Page 38

Chapter 38

At some point in the evening, Sidnee had talked me into colourful cocktails instead of wine, and after a few spins on the dance floor with Connor I found myself taking the mic from the band’s singer and singing a torchy rendition of ‘Fever’. Connor’s eyes burned in his shadowed face.

After that Sidnee and I danced together to a fun Taylor Swift tune. Halfway through Thomas cut in, leaving me dancing alone. I gestured for Connor to join me but he just leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and watched. I forgot everything and danced for him alone, slow and sultry, my hands roving over my body.

At some point, Sidnee had taken Thomas back to the table and was sitting on his lap making out. I downed another cocktail in one to try to soothe my dry throat but it didn’t, so I drank another. My head was swimming and my inhibitions were long gone.

An upbeat song came on and I started dancing faster. After that, I grabbed a couple of tequila shots – and that was the last I remembered of the party. I may not have been making good choices.

I woke up with a pounding head and a sour stomach. When I pried my eyes open, Connor was standing over me with a mug of warm blood. I wrinkled my nose. ‘If I drink that I’m probably going to vom.’

He smirked. ‘If you don’t, you’re definitely going to vom,’ he advised. He held the mug closer to me. ‘Bottoms up!’

Ugh. As I sat up, I realised I was in Connor’s bed. I clutched my head and groaned, then reached out and took the mug. I slammed back the blood – I didn’t even raise my other arm to plug my nose. I thrust the mug back to him. He waited a minute then asked, ‘Better now?’

I actually was. The pounding in my head was already receding. It was a wonder Connor didn’t get drunk more often, given that we had a hangover remedy ready at any time.

I gave him a flat look. ‘You know I am.’ I groaned. ‘I’m a bad fur mummy. Shadow and Fluffy!’ I was worried about them, though I knew that if ever they were in a tight spot Fluffy could become Reggie and deal with it. Leaving them overnight wasn’t quite the same as abandoning a real dog and cat – that was what I told myself, anyway .

‘I’ve already been over to check on them,’ Connor soothed. ‘They’re fine. I’d have brought them back here, but they seemed happy and we have to leave for the mine soon. They decided to stay home.’

‘Maybe we should take Fluffy?’

‘You want him deep inside the earth at the mercy of an unstable hag and a group of unknown combatants behind a ward?’

‘When you say it like that…’ I grumbled. Still, I was used to Fluffy’s presence at my heel and I felt a bit off-kilter without him. When he finally got around to embracing his human self, it would be one hell of an adjustment for me, too; even so, I still wanted that for him.

‘We have to pick up the doughnuts in an hour, so you better get your pretty ass in the shower,’ Connor warned me.

‘An hour?’ An hour sounded luxurious – I usually got ready for work in half that. ‘I’ll shower now if you join me.’ I looked up at him through my lashes, trying to be sexy. I guess it worked because he kicked off his shoes and started peeling off his clothes.

I giggled and ran into the bathroom – only to see the horror of my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a rat’s nest and I had smeared mascara and lipstick all over my face; I looked like a clown after three consecutive performances in a sauna, or a creepy one that lived in the sewers and lured small children to their deaths. I gave a small scream, which made Connor laugh aloud.

‘Why didn’t you tell me I looked like the walking dead?’ I spat out.

He laughed again. ‘I hate to be the one to break it to you, Toots, but you are the walking dead.’

Good point, well made.

I turned on the jets then jumped in too fast and was hit by ice-cold water. I shrieked and danced in place until it warmed up then hurriedly scrubbed my face. Connor waited until the water was hot then climbed in behind me and snaked his arm around my waist. Since my face was covered in soap and my eyes were tightly closed, I squeaked at the contact.

I turned in his arms to face him. ‘I’m not allowed to party anymore,’ I said seriously. ‘Make a note. No more parties for Bunny.’

He looked amused. ‘We both know you’re not going to stick to that.’

We did. ‘What happened after I danced for you?’

His body tensed. ‘You don’t want to know, trust me.’

I buried my face in his torso and groaned. ‘I have to know. Hit me. ’

‘Well, you started on shots after the cocktails and there might have been a repeat of the table-dancing incident.’ He paused. ‘I stopped you when you started to undress.’

‘Oh God, did I flash anyone?’ He went quiet. ‘I did, didn’t I?’

‘They only saw a flash of your bra before I got to you.’

I threw back my head and groaned. ‘Fuck! I’ll never be able to show my face in town again!’

‘No, I think that’s Sidnee.’

I looked up at him startled. ‘What?’

He ran his hands over my waist and the curve of my hips to draw me closer. ‘Well, she took the mic after you abandoned it and started professing her love for Thomas. It got a bit … heated.’ He leaned down to kiss me, trying to start the shower loving I’d promised him.

‘What does that mean?’ I demanded, pushing him away slightly.

‘Let’s just say Thomas scooped her up and took her away to his house.’

I groaned for her. ‘She’ll be so mad at herself.’

‘I don’t know – she and Thomas finally seemed to be on the same page.’

‘Well, that’s something.’

I put Sidnee out of my mind as I sank into his kiss. The heat in my core rose as our lips parted and our tongues met. I was scorching hot even when he pressed my back up against the cold marble of the shower wall.

I loved waking up at Connor’s house, even when I was more hungover than a shirt on a washing line.