Page 3 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

“I’m glad I met you.” He lifted his glass and moved it my way as if to toast with me. “It already looks like the best night I’ve had here.”

“Really?” I lifted my glass, too, clinking it against his. “I’m happy to share it with you, then.”

“Thank you,” he said before dipping his lips into his shimmering cocktail.

I did the same, barely touching the liquid with my lips. It didn’t even reach my tongue but, somehow, I sensed its flavor. It tasted amazing, making me want to drink the whole thing in one gulp. Being careful, however, I forced my hand to set the glass back on the counter.

Trez watched me intensely.

“You missed some,” he said softly. Leaning closer, he gently skimmed my bottom lip with his finger. “Just a drop.” He held his finger at my mouth.

I wasn’t sure what compelled me to part my lips and dart my tongue out. The gesture was rather intimate, but his expression was open with a hint of wistfulness that reflected the tone of our conversation. Maybe I sensed some camaraderie with him, remembering when I first came to the city? I’d felt so lost and out of place then. I still did.

What harm was there in sharing a drink and a conversation with a handsome, lonely man? We were in a public place, surrounded by people. I wasn’t alone here. Diane was nearby. There was no reason for me to feel unsafe.

I smiled and licked the shimmering drop off his fingertip.

“Good girl,” he murmured. The deep satisfaction in his voice caressed something inside me. Pleasure washed over me at his praise. “Now drink the rest, sweetie.” He lifted the glass to my lips, and I found it impossible to disobey.

I opened my mouth and drank. Gulp after gulp. The more I drank, the more I wanted. The cocktail proved immediately addictive, and I just couldn’t stop.

“More?” He smirked.

The soft wistfulness was gone from his expression. The crooked, self-assured smirk he had in its place now should be concerning. Only I didn’t feel concerned. A lazy indifference spread through me, sweet and gooey like a melted marshmallow.

“Sure.” I nodded.

He set my empty glass aside and handed me his instead.

“Here you go.”

I emptied it as well.

“It’s really nice.” I licked the fragrant liquid off my lips, idly wondering if the pink glitter looked like lip gloss on my mouth.

“It does the job.” He shoved both empty glasses aside. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?”I should’ve asked but didn’t.

For some inexplicable reason, the destination didn’t really matter. The priority was to obey this stranger I’d just met and knew nothing about.

I got up as he tossed some money on the bar, enough to cover the price of my wine, and offered me the crook of his elbow. “Hook your arm in mine and smile.”

I did as he said, my body no longer feeling like my own. I couldn’t stop him from leading me to the exit. My limbs obeyed the will of this stranger, refusing to listen to me. Hopelessness fluttered underneath the hazy fog from the cocktail inside me.

As we were leaving the bar, Diane rounded the corner on her way from the bathroom. My gaze crossed with hers.

This was my chance to get help, to stop whatever was happening to me, and to regain some control over the situation. All I had to do was call out to her. Even the right gesture or a facial expression would alarm Diane and stop this stranger from taking me.

But he’d told me to smile, so that was all I did.

“Wave goodbye to your friend,” he said.

Once again, I obeyed. I waved at Diane, with that stupid carefree grin on my face.

She wiggled her eyebrows, giving me a teasing smile in return, and mouthed,“Have fun.”

And that was it.

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