Page 3 of The Lawgiver's Firebrand
Mix grabbed Ari’s hand, pulling her and herfreron, Marciella the Amazon, to the floor. Several other Firebrands followed for a group dance. The beat was heavy. Macklemore’s “Heroes.” Ari threw her arms up, bumped hips with Marci, and lost herself in the tune’s rhythm.
Songs changed as the Firebrands went crazy. Ari busted moves until she was breathless, excusing herself to shuffle off to the table and collapse onto a stool. “I think I’m getting old,” she said to Craven, who only shrugged, probably counting the minutes until the waitress was off duty.
“You’re a baby witch, barely out of her Awakening. Maybe it’s the brews. You’re a lightweight with the booze but great with blades and spells.” The berserker shoved a full mug her way. “Drink.”
The dancers returned, conversation dwindled, Craven sauntered off to keep his appointment, and the celebration broke up. Some Firebrands headed off to find backroom partners. Some left, stopping to pat Ari on the back and offer congrats.
She was alone. The party over. She propped an elbow on the table, her chin in her palm.Boo-hoo.Suck it up, Ari.Life’s tough.She should head home to her small, empty apartment.
As she sighed, a hand floated in front of her face. A male’s strong hand, with long fingers. Well-groomed, manicured. She twisted toward the owner.
The incubus.
When she licked her lips, his gaze fixed on her tongue.
“Yeah?” asked Ari.
Clever.
“May I have the pleasure of the next dance?”
Her eyes narrowed. She glanced around, imagining he was talking to someone else. “With me?”
He cocked his head to the side. “I believe this is my hand waiting for yours.”
She stared. No callouses. No weapons for that palm. His skin was smooth. Tanned. Very aristo. Very strokable.
She slipped her small hand into his, her ragged nails and rough skin a contrast.
Unfolding from the stool, she said, “Let’s have at it.”
Ari could swear he groaned when she stumbled. A tad tipsy. He did, however, prop her up by the elbow.
A real gent.
ChapterTwo
Arididn’t so much dance with the incubus as fall against his chest and hold on to stay upright. Still, his arms were a strange comfort, warm, confident. Perhaps she’d over-celebrated.
She rubbed her cheek against the hoity-toity’s suit jacket. “Nice. Expensive, I bet.” Her palm stroked his back.
“It’s within my means.”
Tilting her chin, she locked onto his self-assured dark eyes with long lashes. “You look like buying a corporate jet or an entire region on Scath might be in your weekly budget. Are you taking me on as a charity case?”
His hand dropped to her ass, pulling her in tight, his arousal prodding her belly.Hmm. She turned him on in an unexpected way. Of course, he was an incubus, a sensual breed, ready to hump anyone. “Slumming,” he said.
“Glad to be of service.” She wiggled against him. “I’m Arianna. Ari. A Scion Firebrand. What’s your gig?”
“Daire. Lawgiver.”
She jerked back as if he carried a disease. “Oh, shit.”
He pulled her into his arms again. “A problem?” Shoving a leg between her thighs, he continued to sway to the music.
“You really are out of your neighborhood. Looking for an easy lay?” His chest comforted her cheek.
“Any lay is easy for my breed.”
