back of my head, and kissed me so strongly my heart rate skyrocketed.