Page 85 of Iris
But the meeting’s done and Iris is chatting to Niall, one of the gay men.
And as I watch, I can’t help but think how well she fits in.
A glow of pink lights up her cheeks as her body vibrates with excitement, the kind I recognize from new recruits to the cause.
Normally, I’d let her soak it in more, really cement that excitement, but with the ball ending soon, it’s time to get my mark out of here.
Mark. I need to remember that. I chose her when she brought Emmie back. I know an asset when I see one and the young, beautiful upper-class Omega with a rebellious streak was always going to be perfection.
Easy to move to where I wanted her. And now…Icy’s going to do what I’d wanted—find a way in.
The manipulation of asking her to be quiet worked perfectly. Brat like that can’t ever help but go against the grain.
But I need to get her out, wait for Xav. He’s been seen with her; it’s not a good idea to add me to the mix. I don’t give a fuck about her brother, but it’s cleaner if he returns her. We’ll go to the bar and wait.
Fucking Freya can keep her company.
I cross to her, nodding a hello to Niall.
“We need to go,” I say against her ear.
She frowns. “But?—”
“Now.”
Barely letting her say more than a quick goodbye I lead her out the back.
The alley’s dark and no one’s around, but we’re surrounded by the real life of the city. I’ll take her along the alleys, and?—
“That,” she says as she leans back against the wall, “was amazing.”
“It was a meeting.”
“And I’m going to help change the world, help bring a voice to those who need one, who should have one.”
I put a hand against the wall as just a few feet from us, people laugh and talk as they walk past.
“Really?” I murmur, leaning in close to her. “And a sheltered girl like you is going to do all that?”
Her eyes flash and I hide my smile. “I said I would. I can go places you can’t.”
“Don’t be so sure about that, little girl.” I run a finger along the ruffle just below her lace and the muscles contract and flutter. “You’d be surprised at the places I can go.”
She smacks my hand away and this time the smile breaks free. It makes her bristle. “So you go meet the Monarch if you want.”
I love how she plays into my hands, how my dismissal fires those fueled engines of hers.
So I push her a little harder. “I’m from the Lower Side, it’ll take longer than you, but I can think of ways to do it.”
“You—”
“And I’ll tell you something for free…” I curl my hand on her hip, tugging her closer and she gasps. “A meeting doesn’t mean a fucking thing if you can’t carry it through to the end.”
This time, I lean in, blow against the skin that’s exposed on her chest. It’s not much. The dress is beyond modest, but it hides full breasts.
She lets out a soft little sound this time. But she grabs my hand to push me away, only I turn it to twine our fingers.
“And you think you could?”
