Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
But he was just about as angry as the last two times I’d seen him, so that hadn’t changed.
Actually, he seemed angrier. “I can assure you, I have no attention of fucking myself tonight, Sally.”
Steam practically shot from my ears at way he said my name—my fake name. “Good to know, but not my problem.”
“Oh, but it is now your problem.”
I drew back, eyes widening. “I have no idea how that is my problem.”
Lifting blue eyes to Everest, he nodded. I didn’t need to look to know the man had left.
Before I could say a word, he plucked the drink out of my hand and placed it on the bar. Then his hand wrapped around my empty one. I didn’t dig my heels in like I wanted to, knowing that we already had several eyes on us.
My gaze dropped to where he held my hand as he guided me off the stool.
“You are becoming a pain in my ass,” he said.
“I’m about to become a much bigger one. One you’re going to need to see a doctor to treat. You try to make me leave,” I said, lifting my gaze from his hand to his eyes, “I will make a scene in here so bad you’ll spend the next year glamouring memories.”
A muscle flexed along his jaw as his gaze searched my face. “You would, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes. Now, if you’d unhand me, I think I might want another drink.” In reality, my stakeout of The Court was ruined, but I would stay here half the night on principle alone. “And maybe some chicken wings.” I had no idea if they served chicken wings here. “Then dessert. I’m definitely in the mood for dessert and none of those things include you.”
The Prince threaded his fingers through mine, stopping me from yanking my arm free. “We need to have a chat.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Oh, sunshine, we do.”
Sunshine? My face puckered up. “There is nothing we need to talk about—” I gasped as he moved in so quick, so close, right there at the bar, in front of fae and human alike. Still holding my hand, he cupped my cheek with his other, splaying his fingers as he tilted my head back and lowered his.
Was he going… was he going to kiss me? That seemed like a bizarre response, but he lined his mouth right up with mine, and there were only inches between our lips. My heart rate shot into cardiac territory. “What are you doing?”
His warm breath danced over my lips as he spoke. “You should have left when you had a chance. Now, you and I are going to have a discussion that is way past due, and you’re going to say yes and you’re going to behave.”
“Behave?” I sputtered.
He nodded as those thick lashes came down, shielding his eyes. “Don’t test me.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Is that a threat?”
“It’s an advisory,” he corrected.
“Same thing. Like totally the same thing.”
His lips twitched as if he wanted to smile. “If you want a scene, I’ll give you one. I’ll throw you right over my shoulder, and with that dress?” Leaning back, I felt his gaze like a hot caress. “I don’t think you’ll want that.”
I didn’t.
I so didn’t.
Seeming to sense that, he pulled me against the side of his body. The contact was jarring. Not because he did it roughly, because he didn’t, but because feeling his body against mine stunned me.
Letting go of my hand, he then draped an arm over my shoulders like we were friends or even lovers as he steered me away from the bar. People were staring, human and fae alike, but the fae had more than just a reaction born of curiosity. As we walked near them, they backed away, giving us—giving the Prince—a wide berth. There was no mistaking the distrust and fear that pinched their striking features. They knew who the Prince was.
So, what was he doing here?
I held onto my clutch as we walked down the narrow hall, passing the restrooms and then the elevator. He walked me to a swinging door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY. With his free hand, he pushed open the door and we entered a small kitchen, staffed by cooks—human cooks. They only lifted their brows as he led me past them, narrowly dodging a waiter carrying a tray stacked with chicken wings.
So, they did have wings… and they looked yummy too.
My stomach grumbled, loud enough for the Prince to dip his head and look at me questioningly.
“Hungry?”
“No,” I lied.
One side of his lips kicked up as we reached another door. That one opened to reveal another hallway and a narrow set of stairs.
“Should I be worried about where you’re leading me?”
“You should always be worried.” He dropped his arm. “Up the stairs.”
“That’s not reassuring,” I told him, eyeing the dark staircase. “I’m getting stranger danger vibes right now.”