Page 97 of Dance of Ruin

“And?”

He eyes me. “And I would deem it a personal favor if you didn'tfuck that up.”

I smirk. Kir dips his chin.

“Be seeing you…Raven.”

20

NAOMI

I slipthe burgundy dress over my head and smooth it over my hips before turning to look at myself in the mirrored dressing room wall.

It’s shorter than I usually wear, even for going out, but still flowy and loose around my thighs, and sleeveless, with a deep neckline plunging into my cleavage. My hair’s slightly curled, lips painted, wrists already perfumed.

For a second, my gaze in the mirror slips past my shoulder, through the doorway from the dressing room into the bedroom.

Specifically, to the bed.

My face heats as I suck my bottom lip between my teeth.

Replays of the events of the last thirty-six hours or sospentin that bed slam into me all at once. His mouth, his hands, his cock—holy hell,his cock. My name falling from his lips, being groaned possessively against my skin.

A delicious shiver slides down my spine. Then I shake the thought off, centering myself again and leaning closer to the mirror to touch up my eyeliner.

“What are you doing?”

I flinch, jolting when I see Nico’s stepped into the dressing room too, his muscled frame dressed in black jeans and t-shirt filling the doorway.

What are you doing.

Noyou look nice. Nowow. Not even awhere are you going. Just an immediate flag of disapproval, like I’m a situation he didn’t authorize.

“I’m going out,” I say calmly, turning to face him.

His eyes flick over my hair. My makeup. My dress, my heels.

He still doesn’t compliment me.

A hollow, stupid ache rises in my chest, and I instantly hate myself for it.

We’re not a couple. He’s not my boyfriend. I’m not surewhatI am to him, actually. Leverage? His fucking plaything?

A hostage with Stockholm syndrome?

When he doesn’t immediately respond, I clear my throat. “Some of the girls are going out dancing at Doomsday and invited me.”

Nico’s jaw ticks. “Some of the girls.”

“Yeah.”

“Justthe girls?”

I roll my eyes. “Vaughn may or may not be there.”

I can feel the air shift, and his face darkens.

“Ohcome on,” I sigh. “It’sVaughn. I already told you, he’s like a fucking brother.”

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