Page 290 of Flirting with Darkness

“Yeah, but the boss isn’t here yet,” her bear friend told them, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Oh, wait, he’s right over there.”

Nova looked at the same time everyone else did.

When she saw him, the breath in her lungs disappeared.

13

DEX

Dex ran his hand through his hair, wishing he could be anywhere else tonight, but they needed more guys to guard the borders. Agmos had pretty much insisted he bulk up the ranksor else.

He didn’t want to think about why, or what would happen if he didn’t manage it to the demon’s liking.

Grabbing one of the shots from a waitress, he downed it and set the empty tube on another’s tray as he headed toward his usual table. The beat pulsed in his head and there was so much noise, so many moving bodies, it was easy to disconnect from reality.

There were two shifters standing at his table with George the bear and Larry the wolf. Those two shifters were some of his favorite goons, and it looked like George had found a girl for the night. Good for him.

“What can I do for you boys?” Dex asked, slamming a hand down on each shifter’s shoulder.

Then he grinned at George and finally got a good look at the girl next to him.

Dex felt the grin freeze on his face as Nova stared right back at him.

That blue eye haunted his dreams almost every night.

He felt them notice who he was looking at, and Dex knew he needed to say something—anything, but he couldn’t stop staring at her Jessica Rabbit hairstyle or the brutal runes across her chest like she was some kind of warrior.

What the fuck was she doing here, sitting at his table?

“Who’s this?” Dex purred, narrowing his eyes.

Nova didn’t react, she didn’t even blush. She acted like she’d never seen him before in her life.

Fuck, that purple lipstick looked wet and…

Dex put a stop to that thought immediately.

The bear turned to her and she smiled up at the shifter like he was the only thing in this world.

The sound of pain filtered through his senses and he instantly released the two shifters. He hadn’t even realized he’d hurt them.

“I’m Nova,” she said, leaning back against the booth like she had no idea what she’d gotten herself into.

Maybe she didn’t. Maybe she was just here because of George.

Dex hooked his thumbs in his suspenders and smirked. “I didn’t realize you had a girl, George.”

“We just met,” she admitted, laughing slightly.

George buried his face in her hair and Dex felt his teeth grind together as he watched.

He didn’t own her. She wasn’t his. Nova could do whatever the fuck she wanted with her free time.

But here she was, sitting in his booth with one of his guys, and throwing it in his fucking face.

“Is she your mate?” Dex asked.

Fuck. What if theyweremates?

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