Page 20 of Pretend
‘We’re all mad here’ in a smoke cloud in a funky font, just like the movie Alice in Wonderland. A Saint Michael, the archangel tattoo just below the Cat all over his arm to his wrist. His other arm is covered in spider and snake tattoos.
This man is defined all over, with a mass of muscles that clearly says he takes his physical fitness very seriously. I quickly examine Kane for a second, and it’s not surprising he’s extremely fit.
My lord, it’s hot in here.
And thenTake My Breath Awayby Berlin starts to play, making the temperature skyrocket, and I want to throw my hat at it.
When they both turn to their side, I can see their faces. They lock hands, and it becomes clear what mischief they’re up to tonight. It’s an arm wrestling match.
Rider, Rooker, Lopez, and Zeke crowd around them with beer bottles in their hands. More men I don’t recognize chant ‘Creature’, and others chant ‘Bane.’ Daegan and Kane both have aviator sunglasses on, and their skin is kissed deeply by the sun. This time...I can see part of Daegan’s face.
This time, only half of his face is covered. A black half-mask that hides a layer of mystery.
My heart stops when I realize I get to see more of him.
He has a head full of thick strands. But not just any hair. Beautiful dark hair that’s long but not too long. Their dark, wavy locks go down just past his ears. A dark beard that follows his jawline, surrounding his full lips and a face that has my legs screeching apart, wanting to welcome this flutter of lust that sparks.
Damn him because holy shit.
He’s fucking hot.
I just dared this man earlier, saying the words likepunish mein a parking lot during my short fit of rage.
And then he has the audacity to smile when he sees me—his enchanting lips curve, revealing straight white teeth with sharp canines.
He blinks, ripping his vision away from me, and goddamn, when he does that…an unfamiliar firestorm and butterflies swarm together around me like an unforgiving wave that’s rolling through my chest. I thought these lost emotions were long gone.
But no.
They’re here.
And it’s like a part of me I thought had died, coming back to life. In that split second, I was hit with a shot of adrenaline stabbed straight through my chest.
I swing my gaze away from his overconfident wink and clear my throat. The loud music I tuned out regains its strength, and I unglue myself from that corner.
“Let’s go find Jack,” I plead, hooking my arm into hers and trying to pull her with me. But Winters doesn’t budge; she keeps her brown cowboy boots planted onto the wooden floors.
“Wait, I want to see who wins.” She grins, crossing her arms against her chest, and her eyes brighten. She’s smiling a little too hard, but her eyes are stuck on Daegan.
I sigh, slumping in defeat, and I watch with her. I place my hands on my hips, my ring digging into my skin as I clutch my hips tight. We stand close together, and I’m trying to force myself not to care…but for some reason, the masked operator has me intrigued.
Daegan grins. His sharp incisors curve against his bottom lip and his biceps bulge as he flexes them. His veins stick out against his muscles as Kane applies pressure.
Kane's forehead is coated with sweat, his jaw twitches with stress, and he pushes down hard. His body shakes, and it’s working. Daegan looks relaxed despite losing the match. His hand is slowly going down.
Kane is going to win.
Wow.
Daegan’s knuckles are about to touch the wood, and the crowd pounds the counter, egging them both on. Kane’s name is being chanted into the thick, humid air like he’s already won. Daegan’s knuckles are just a dime away from losing. But suddenly, there’s a shift in Daegan.
He lifts his unscarred brow and smirks sinfully.
Cocky. As. Hell.
“My turn, Bane,” he smirks like a devil. He fooled him…he fooled everyone.
Kane’s dark blue eyes bulge in panic.
