Page 7 of Little Death
“Tails, you stay and... what? Please continue. I'll admit I'm intrigued.”
I gulp. Intrigued is the last thing I want him to be, but it’s my only choice.
“Tails, I stay and keep you company for the rest of the event.”
Another shiver wracks me under his weighted scrutiny. “And what makes you think I need your company? Dozens of women downstairs would come the second I snapped my fingers.”
Licking my lips, I note the way his attention drops to my mouth. “Because if you wanted to get rid of me, you would have already.” He steps closer. I almost keep babbling, but I bite my tongue and wait for his response.
He'd been moving closer again, and now he's only a breath away. The backs of his fingers skim my jaw. “Fine. But I prefer dice. Even, you stay. You’ll be mine to do with as I please until morning, and you’ll tell me what you’re doing here. Odd, you're free to go, no questions asked. Deal?”
Aiden draws a pair of dice from his pocket and shifts them over and over in his palm, the sound of them clicking together the only noise in the room until I say in a tremulous voice, “Deal.”
CHAPTERFOUR
Aiden moves, and I freeze until he passes by me toward the pool table. Releasing a breath, I push a hand through my hair, wishing I could take off the mask and wipe away the moisture underneath. I follow him at a much slower pace and nearly jump out of my skin when my phone starts frantically buzzing in my clutch, which I still miraculously have on my shoulder.
He twists, lifting one brow, and rests a hip on the side of the pool table. “Boyfriend?”
“Would you care?”
“No.”
I roll my eyes. “Friend. Checking on me.” I take my phone out and wave it around. “She’ll keep texting if I don’t answer her.”
Crossing his arms, he says, “Then answer her. Tell her you’re having a grand old time, and you’ll see her in the morning. But if you share anything about what happened tonight, I’m afraid the result won’t be nice for either of you.”
Like he had to reiterate that.
My mother’s phone is exactly where I left it, still charging, if it’s even still working. I secure it in a zippered pocket for extra safekeeping, and then I dig around for mine and fish it out.
There are several messages from Yasmine. Of course there are.
Yasmine: Should I pick out an urn in case Aiden finds out what you’re up to and someone goes all stalker/bodyguard on your ass?
Five minutes later.
Yasmine: Haha, very funny. I’m dead. Answer now. I haven’t had much sleep after the last few shifts. I’m already this close to crashing the fuck out. I knew I should have gone with you.
A minute after that.
Yasmine: Really not funny tho, Ri. Check in before I lose my mind and send Reggie over there.
Followed by more of the same at one-minute intervals. It’s been nearly twenty minutes since my last check-in. No wonder she’s panicking. And Yasmine is usually so unruffled. It’s why she’s going into emergency medicine.
My fingers fly over the keyboard before she can make good on her promise.
Me: Shit, I’m sorry. Got cornered by some drunk people on my way out and couldn’t get free until now. I’m fine, I promise. I found the phone. You get some sleep. I’m waiting for my Uber, and I’ll check in first thing in the morning.
I hope.
No matter what happens, I don’t want her to worry.
Yasmine: Who was your first crush?
Me: You’re joking.
Yasmine: Answer the question, sicko, or I’m calling the cops. If you’re really Catriona, then you’ll know the answer.
