Page 21 of Malice
My heart stopped as the world stood still. Leaning harder into the wall to keep myself from falling over from the shock, I watched every little move she made. From the flick of her pinky to the wink she gave the other bartender.
She was still stunning, still made me jittery, and now hard as a rock. The old bitterness and anger kicked open the door and marched to the surface until I was grinding my teeth, and my knuckles cracked as my fist clenched. Fate was a bitch, and she had a sick fucking sense of humor.
“And go!”
The clock on the wall began to count down, and as it did, Raine poured drinks like the devil himself was chasing her. She had two bottles per hand, and she would move on every few seconds, filling the massive lineup of shot glasses spread across the length of the massive bar. She smiled and looked over at the second bartender coming from the other direction, and a growl rippled from my throat as he gave her a flirty look.
The crowd cheered louder and louder as they neared the center of the large, curved bar, and by only a glass, the guy finished filling his first, raising his shot in the air before knocking it back. Everyone got quiet as the bartender held a finger over his mouth. Even the music stopped playing, and I could almost feel the heartbeat of the crowd as they waited to see what would happen next.
“As my prize tonight,” he called out and then paused, as if making sure that he had everyone’s attention. “I want a kiss from…” He held up his finger, and all the girls squealed and began jumping around, waving their hands in the air as they begged to be chosen. “Her,” he said, and his finger pointed at Raine.
My nostrils flared, and my arms fell from where they’d been crossed over my chest. As the camera flicked back to Raine, she looked genuinely shocked as her mouth hung open, and her face went from soft pink to bright red. Then again, this girl was a liar. She could’ve been fucking this guy ten minutes before the place opened and probably still pulled off the act. She had certainly gotten away with a much harder performance.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!” The chant went up around me as the bar began cheering the two on.
The bartender wrapped his arm around Raine’s waist, and as he did, her face paled like she might faint. With a show of dipping her over, he said something against her lips that the mic couldn’t make out before he kissed her. It was not a little peck on the lips. The guy made a show of it for the screaming audience as her jaw relaxed and her hand went to his cheek. The seconds ticked on, and rage rolled through my system like a desert storm.
I could feel her throat under my hand and the look on her face as she gasped for air and scratched at my arm. I was breathing hard as I seethed, glaring at the screen, at Raine all happy with her lips on another man. My cock ached as I pictured taking from her what she’d accused me of doing. Pushing her face down onto the bed and fucking her hard, making her scream my name.
“Yo, Snake! What the fuck is up?”
I glared at Roach, and he stepped back from me, holding up the drinks like a shield.
“Damn, man, what the hell happened? You look like you’re ready to kill everyone in the room.”
I glanced back up at the screen once more, showing the lead singer on stage as he fanned himself like the kiss had been hot. The music started back up, and within moments, all the girls shrieked again.
“I’m going to kill her,” I mumbled, and Roach looked around.
“Who?”
“Raine, I’m going to fucking kill that bitch.” My eyes found Roach again. “She’s going to regret the day she ever crossed me.”
* * *
Raine
“What the hell was that, Avro?” I paced the office and pointed toward the bar, which was still just as loud.
“What do you mean?” he asked, making me want to strangle him. He fucking knew what I meant.
I paused in my pacing to glare at him. “Don’t give me that. You know exactly what I’m talking about. The kiss. You freaking made me kiss you. Out there. In front of all those people. And…what was with the sweet,I’ve wanted to do this for so long, statement?”
He leaned against the wall, his lip slightly curled up like he was amused with himself. “Made? That’s a bit harsh. And what I said was true. I have wanted to kiss you for a long time. Was it terrible? Did you not want me to kiss you?”
“That’s not the point,” I said and rubbed my eyes.
My stomach was all fluttery, and it was like the kiss had ripped off the final bit of blinders which had allowed me to keep the friend line firmly in place. It didn’t help that the kiss was exactly as I imagined it would be. Hot and yet somehow sweet, just like the man himself.
“It is the point,” Avro said and walked across the room until he could sit on the edge of my desk.
I’d only been the manager for six months, but I had to say that having my own office made me feel pretty badass as I ranted. I went to walk past him, and he snaked an arm around my waist, forcing me to stop.
“Raine, look at me.” Avro ran his hands down my arms until he could hold my hands, and even that little touch made me nervous and agitated, like I had too much adrenaline running through my veins. “Did you like the kiss? It’s a simple question with a simple answer. Yes or no?”
I swallowed hard and wished I had superpowers to disappear as I stared into his eyes. “Of course I liked it. How could I not? But that’s not the point.”
“Why isn’t it the point?” he asked.
