Sinners & Starlight: Chapter Four
A few drinks, a few whispered temptations, and hope for something new...until manipulations land Elena in a dangerous situation.
I want to be his.
She wanted to be responsible.
I want to be his.
She wanted to slap him hard across the face and yell at him for pulling one over her and then having the absolute balls to even think he could flirt and fondle his way out of it.
I want to be his.
Elena didn’t know what the heck she wanted.
Except a drink. Dios mio, did she need a drink.
“All done!”
The announcement blurted from his mouth out of freaking nowhere. He plopped the brush back into the bowl, leaned back into the couch, and spread his arms again like before. “What do you think?” Cade asked with a broad grin.
I think you just gave me whiplash.
She glanced down at her chest. It was covered in streaks and swirls of gold, with a few patterns mimicking the tattoos on his neck. “It’s…beautiful!” She breathed a laugh. “It’s actually really beautiful!”
He chuckled. Such a completely different sound coming from him and Elena almost—almost—forgot the part where she needed to keep him at arm’s length. “Don’t sound so surprised.”
A new kind of heat bloomed in her cheeks. “I didn’t mean…I mean, ah…”
“I need to return upstairs.” Again, his lane change was abrupt and unexpected. At least he had the decency to help her off his lap and back onto her feet like a gentleman. “Thanks for the glitter job.”
“That’s it?”
Cade turned his head to look at her. Like he was waiting for her to lob the exact barrage of accusations and insults she’d been rehearsing for weeks. But when Elena simply stared at him, mouth parted yet unmoving, his own mouth twisted into that irritating, self-assured smirk.
“Plan on packing up and joining us for a few drinks?” He moved into her space again. Far too close. Way too intimate. When his fingers wrapped around hers, he lifted them to his lips. Pressed a soft kiss. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
Elena melted.
“I, ah…” She cleared her throat and quickly shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’ve still gotta work this gig. I mean, help Seka and all. Thanks, though.”
“Thanks”?! That’s the best you got??
“Pity.” He lowered her fingers but didn’t let go of her hand. “Well, when you change your mind, come find me.”
A thousand arguments and reproaches floated through her head, starting with how that should be a massive “if” and not a “when”, but they all dissolved when he brushed another kiss to the back of her hand.
Then abruptly turned and left.
Elena just stood there. Wondered if anyone would notice if she just collapsed right there and stared at the ceiling for a few hours. Because that sounded like a wonderful idea.
She was still standing there in complete bewilderment when Vic returned. “Elena? Everything all right?”
He must have seen the way her face instantly flushed. Eyes wide. Legs wobbly. Her cheeks burned hotter when she shook her head, then quickly corrected it with a nod. She didn’t know how to answer that. “Everything’s great! I’m ready for whoever’s next.” On a second thought, she realized how rushed and rude she must have sounded. “How was your break?”
Vic’s brow pinched the tiniest of measures, but he didn’t call her out on her bullshit. “It was good. Party’s really kicking off.” He glanced at the table covered with her supplies. “Did you want to go up for a while? Get a few drinks?”
“Nah, I should stay here.” She waved a hand to dismiss the temptation. Even though a drink sounded like exactly what she needed. “Got a job to do.”
After a beat, he smiled. “Boss says you’re done for the night.”
She froze. Did he mean Seka? Or was this from Cade, who would absolutely pull some invisible string like this to get what he wanted?
Crap. Was she just canoodling with one of Seka’s guests while the security cameras watched?
Elena’s blood chilled and she quickly started counting all the money she was definitely about to lose because she couldn’t keep her own hormones in check. “Are you sure? Is she sure? Seka wants me to leave?”
“Oh! No, nothing like that.” Vic’s smile brightened and he walked over to help her pack up her things. “In fact, I hear your paycheck’s been doubled. Boss says everyone has absolutely loved you and the turnaround for the charity portion is way more than expected. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”
She nearly wheezed when she hear the word “doubled”. There were a few bills she’d been neglecting that this gig just officially covered, and she wasn’t even done counting her tips.
Maybe she wouldn’t need to remind Cade about his promise after all.
Well…not right away, at least. Tuition didn’t pay itself, but at least the past due phone bill would get caught up.
“I could use a drink,” she quietly admitted, more to herself than to Vic.
“Why don’t you go on up? I got this.” He gently nudged her aside and started zipping up her brush bag. “Besides, the drinks are on the house tonight. Open bar, no limits, full security. And just let me know if you need me to call you a ride for home, you got that?”
She liked Vic. He seemed like good people—paternal, in a way. Like an uncle or older brother. She definitely don’t miss the protective hint in his voice. “Thanks, Vic. Really. I won’t be up there long.”
He scoffed like he didn’t believe her. Glanced down at the sparkling symbols on her neck. “Take your time.”
Downstairs was a quiet space to relax, rejuvenate, and relieve oneself of everything going on upstairs.
Upstairs was a whole other realm.
A sea of jumping, gyrating, grinding bodies covered in sweat and glitter made up the whole dance floor from one wall to the next. The music felt more like a full-body vibration than actual song, pulsating with every heartbeat and pushing the sea into tidal waves of laughter and moans.
Elena had never been to a charity event like this before.
Of course the bar needed to be located on the completely opposite side of the room. No way to get around the dance floor, and no other beverage options were to be found no matter how hard she looked or how high she tried to hop to see over the mass of heads and shoulders blocking her view.
She did, however, spot the display tables of information she expected at a more…she would say, “normal” function. There were a few cardboard cutouts and trifold brochures propped up on folding tables, most of them featuring the smiling face of a woman hugging a small child.
Must be the people they’re feeding. Or housing. To be honest, she forgot what the charitable cause was for.
Elena began to shoulder her way through the dancers, doing her best not to get caught up in their attempts to pull her into the fray. She recognized many of the faces that turned to smile and grin at her, some with genuine happiness while others eyed her with desire. And hunger. And glints of things that made her want to get through a lot faster.
The crowd started squeezing around her.
Pushing.
Pulsing.
Groping.
I don’t want this.
A man sneered at her, winking above a perfect set of white teeth that seemed almost too sharp when they glinted in the disco light. He reached for her, holding out his hand for her to take, but she felt herself get nudged and wedged deeper into the mass.
I don’t want to be here.
Alcohol on a woman’s breath fanned across her cheek and traveled to her neck, the woman herself giggling and moaning an invitation to “join us” as she tried to slip her fingers through Elena’s.
I don’t—
Silver eyes meet hers.
They instantly sharpened with awareness, set above a familiar jaw that tensed and ticked as he started to shove his way through. He was all the way across the floor but seemingly determined to get to her, moving and pushing people out of his way.
“Glitter Girl!”
One of the guys who’d come downstairs with his girlfriend cut in front of Elena, a drunken grin plastered on his bronzed face. “You joined us! Excellent! Can I get you a drink? Or do you,” he lowered his voice into a lusty growl as his hands wrapped around her waist, “want to dance?”
Panic lanced through her. She didn’t want to dance. She didn’t want his hands on her. “I just want a drink, thanks.”
“Aw, come on. You’re so beautiful!”
“Thanks,” she tried to laugh as she edged away from his tightening grasp. “But I’m just really thirsty—”
“I’ve got something you can drink.” He pressed up behind her at the same time he pulled her hard against him. “Shall we go back downstairs?”
She turned hard to wrench herself free.
And that’s when she saw a hand clamp down on his shoulder.
“Dominic.” Cade yanked hard to make her unwanted dance partner spin around and face him. “Are you blind? Or just unable to fucking read?”
Dominic chuckled, but Elena could tell he wasn’t as confident as he appeared five seconds ago. “The hell are you talking about?”
“Look again, dumbass.”
He did. More at her neck and collarbone than anywhere else. He squinted and leaned in closer, but only as close at that vice grip would allow. And then he swallowed hard. “I-I’m sorry, man. I couldn’t see in all this light.”
The arched brow told both of them that Cade wasn’t buying it. “Now you can. Back off. Go find your woman. Or should I let her know what you’re up to?”
Dominic vanished into the crowd. It was almost impressive how quickly he disappeared.
Elena’s pseudo-savior grabbed her hand tight. “Don’t let go,” he said loud enough in her ear for her to hear over the music. “And don’t take anything anyone gives you.”
“Including you?”
He glared at her. Then that impish grin broke across his handsome face. “We’ll see,” was his cryptic reply.
