Page 269 of Flirting with Darkness

She tried to go through every paranormal she knew that had some kind of fangs, but shifters liked to display them sometimes too. Based on his inclination to hide in the shadows, she wanted to say he was a vampire, but somehow that didn’t feel right.

He still hadn’t asked her for her name, and she honestly had no idea why he even wanted her to sit down. Was this some kind of dominance game that the shifters liked to do, or was he trying to intimidate her?

“So, is Dex short for anything?” she asked, taking a sip of her drink.

Oh, this was good. Most bartenders fucked it up, but the vodka was well balanced with the blackberry liqueur, mixing perfectly with the cranberry juice.

“No.”

She glanced up again out of reflex, and Nova felt her stomach flip.

The shadows were kind to him. They caressed his face, hid his eyes, lingered in his hair and along his shoulders. Darkness looked good on him.

Shit.

She looked down into the purple drink and suddenly felt ridiculous.

A stupid girl with purple hair, her purple drink, and…

Nova shoved down the urge to touch her hair and make sure her eye was hidden.

“And you are?”

“Didn’t think you cared.” She couldn’t help her smirk, even if she wouldn’t look up into his face again.

The shocked silence made her stomach flip again and Nova braced herself for the possibility of a fight. This guy clearly wasn’t used to backtalk.

“I don’t, I’m just being polite.”

For some reason his honesty made her smile wider.

The bar felt warm despite the cold Seattle winter. She reached for her zipper, moving slowly to ensure he didn’t see her as a threat. “I’m Nova.”

She could feel him watching her as she peeled off the leather and settled it on her lap. That attention zeroed in on everything she’d revealed, but the corner of her mouth lifted in a half-smile, knowing he still couldn’t see anything at all thanks to her turtleneck.

Except maybe her mouth.

“So, is Nova short for anything?” he asked, repeating her own words.

It was instinct to look up when that deep voice wrapped around her like a snake—smooth and silky.

That was a mistake.

The darkness slid back ever so slightly so she could see the color of his eyes even though the details were still hidden by shadows. They were a golden brown that looked like molten gold, but they didn’t glow. Those eyes were one hundred percent gorgeous human.

Her heart actually stuttered.

What the fuck was going on?

This was ridiculous.

Nova wasn’t even supposed to be engaging with anyone. She’d been hungry and thirsty from walking through the city and this place had seemed inviting with its arcade and alcohol. A simple meal and she was going to be on her way.

She shouldn’t have sat down, but she’d been curious who the dark figure in the corner had been.

“It’s, um, short for Novalie,” she admitted, feeling embarrassed for some reason. “But everyone calls me Nova.”

He didn’t move, but it felt like he leaned forward. “Which do you prefer?”

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