Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“He’s cute,” I said, flushing because the answer was so stupid. “I’m shallow, all right? And he’s fun. I never thought there was any potential for a future there, but that’s not what I’m looking for. I just wanted someone to hang out with. And…okay, this part is really embarrassing.”
I shot another look at him. Shade waited patiently. No pressure. I felt myself relaxing more.
“I thought he was sexy on his bike,” I admitted. “He asked me out and we had fun. I started hanging around with his riding club a lot, and I liked them, too. That’s how I got the job at the Pit.”
“You know he’s cheating on you, right?” Shade asked casually. My stomach clenched, although I didn’t know why. I’d suspected it already, and considering the guy had tried to trade me for a motorcycle, it wasn’t like I had any illusions that he was a keeper.
“Let’s talk about something else.”
“Sure,” Shade said. “You’re new to the area. How’d you end up in Violetta?”
“How do you know I’m new?” I asked, startled.
“Because I made it my business to know,” he replied. “Hand me the bottle.”
I stepped over to the dresser and grabbed it, walking hesitantly toward the bed. I expected him to take it but he held out his glass instead. Pouring carefully, I gave him a refill.
“You can sit down,” he said, glancing toward the empty space beside him. “If I was going to pull something, I would’ve by now.”
“You sure you aren’t just trying to get me drunk so I’ll have sex with you?” I asked. Then I gave myself a mental kick, because that’s the kind of thing you think, not the kind of thing you say. Shade burst out laughing and for once the sound wasn’t mocking.
“Of course I’m trying to get you drunk,” he said. “I want to fuck you—this isn’t a secret. But I’m also not a fuckin’ rapist—think we covered that already—so all you have to do is say no and you’ll be fine. In the meantime, you might as well take a break, because I’m not getting up and you’re gonna get tired of standing eventually.”
I was tired, actually, and my feet hurt. They always did after a shift at the bar. The bed looked comfortable enough and mostly clean. Not only that, Shade genuinely wasn’t putting any moves on me. He seemed to be relaxed and enjoying his drink.
“Okay,” I said, expecting him to scoot over and make room.
“You wanna climb over me or use those legs of yours to walk around to the other side?” he asked, sounding amused. “I’m not moving my ass just so you can steal the warm spot.”
“You sure aren’t…”
Shade’s mouth quirked. “Aren’t what?”
“Aren’t trying very hard to get me into bed,” I said. A giggle broke free and I felt my cheeks warm. Shade shrugged.
“We covered this. Now you sitting your ass down or not? I want another drink, so hand that bottle over.”
“You’re full of shit!” I said, waving my hand grandly. My drink sloshed and I licked the side of the cup, because this whiskey was way too good to waste even a single drop. “Wonder Woman is better than Batman. She’s got real power, not just fancy toys. Although she has those, too, which means anything Batman can do, she can do better.”
“Nope,” Shade said, shaking his head seriously. “She’s hot, I’ll give her that, but he’d take her in a fair fight.”
I held up a hand for him to wait as I polished off my booze.
“No way. She’s a goddess of war and she’s one of the best hand-to-hand fighters in history. She’s got an invisible jet, for God’s sake. How can you compete with that? All he has is a bunch of money and the stupid Batmobile.”
“Hand over the cup,” Shade said, narrowing his eyes.
“Why?” I asked, narrowing mine right back. I was good and drunk now, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to be done for the night.
“Demonstration,” he replied. “C’mon. Or are you chicken?”
“What are we, kindergartners?”
“You’re the one insisting Wonder Woman can take Batman,” he replied. “Chicken.”
Then he leaned toward me, raising a single finger to poke me in the center of my chest. Not copping a feel or anything remotely sexual, either. This was pure taunt. I handed him the cup and he tossed it on the floor, nearly falling off the bed in the process. I smirked—guess I wasn’t the only drunk one. Then he started listing to the side and I lunged for him, grabbing his shirt to keep him from going over.
Shade caught my arm, using the momentum to pull me onto his body with sudden force. My hands hit his chest and I raised my head to stare at him, stunned.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked. Shade wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me tight to his body.