Page 27 of Malice and Surrender
“Come again?”
“We grew up together,” he said, and other than the music in the other room, neither of us moved or made a sound.
“Did you know he was coming to the bar?” I was annoyed and hurt that he hadn’t told me this sooner. I’d bitched about the man all day.
“Minutes before you did.” He held up his hands. “I swear.”
Did it really matter now? Maybe, no, yes, no. “I don’t like secrets, Avro,” I said.
“And yet we all keep the darkest and saddest parts of us hidden until we’re ready, including you,” he said, and I swallowed hard.
“Touché,” I smirked. “It smells like peaches,” I commented and took a sip. I closed my eyes as I tried to pick out what else was in the drink. This was a game we played when making new concoctions for the customers. “With a hint of banana and spiced rum.”
“Not bad. Can you do that with every drink?” Jace’s smooth-yet-annoying voice was loud, and I opened my eyes.
He was just behind Avro and seeing them standing so close to one another was picture worthy. I had the urge to whip out my cellphone and have a fangirl moment, but that was so not happening.
Avro seemed totally at ease with a rock star in his home, which seemed odd regardless of their knowing one another. Who was this calm with a celebrity? Again, just another reason why Avro and I were on different levels. I should’ve set the drink down and said goodnight before I ended up hoping for something that was never going to be possible. All I could think was, why the hell was I here?
My eyes roamed over the two walking gifts to eyeballs everywhere. They were pretty close in height and build, and the sensuality oozing off of them made me squirm. It was so hot all of a sudden that I had to grip the glass harder to stop myself from whipping off my hoodie to try and cool off.
“Most drinks. Avro has tripped me up a time or two, but I always get it right when I taste it,” I said. Even though Jace hadn’t said anything or given me the once-over that most guys did, it still felt like he was touching me.
“Would you prefer to sit in here?” Avro pointed to the table.
“Sure,” I answered.
“You not into the party scene?”
I didn’t want to answer Jace. In fact, I hoped he would turn around and walk away, but instead, he followed us to the table and sat down across from me.
Avro took the chair beside me and casually draped his arm on the back of mine. His presence was comforting, despite my attraction. He had a calm aura and a way of setting me at ease when I felt like I should be spinning out.
“I prefer the quiet after a long night of loud music,” I said, sipping the drink that was a punch of flavor to my tastebuds I licked my lips and stared at the glass in wonder. “Wow,” I said. “That is really good.”
“I had the same thought,” Jace said. I looked up to see him staring at my lips.
Avro’s fingers touched my shoulder and squeezed like he was trying to comfort me, but I couldn’t stop the jump from the light contact. “Don’t push so hard, Jace. This was just supposed to be a get-to-know-us. She’s not ready for all that,” Avro said.
I was instantly transported back in time. I’d heard those words before when I was only fifteen. They pissed me off then and pissed me off now. No matter how long I’d known Avro, he didn’t get to make those decisions for me. Wasn’t ready for what? I was a grown-ass woman. If I wanted to jump out of a plane, I could. If I wanted to go partying at a sex club, I could. If I wanted to buy a gold car that cost more than I made in fifty years, I could. Not that I would do any of those things, but it wasn’t the point.
“Don’t give me that look,” Avro said before I opened my mouth. “Getting you here without bolting down the street was tough enough, and don’t deny it. I’ve been asking you to come over at least twice a week for months,” he said, lifting a brow that made me squirm.
“So,” I said, my back bristling.
“Fine, tell me honestly; do you really think you’re up for whatever Jace has planned?”
He tilted his head and stared at me, waiting for an answer. I would never know what came over me at that moment, but the second I opened my mouth, I knew I was fucked. Not only had I painted myself into a corner, there was a very good chance that Avro had prepped and pampered the pillow under my ass in my honor. I could see him in my mind holding out my favorite drink and patting the seat beside him while a little smile played on his lips that screamed, got ya.
“I don’t know. Maybe I am.” Easily top three of the stupidest things I’d ever said to date.
Avro’s lips curled up exactly like they had in my mind, and I swallowed hard. His eyes were more intense without the cat-eye contacts in. They were naturally amber, and I loved the unique shade. Why he chose to hide them behind fake spring green and vampire red was beyond me.
My eyes flicked between the two men, and I knew I’d bitten off more than I could chew. Maybe it was an overreaction, but now that I’d opened my mouth, I wasn’t backing down.
“Don’t just say that because you think you need to,” Avro said softly against my ear so only I could hear.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my body lighting up with him so close, and I squirmed in my seat. He smelled so good. He always did, but I wasn’t normally close enough to pick up on the scent of a cool sea breeze and fresh citrus that made me want to bury my face in his neck and breathe deeply.
