Page 158 of Midnights
Her dress catches the light as she moves around the dance floor. Her arm is draped around another man's. I register him in the way I'd register a chair. My focus is locked on her, and only her.
I watch the way the corners of her mouth lift, and oh my fucking God. I might actually have to worship this woman.
I stop dead in my tracks, like she’s just sucker-punched me from across the room. She doesn’t just look stunning, she looks untouchable. A goddess wrapped in a dress that could’ve been pulled straight from the night sky itself.
It clings to her in all the right ways, with slits high enough to make my throat go dry. The plunging neckline and intricate gold rope work? Jesus Christ. Whoever designed that dress must’ve had her in mind, because it’s not just a gown, it’s a weapon, and I’m about to be destroyed.
But it’s not just the dress.
It’s her.
The way she owns the space around her without even trying. That quiet, unshakable confidence has every man breaking himself to catch her eye. She doesn't see how she makes the world hold its breath. How she makes me hold mine.
Her gold and crimson mask shimmers, framing her face like something carved from fire. It makes her eyes look even more lethal.
Her dark hair falls in soft waves over one shoulder, and all I can think about is how badly I want to wrap it around my fist.
People don’t just glance, they fucking stare. Some openly, and some are playing it off. She moves like she’s daring the world to try. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone close enough to even think about taking that dare.
Then I see his hand resting possessively at her back as he leads her around the dance floor. A slow, hot surge of rage twists in my gut. I clench my jaw and my fingers flex at my sides.
“Easy, killer.”
Cam’s voice cuts through the storm behind me, as his hand claps down on my shoulder.
I school my expression, turning just enough to give him a measured look. My voice comes out clipped, the edge coming through whether I want it to or not.
“Sneak up on me like that again, and you might be the one with the black eye.”
Cam grins, completely unbothered. “Relax. The way you’re staring, I’m more worried abouthiseyes.”
My jaw flexes, but I don’t bother arguing. My gaze cuts back to her.
“If he keeps looking at her like he’s about to fucking devour her—” my voice lowers. “I can’t promise he’ll walk out of here without a scratch.”
Cam raises a brow, smirking like the infuriating bastard he is. “Oh, you mean the wayyou’relooking at her? Glass houses, my friend.”
I tear my eyes away long enough to pin him with a glare. He’s already laughing, and the sound scrapes across my nerves. “Keep laughing, and you’ll be next.”
He slaps me on the back. “I’d say good luck, but maybe I should save it for the poor bastard trying to hold her attention.” His tone is laced with the kind of amusement that only pisses me off more. “Just remember, no broken bones.”
With a chuckle, he strolls off, leaving me simmering.
My look back at her, scanning for the smallest hint of discomfort. I watch the way she moves, the way she laughs, the slight tilt of her head.
That idiot with his hands all over her will find out just how fast I can rearrange his fingers if he even thinks about stepping out of line. His irritation's written all over his face, but it's her expression that locks every muscle in my body tight.
I take a step forward, ready to close the distance, but she straightens. Her mouth curves around some careless reply and I see his jaw tick as irritation flashes across his face. He's still breathing her air, and that's more than I can stand.
That’s it. I’m done watching.
I cut through the crowd and she spins straight into me, her chest hitting mine before she even realizes what happened.
She’s even more devastating up close.
That dress leaves nothing to the imagination. Every curve is on display, begging to be traced by my tongue, and it takes everything in me not to ruin her right here in the middle of the ballroom.
I’m instantly fighting a boner.
