Page 23 of Sin

“You too.”

Hunter held out his hand and she took it, leading her back downstairs to the party and right to the bar. He helped her onto a stool before sitting next to her.

“Haven’t seen you before,” said the young man behind the bar, giving her a wide smile.

“Not for you, Prospect,” Hunter drawled.

“Gotcha, Hunter. What’ll it be?”

“Give us a minute, Buddy.” Hunter turned toward her. “We have to establish a few things. First, Ares and I will not take advantage of you while you’re drunk. That said, if one or both of us drinks with you, then we’ll be on equal footing and can fool around. Second, no one here will hurt you. But if you ever feel uncomfortable, find either one of us. Okay?”

She nodded. “Where’s Ares?”

“He’s coming. Had some paperwork to finish.”

Adira took a deep breath. “Okay. I probably would feel better, maybe less self-conscious, if you drink with me.”

“You got it, baby girl. So, what’ll it be?”

“I don’t know what I like. Give me something that tastes good, I guess.”

He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got just the thing.”

He stood up and walked the side, now standing across from her at the bar. He grabbed a few glasses and bottles, mixing some stuff together, before bringing it all over to her. There was a bottle of beer, two glasses of mixed drinks, and three shot glasses.

“If I’m going to drink all this, then you are too. Right?”

“That’s the plan.”

Hunter fixed his own drinks to match hers. Then he went back around the bar and sat down next to her.

“Okay.” She put her fingers together to crack her knuckles. “What should I start with?”

Hunter picked up the beer. “Let’s start with something you probably aren’t going to like.”

“Maybe I’ll surprise you.”

She picked up her own bottle of beer, and staring him in the eye, took a large sip. Bitterness hit her tongue and she scrunched up her nose and replaced the beer bottle.

“Nope, you were right. I don’t like this.”

He grinned.

“Next, shot glasses with the three most common alcohols,” he said, pointing. “Rum, whiskey, and tequila.”

“Which one should go first?”

He picked up the glass that had whiskey and placed it in front of her. “Might as well continue with the drinks you probably aren’t going to like.”

“There’s a sterling recommendation if I ever heard one.” She picked up the glass and waited for him. “Count of three?”

“Sure,” he said and picked up his own shot glass. “One, two, three.”

At the same time, they both downed their drinks. Hunter replaced the glass with a sharp click. Adira started coughing, unable to catch her breath.

“Oh, God. That was awful,” she gasped.

“Want to quit?” he asked.

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