However, this was Arys, and if there was one thing I couldn't do, it was deny the way I reacted to him. He was part of me now. It took all the strength that I possessed to stop myself from going to him and throwing myself in his arms. Since I couldn’t slap my own face the way I wanted to without looking absolutely insane, I tossed back some more whiskey.
His stare was heavy, forcing my eyes to his. I slammed my glass down in frustration, causing some liquor to splash out onto the back of my hand. Arys watched as I raised my hand to my lips and slowly gave the splash a lick. What was I doing?
A slight smirk adorned his face, and he winked before looking back at his cards. The conversation at my table had continued, and I shook my head, trying to focus on what they were saying.
Who the hell did Arys think he was to walk in here as if nothing had happened? I could still see the visuals in my head, the things he’d shown me. The women he’d killed, getting off on their pain and their begging. I was riled, filled with both anger and jealousy.
“So then she calls me and says that she forgives him after all and wants to change her mind about the entire divorce.” Kylarai’s laugh drew me out of myself. “I mean, that’s her business, but she’s still getting a bill for my wasted time.”
“How the hell can she just up and forgive him after what he did to her?” Jez’ reply was laced with bitterness. She gave me a look that wasn’t lost on me.
“I don’t know.” Ky shook her head almost sadly. “It’s sad what some women will put up with in the name of love.”
I’d heard Kylarai talk about her profession as a divorce lawyer plenty of times. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel she’d brought up this particular story on purpose. And, Jez was doing her best to hammer it home. Yeah, I got it: Arys was an ass that deserved my drink in his face. I didn’t need to be told that, did I?
I threw back my drinks so fast that the alcohol seemed to hit my bloodstream all at once. The warm glow that enveloped me was false security, but I clung to it. Ordering another double whiskey, I shoved my chair back and announced that I was going to the ladies’ room.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Jez all but jumped to her feet. “I’m coming with you.”
I had to pass Arys’ table to get to the ladies’ room. I was a little surprised at her strong reaction. In my defense, I really did need to pee.
I detoured wide around Arys’ table, refusing to look at him as we went by. I could feel his eyes on me though, following me until I was out of sight. I was breathing hard by the time I shoved through the washroom door.
“Fuck, Jez! Fuck.” I didn’t know what else to say. I went to a stall and found myself grateful to be locked in the little metal box alone.
“It could only happen to you, Alexa,” came her reply from the other side.
“I don’t know what to do. Can you believe I want to sneak out the back way so I can avoid him?”
“Fuck that. You are not pu**ying out. What you should do is play him. Make him sorry he f**ked with you.”
“Did he though? Because I keep feeling like this is all my fault.”
When I emerged from the stall and went to the sink, I found Jez’ reflection glaring at me in the mirror as she touched up her makeup. I used washing my hands as a means to ignore her judgment.
“How is it your fault that he is so insecure that he won’t allow you to get the help that you need? And, now he’s f**king around with the same person he wanted you to stay away from. Don’t make me shake you, lady. You are not the one in the wrong here.”
Jez’ words caused me to see Arys again in my mind. That visual of him and Harley in the Kiss, each of them feeding off that woman as they pleasured her, it was enough to make me ill. The worst of it was a part of me wanted to be in her place. I could barely admit it to myself, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to say it to Jez.
I splashed some cold water on my face, hoping it would bring me to my senses. It didn’t. I had to go back out there. I knew it, and so did he. If he gained the upper hand, it would be because I gave it to him. That couldn’t happen.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to draw strength from Jez’ supportive smile and exited the washroom. Arys’ spot at his table was empty. I should be so lucky. I almost breathed a sigh of relief, until his cold, dark power touched me a moment before he grabbed me from behind.
“What the f**k are you doing?” I tried to jerk away, but he held firmly onto my upper arm.
Jez glanced uncertainly from me to Arys, and I gave her a dismissive look so she didn’t feel obligated to hang around for this confrontation. She would have attempted to claw his eyes out if I’d asked it of her but maybe next time. She beat a hasty retreat back to our table, leaving me alone with the vampire that had changed everything for me.
“What? No kiss?” Arys asked, his smug grin stirring both positive and negative responses in me.