Page 10 of Blood & Betrayals

He looks down at me, his lips pulled into a confident half-smile. “Why don’t I know you?”

Oh, so he’s cocky, too? I hate that I like that.

My voice lowers to a purr, and I coquettishly place my hands over his on my hips. “Because until tonight, you’ve beenextremelyunlucky.”

“Connor,” he says, trying to hide his quick glance at my lips, but I catch it and file it away.

“Nice to meet you, Connor.” My lips curl into a flirty smile. This is a game I’m well versed in and one I enjoy. It’s the only game I am willing to play.

He spins me so we’re dancing face to face, his hands only leaving my waist for the briefest of moments. I slide my hands over his shoulders, digging my fingers into the wavy golden hair at the nape of his neck. “This is usually the part where you tell me your name.”

I lock eyes with him. He’s even taller up close. “You’ll have to earn my name. Good luck with that.”

Connor raises a brow, his thumbs skimming along the curve of my hips. “Oh, I’ll definitely earn it. No luck needed.”

“And what makes you think that?”

He dips me dramatically and looks down at me, his eyes sparkling with challenge. “Because I’m so charming.”

My breath hitches, and my gaze wanders to his full lips. “Modest too…”

Okay, so maybe he’s a little good at this game too. I can respect that.

“It’s a gift,” he adds. Connor lifts me back to my feet and pulls me close. He glances at my lips again before he leans down and brushes a kiss over them. It is gentle as if he is asking permission.

I pull back almost instinctively, and our gazes lock for a long moment. My lips tingle from the contact, my stomach twisting in such an intoxicating way. I push up onto my tiptoes and pull him down, kissing him again. It is deeper this time, my lips pressing against his a little more insistently. I slide my tongue along theseam of his lips. He opens for me, and his groan of pleasure vibrates through me. I almost moan in protest when he retreats.

“Want to get out of here?” he asks, his eyes dark and urgent.

“I should probably stay with my friend.”

Connor’s eyes dart over my shoulder, and I follow his gaze. Alice has cornered the shifter and is making out with him so hard it looks like she’s eating his face off. I might try to rescue him, but the shifter looks to bereallyinto it.

“Looks like your friend is occupied,” Connor croons in my ear. I turn back to him and can’t help but laugh at his cocky grin. This angel seems to think he has the upper hand.

I notice a group of angels keep glancing at him, smirking. “Your boys are missing you. I wouldn’t want to take you away from them.”

Connor rolls his eyes and chuckles. “Please, you’d be doing me a favor.”

I step back and tip my head, looking him up and down. I glance at Alice once more to see she is still making out with her shifter and then back at Connor. “All right.”

He smiles and slides his hand into mine, pulling me back toward the kitchen. There are calluses on his palm, maybe from holding a sword. The house has an open floor plan, but there’s a layering of runes on the floor between the kitchen and the living room. The second we cross over them, the sounds from the party dim.

“So, are you going to tell me your name?” Connor asks the moment we are away from the noise.

I walk to the counter and lean against it. “You still have to earn it, angel.”

Connor stalks over to me, putting his hands on my hips and lifting me onto the counter. He spreads my knees and presses his powerful body between my thighs. He leans in and kisses meagain, pulling back just enough to ask, “And how am I supposed to do that?”

I smile against his lips and brace my hands behind me on the countertop. “I’m going to leave you to work that out.” I bite his lip and pull back, dragging it with me until it escapes my teeth.

His moan is low and guttural, but he steps back and opens the fridge. I blink in confusion and shiver, feeling the loss of his heat. What in the world is he doing? He stopped for a snack?

He rummages inside the refrigerator for a few moments before emerging and offering me a sandwich. “Eat.”

I blink, staring blankly at the stacked bread in his hand. “Wait, what?”

He holds it closer to my lips, moving to stand between my legs again. “It will soak up the alcohol.”

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