Page 17 of Whiskey Promises
"Shit," I mumble, peeking out to see Nadia motioning for us to join them. My heart pounds like a jackhammer as Connor pops open the door and climbs out before reaching for my hand.
I try like hell not to look at Jareth, but I do anyway. He's staring at me with his jaw clenched and his hands shoved into his pockets. His eyes meet mine, full of the same heat that drives me crazy. Only…there's something else there this time, too. Possession, like he's looking at something that belongs to him.
My stomach turns a flip.
Connor pulls me from the SUV, and I swear I hear Jareth's jaw flex from here. He is so mad.
Maybe this was a terrible idea.
Well, it's too late now. We're committed.
"Jareth, you remember Zoya," Nadia says to him. "This is Connor." She pauses like she does not want to say the next part, but as far as she knows, it's the truth. "Her boyfriend."
"Hey, man. It's nice to meet you." Connor extends his free hand toward Jareth, who hesitates for a second before taking it.
They do one of those guy handshakes, where they pretend they're being civil but they're really trying to see who has the biggest dick. To Connor's credit, he doesn't even flinch despite the way Jareth is glaring at him like he'd rather set him on fire than shake his hand.
He doesn't say a single word to Connor before releasing his hand and turning to me. "Princess," he murmurs, his eyes tangling with mine again. His expression softens. "It's always a pleasure to see you."
I narrow my eyes on him, annoyed at the way he says that like he's seen more of me than he should be seeing. My annoyance only grows when he pulls me right into his arms for a hug, forcing me to drop Connor's hand.
"Let me go," I hiss beneath my breath.
"He doesn't fucking deserve you," he mutters, his lips brushing my ear.
"And you think you do?" I purposefully step on his foot before ducking out of his arms.
Connor looks like he's trying not to laugh as he wraps one arm around my waist, pulling me up against him. "Yep. This is going to be a shitshow," he whispers, his voice pitched so only I hear him.
I briefly consider stomping on his foot, too, before deciding I probably shouldn't. Jareth is still standing there. It'll look suspicious.
"Where are we putting these two?" Nadia asks Jareth, falsely bright. I think she knows Connor and I aren't really dating, but I refused to admit it when she grilled me about him. Just like I adamantly refuse to admit that her guitarist occupies far too much of my mind. Just like I adamantly refuse to confess that we kissed.
Deny, deny until I die. It's my new motto.
"They're staying with me."
"Uh, what?" I whip around to face Jareth so fast I make myself dizzy.
His green eyes come to me, boring into mine. "You and your…boyfriend…are staying at my place while you're here."
No.He wouldn't.
"I already have rooms set up for you."
Jareth Grayson is the literal devil.
"Where's Nadia staying?"
"We gave her and Teo the guest house."
"I'd rather stay with her."
"Uh, no way." Nadia looks at me like I've lost my mind. "You arenotstaying with me and Teo for two weeks. We're getting married."
Why does she insist on betraying me?
"You won't even notice us."
