Page 40 of The Royal Street Witch
Caged,I respond.
I want to see him. I miss him and it’s only been a day. He worked at the bar last night, I know this because he felt the need to text me that he wasn’t available, as if we were dating, as if he owed me an explanation. But the only explanation I’m waiting on is when he’s going to tell Cassius about the potion.
There’s an uneasiness inside me, and it all depends on what will happen once Cassius knows. How long do Bastian and I have left to play this little game, until he’s gone from my life?
I got an email from my mortgage company that my loan had been paid in full, and this—having a drink with my favorite bartender in the quarter—is my celebration. Because I must celebrate in silence, but dammit, I’m celebrating.
“Where’s your fuck boys? I haven’t seen you breaking any hearts lately,” Cherry says, leaning on the bar.
I stir my drink and laugh. “I’ve been too busy for fuck boys. I’m ready for a real man.”
She slaps the bar, her mouth wide with disbelief. “Shut up!” Another flash comes from the dance floor, and like a hawk, Cherry turns toward the crowd of people. “Rocco, go find out who’s takin’ pictures!”
Rocco, whose real name is Justin, but Rocco is more fitting for a bouncer, saunters over to the dance floor, investigating.
“It’s not like we don’t tell everyone when they walk in!” And her eyes flit to the entrance, softening immediately, then crinkling with a smile.
“Hey, handsome,” she says, and Bastian slides onto the seat next to me.
“Cherry Pie,” Bastian says with a wicked grin and my stomach drops to the floor. Am I feeling jealous? Was that a pet name? He’s wearing a button-up shirt, royal blue, with the sleeves rolled around his forearms, and there’s something about when he dresses up…
“Aster,” he nods, and I cock my head and cross my arms.
“That’s my Cherry Pie,” I say, and Cherry nods in agreement.
“I was hers first, hunny,” she says and opens a beer for Bastian without him having to order it. He’s only been back in New Orleans for a couple of months, yet he’s already established new relationships with locals. I wonder how many of the girls he’s met in this bar have been brought home to that fancy bed.
“Ouch,” he says, sipping on his beer. “Rebuffed, yet again,” he winks at me, and my eyes roll.
Cherry gets called for a drink order, then his finger tickles my leg under the bar. It starts as a chill along my thigh, then suddenly my entire body has goosebumps, all from the slightest touch of a finger. The wanting, the need for him, the pull inside me is getting harder and harder to deny and that is a very bad thing.
I place my thumb in my mouth, running my tongue along the nail and he leans in.
“I wish that was my thumb.”
“I’ve come to a conclusion about you, Bastian Delacroix.”
“Oh, please tell me.” He rests his temple on his fist and I straighten my skirt.
“Well, you told me that you weren’t careless. But here you are, with me, inside one of the busiest bars in the Quarter. And you allowed me, a witch, to be in your room while you slept. I could have slit your throat. I could have opened the shades. Yet you let me waltz around while you slept like a baby. That’s what I call careless.” It comes out a little brash, but he’s not offended—just looks annoyed.
“The Quarter is quite small and there are no laws against us speaking in public. As far as being careless by allowing you in my room while I slept, well, has it ever occurred to you that maybe I trust you? That I know you wouldn’t do anything to me while I slept?”
“But I could have.”
“But you wouldn’t.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I trust you. You should try trusting someone sometime.” And now he definitely is pissed and pulls a deep swig from his beer. His green eyes, slits of fire, his full lips folded inside his teeth.
The truth is, I’m not used to this. A man being honest with his desire for me. And I wonder how a vampire can trust so easily, what he could possibly see in me that makes me trustworthy. But he’s right. I wouldn’t hurt him. I’m not that vicious. I like him.
“I’m telling Cassius tomorrow.” He turns away from me, eyes straight ahead and it stings, it does. Because once he tells Cassius, this really ends. I push him away and I fight it, but the truth is I don’t want it to end. I want to grab his face and run my fingers through the tresses of his thick hair and tell him. But that IS forbidden. So I speak instead.
“You’re right. Maybe I should try trusting someone.” And he almost falls out of his seat.
“What the fuck?” With a vicious laugh, he shakes his head. “Women.”
