Page 73 of Ravage
“Ethan!” I shout to one of the bartenders at Hype who Portia has given her seal of approval on. The nightclub is filled to the brim tonight. The dance floor is a mass of bodies writhing to the beat, and it’s exactly where I want to be tonight. Lost in a sea of people and consumed by the music.
But first, alcohol.
Ethan’s blond head pops up from his conversation with a customer and he gives me a wave. He says something else to them and then jogs down the counter. “Rae, right? Weren’t you supposed to be avoiding this place?”
I shrug and offer him a smirk while perching an arm on the bar. “I’m sure they think I’ve abandoned this place as a hangout by now. Sticking around isn’t my usual MO.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows raise, and he looks me up and down. “And what is?”
“Dancing and drinking until my feet give out. And then falling into whoever’s arms and bed is available that morning,” I purr, leaning closer and letting charged silence fall between us.
Ethan swallows so hard his Adam’s apple bobs. His eyes shift down my dress before scrambling back to my face. I grin at him, and he starts brushing his fingers through his hair.
“It’s another one of those nights, so can I start it off with a couple shots? I’ve got a bit of dancing and drinking to get in so I can catch up to the other guests here.”
He expels a breath and smiles. “Of course.”
Ethan slides two large shots over to me. I don’t miss his fingers brushing against mine before he pulls away and then takes hold of his shots. I raise an eyebrow and half a smile at that.
“You think I was going to let you take those alone? What kind of bartender do you take me for?” he teases with a grin.
Mine mirrors his when I raise the first shot between us, which he obligingly clinks his with.
“To dancing and drinking.”
“And fucking,” I add, then down each shot. “Thanks. Time to dance!”
He waves me off, and I immediately begin prying my way through the throng of dancers to the head of the dance floor.
My body picks up the beat like second nature, and I close my eyes, giving in completely until I’m nothing but the music.
The stress from the last couple of weeks, the demons in my head torturing me over that birth certificate, the anger and confusion with Aiden, Kellan, Jackson, and Dane; I let it all go as I move, like sweating out a fever but releasing my pain through physical exertion and surrender.
I don’t even notice who I’m dancing around or against as I move.
Musk and motor oil break through the nothingness I’d wrapped myself in before fingers firmly grip my hips and tug me back against a hard body.
“Sexy as you look up here, beautiful, you’re coming with me,” Kellan growls into my neck.
I open my eyes and look around me. I’ve moved onto one of the stages to dance, apparently, but there’s an odd bubble of space around the platform that I heavily suspect Kellan had something to do with.
Stay away from Kellan.
You were born on the island.
Aiden’s voice still echoes in my head. If dancing doesn’t fix my woes, then more drinking will. Followed by sex that’s hopefully good enough to keep me distracted and feeling good until I fall asleep.
“Let me go,” I snarl and throw my elbow back at him. He doesn’t bother blocking it and grunts but keeps his hold of me. I wiggle and try to pull away from him, but none of it does any good.
“You promised me a night of fun, and I’m here to collect. Or did you forget your promise so easily?”
I pause my struggle with an internal oh shit and turn my head. Kellan’s scruffy beard and messy hair are gone. His beard is trimmed and neat. His deep brown hair is tied up in a knot at the back of his head and out of his face.
He looks… fucking good.
No sign of the Yeti.
His blue-green eyes twinkle dangerously at me, and my lips part, but I’m too afraid to speak in case I say something stupid that gives away what his new look has done to me.
