Page 56 of An Acquired Taste

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Alone in Alexander’s living room, I brace myself to face my blog. I didn’t bring my laptop on the trip, so I log in on my phone. My stomach drops as I see the sheer number of notifications waiting for me. Likes and comments and messages, news outlets asking for interviews, and more. It’s overwhelming just to think about, so I drop my phone again, shuddering, and decide to deal with that later.

A shower leaves me feeling better, though I spend the whole time trying not to miss the claw-footed tub from my room in Sebastian’s estate. By the time I’m done, I’m feeling guilty. I’m not sure what I was thinking, coming here. Alexander has been sweet to me, but this is the last thing I need right now.

As I fix my hair and makeup, I resolve to thank Alexander and excuse myself. But when I look for my phone to start making travel arrangements, I’m surprised to find it’s not on the couch where I left it.

Just then, Alexander comes out of the kitchen with two cocktails—one of them stained red. He holds the other out to me.

“Oh… thank you,” I say, taking it and having a sip. It’s delicious, fizzy and sweet.

“You’re welcome.” He sits on the other end of the couch I’m still occupying and has a swig of his own drink. “Oh, by the way—you left this on the counter.” He pulls my phone out of his pocket and hands it to me.

I frown as I take it. The counter? When was I in the kitchen? God, I can be forgetful sometimes. “Thanks.” I sip my drink as I open an app to search for flights.

“We should go out tonight,” Alexander says.

I nearly choke on my drink. “Huh?”

“I’ve been dying for a chance to show you what you’re missing.” Before I can dig too deeply into that statement, he gestures towards the lit-up skyline outside of the window. “The LA vampire scene is incredible, and you’ve been locked up in that mountain manse for far too long.”

“That’s… generous of you,” I say, my mind whirring as I try to think of a way to let him down gently. I sip my drink to stall. “It’s a sweet thought. But I don’t think I’ll make good company tonight. Another time?”

Alexander leans forward, reaching out to take my hand. I awkwardly sip my drink some more, refusing the urge to snatch my fingers away from him. This drink must be stronger than I thought… I already feel the beginnings of a buzz. It’s a relief to have my brain go fuzzy around the edges and my anxious thoughts slow down, so I keep sipping.

“Please,” Alexander says, his pale eyes intense as they lock onto mine. “All I ask is one hour of your time. If you’re not having a good time after that, I’ll take you to wherever you wish to spend the night. I promise.”

I have no desire to go anywhere with him or do anything other than curl up in bed. Preferably my bed at Sebastian’s place. But… with the beginnings of tipsiness blurring my mind, I can’t seem to think of a polite way to turn him down. He did save me today, and grant me the use of his apartment. What could be the harm in one hour?

The more I turn it over in my head, the more it seems like a reasonable idea.

“Okay,” I say.

When he smiles, I catch a glimpse of fangs.

* * *

As we approach the nightclub, I feel the music just as much as I hear it—a steady throb of bass vibrating me down to my bones. I stumble over the curb and lean on Alexander for support.Shit. I only had one drink, and already I’m making a fool of myself. This is bad.

But Alexander holds me upright, his eyes bright with amusement. “This may not be the kind of party you’re used to,” he murmurs into my ear, the chill of his breath making me shiver. “But I do believe you’ll enjoy it.” He pulls back and grins at me. “A Solomon party is hard to forget.”

There’s a line around the block. Mostly humans, from what I can see. And rather than the finery I’ve seen at the Celeste gala and Valentine’s Day ball, it’s all ripped fishnets, messy hair, and black eyeliner.

“I think I’m overdressed,” I murmur. I assumed this would be more in line with the other vampire events I’ve attended, and Alexander loaned me a nice pink dress for the occasion, so I assumed everyone would be dressed this way.

“No, you’re dressed like a valentine,” Alexander says. He’s dressed closer to how I am, in a button-up shirt and tailored slacks, so at least I don’t feel totally out of place. “They wish they could be you, darling. Don’t mind them.” Then he turns his head and mutters something that sounds likedesperateandbloodbags, but I can’t be sure I hear him correctly.

Maybe he’s right about the jealousy. Everyone glowers at us as Alexander walks to the front of the line, and I bite back the urge to apologize to them. Alexander doesn’t even need to sayanything to the gigantic bouncer—the man steps aside to let us pass.

We descend a flight of stairs, toward a neon sign that announcesRougein scarlet letters. I’ve heard about this place. Once, I dreamed about coming here and meeting a handsome vampire who would sweep me away from everything.

Sebastian’s face flashes through my mind, but it’s difficult to hold on to the thought of him.

With each step lower, the bass sinks deeper under my skin, until I swear my heartbeat is throbbing in time to it. I grip Alexander’s arm more tightly, suddenly afraid of what I’ve gotten myself into.

At the bottom of the staircase, we step into another world. A windowless underground one, with black walls and pulsing red lights, fog machines and dancers in cages. The floor is crowded with bodies gyrating and grinding together, no more than silhouettes in the dim lighting. On the couches pushed against the wall beyond them, more silhouettes are entwined. Vampires are feeding openly—maybe more than just feeding, judging from the way their bodies move…

I’m gawking without meaning to. Alexander tugs me along, navigating the chaotic scene with the ease of familiarity. “Stay close to me,” he says, practically shouting to be heard above the music. He doesn’t have to tell me twice; I cling to him, terrified about being lost in the crowd. I am dizzy from that drink, and the smell of sweet smoke heavy in the air, and the overwhelming crush of bodies around us as Alexander heads toward the bar.

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