“Of course! He’s like my brother, I can totally tell.” Stretching out her arm for another slice of pizza, she studied the television screen. “They would kill me for telling you this, but they can all dance. Like, actually dance.” She gestured to the way Channing was rolling his hips into the floor.
I cocked my head to better watch the strippers bump and grind. “All of them?” I could absolutely picture Ryder doing this. Even Theo, though? And Killian? That was an exciting image… now I really did want to go dancing with them.
She snickered as she filled my glass. “Each and every one. Ryder started it. He saw the craze for guys who can dance. When the other guys started to tease him for it, they made some kind of bet. I don’t have all the details, but he totally won. They all took lessons for a while after that. Theo would try to lock his door, or they would go out to the woods, but like that was going to stop me.” She snorted, choking on the liquor she inhaled, and I laughed at her expense.
“That’s… interesting.” Okay, the word I wanted was hot, but it seemed a little twisted to mention that to a girl who was like Theo’s sister—even though I was seriously buzzed.
It was Rini’s turn to snicker at me. “Nice word choice. It did make for some interesting evenings, and Ryder was right, it increased their popularity.”
My Phoenix hissed, ruffling her feathers in agitation. Yeah, she genuinely didn’t like that idea. “You know, I teased them about going dancing with me, but I can’t move anything like that.” It’s not like dancing had ever been a priority in my life, nor that I would have had the time or privacy to learn.
Rini jumped up, stumbling over her pillows as she reached for my hand. “It’s so easy! You’re limber and agile; you’ll pick it up fast.” I was reluctant, but let her pull me to my feet. Keeping my eyes on her—and on the movie—I tried to copy her moves. She was fluid, all hips and shoulders— rocking, grinding, and dipping to the music. I wasn’t sure I was mimicking her very well, but she shot me a grin. “Just loosen up, you’re doing great. If it helps, close your eyes and imagine one of the guys dancing with you. That’s what I always do. Dancing is a giant tease, so pretend to wind him up.” I grabbed the tequila bottle for some liquid courage before following her directions. My head and body were light anyway from the alcohol. It was easy to close my eyes, listen to the music, and just let my body move.
“Well now.” That purring voice was definitely Ryder. I glanced at the door, my grin wide and bright.
“We’re dancing!” I couldn’t stop the giggles that rolled from me, my body still writhing to the music. Now that I had begun, I really didn’t want to stop.
With a cocky grin Ryder slid over to me, his movements smooth and fluid. His body twined with mine, rocking, weaving, and bumping as we finished the song together with his hands locked on my waist, our hips pressed together and my arm slung around his neck.
“Told ya.” Rini was smirking from where she had apparently fallen to the floor while Ryder and I finished our dance. As the next song began, I tugged on Ryder’s arm, unable to contain myself.
“Dance with me!” He pulled me close, obviously willing to comply with my request, when a snort interrupted us. Killian lazed against the door frame with his feet kicked out. I ran my tongue over my teeth as I watched him. This position put his abs and his arms crossed over his chest into sharp view. I really wanted to bite him and see if he was as firm as he looked.
A loud crashing on the stairway was followed up by a vicious round of swearing, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Apparently, I had projected that reasonably loudly into Damien’s head. Killian’s eyebrow rose slowly, the muscles in his arms rippling as he shifted slightly. I assumed from the heat in his eyes that Damien had told him exactly what I had been thinking. “Interesting thought, Annie girl.” His voice was a purr. “However, I think you’ve stayed long enough.”
“Pffttt.” The sound that came out of my mouth was a combination of a snort of disdain and a whistle. It was obvious I was a little tipsy. Alright, more than a little tipsy. Ryder lost his battle for seriousness behind me, doubling over, holding my waist for balance as he howled with laughter. Rini joined in, her laughter slurred from the amount of liquor she had had tonight.
Kill’s lips twitched as he strode towards me, wrapping a hand around my waist to pull me flush against him. “Let’s go home, Annie girl.” I tried to tug him into the dance with me, rocking my hips and shaking my shoulders; Killian just shook his head and scooped me into his arms. I tittered at the flying sensation.
“I really should shift again. I think I’d like to fly.” I reached up to twine my fingers into Kill’s hair, marveling at how soft and bright the strands were.
“I’ll fly with you!” Ryder hurried over, waving a hand at Rini who had yet to rise from her sprawled posture on the floor.
“Yay! Let’s fly!” I closed my eyes to concentrate and pull my Phoenix forward, and Killian juggled me slightly. Damien stepped forward as my eyes jolted open so I could glare at the clumsy Celt.
“Not the best idea to shift while you’re being carried, sweetheart. Besides, flying while inebriated isn’t a safe practice, especially as a beginner. Ryder or I will take you up for lessons. It will be good for you to learn and your Phoenix is probably burning to stretch her wings.”
My Phoenix cooed in agreement, wanting to reach out and stroke my guys. She had liked the alcohol and dancing as much as I had and still twirled inside of me. I studied the guys with a wary eye. I hadn’t thought about how alcohol would affect my shifter side. Now I tried to imagine how it would affect theirs. Damien’s impenetrable Gargoyle stumbling into walls and causing them to break, Ryder’s unicorn running his horn into things and getting stuck, and Killian’s Puca hopping around in dizzying circles. Peals of laughter fell from my lips as the image danced behind my eyes. What the hell would Theo’s creature even look like sober let alone drunk?
“Do we know what has her so amused?” Theo’s voice was dry as he studied us from the bottom of the staircase.
“Do your creatures get drunk? Does Kill do the bunny hop?” The laughter returned, echoed by the guys as they caught on to my train of thought. I assumed Damien shared the images that were playing through my head.
Ryder’s eyes flashed with silver and purple as he caught my chin, a wicked grin on his face. “Well, I can’t say I’ve ever gotten stuck somewhere, but I definitely get a little horny.” He winked as he let me go.
Theo grinned. “It depends on your creature and the amount of alcohol you consume. If I consumed enough for a man my size, my Kraken might have a bit of a buzz compared to me being blindly drunk. Killian, however, would have a much more adverse reaction as the amount needed to inebriate him would be much smaller in his Puca form.”
Killian huffed, tightening his grip on me. I couldn’t help myself and began to hum, “Little Bunny Foo-Foo”.
Ryder snorted and stumbled hard on the staircase, nearly missing a step in his amusement. Killian froze, tightening his grip on me. His eyes were a brilliant green as they met mine, his Puca apparently amused by my drunken antics. It seemed he wanted to play as small, vaporous rabbits appeared around me and began to dance in time to my tune. I squealed, reaching out in glee to touch the rabbits while Killian swore darkly, squeezing his eyes tightly shut in an attempt to get his Puca back under control.
“Can one of you take her? I may have better luck if she’s not pressed up against me.” Killian’s voice was gruff, interrupting my wiggling. He was totally killing my buzz. I stuck my tongue out at him, intent on returning to play with the illusions but they had disappeared.
Damien scooped me from Kill’s arms, locking my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck as he carried me outside. The cold night air woke me slightly but did nothing to sober me up. “Don’t stick it out if you don’t intend to use it,” he cautioned playfully, leaning his head down to nuzzle at my neck.