Page 22 of Flame it Up

“What?” Mazie asked, feeling her nerves rising.

“It’s pretty obvious what someone like you is doing with a guy like Pyrus,” Priscilla said.

“What?” Mazie said again, her voice very soft.

“Oh, come on,” Heidi snapped. “Don’t play all innocent and dumb with us. It might work on Pyrus, but we see right through you.”

“Yes,” Priscilla said. “It’s obvious to everyone on this boat that you’re just after his money.”

“Excuse me?” Mazie squeaked. She felt even more like a mouse now, being tossed in the air as the cats juggled her back and forth with their sharp claws.

“Pyrus deserves so much better,” Heidi said, shaking her head. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Mazie looked down into the dark water. Her heart hammered, and there was a cold, numb feeling in the pit of her stomach. She started to feel sick as the dread set in.

“Pyrus!” Priscilla cried. “Darling, how are you?”

Mazie looked away from the water to see Pyrus greet Priscilla with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. Cold flooded from her stomach into her limbs, making her fingers and toes numb.

“Yes, sweetie, what have you been up to?” Heidi said, moving in for her own kiss. Mazie turned to watch, and she was shocked by the way Heidi sidled up to Pyrus. Because she was almost naked, and he was bare from the waist up, quite a lot of her skin rubbed up against him.

“It’s so great to see you girls,” he said. “Pris, I haven’t seen you since that disco in Rome. Remember? Someone tried to smoke a joint out back, and we were all evacuated to the parking lot because of the fire alarm.”

“Yes,” Priscilla gushed. “I was freezing in my little silver mini dress, and you gave me your jacket.”

“Anything for a lovely lady,” Pyrus said warmly. He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers gently.

“And what about me, handsome?” Heidi said, her voice low and seductive. “The last time I saw you, you left me on a mountaintop.”

“I thought you were following me,” he laughed. “It’s not like you can’t fly, Heidi.” Pyrus leaned over and put an arm around Heidi’s shoulder, giving her a squeeze.

“I might not be able to fly,” Priscilla said, posing a little. “But you can’t stalk the woods like I can. Cats beat dragons every time.”

Shifters. They are both shifters. His kind in every possible way. They have everything I don’t.

Mazie couldn’t bring up the nasty things they had said to her. It was obvious that these women were close to him, and if she spoke badly of them, Pyrus might not appreciate it.

Would he even believe me?

Doubt grew inside her, making her heart ache. Mazie watched the women laughing and joking with Pyrus, and she had never felt so out of place in her entire life.

Eventually, Pyrus excused himself, saying he had to pay attention to his date. It should have made her feel better, but instead, she just felt like a burden. When he put an arm around her and took them out on the dance floor, Mazie felt dull and miserable, barely able to sway, let alone dance.

“Hey,” Pyrus said, bending down a little to look into her eyes. “Is everything okay? You’ve gone very quiet.”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” she said softly. “Just a bit overwhelmed with the music and everything.”

“No problem,” Pyrus said, immediately taking her from the floor. He led her to the back of the boat, where it was very quiet and dark. Mazie sat on a shadowed bench next to the rail.

“Seriously, are you all right?” he asked.

Mazie nodded. “Just give me a moment. I guess I’m not used to being on boats.”

Pyrus watched her, his frown deepening. Mazie wanted to get off the yacht, but that was impossible as they’d left the dock some time ago. The movement of the water felt almost hostile as it dragged them farther out to sea, confirming to Mazie that she was utterly trapped.

“Do you think I could lie down somewhere?” she asked. Mazie could see Pyrus getting frustrated, and she didn’t want him to miss out on the party because of her. It would only make things worse.

“Of course,” he said, giving her a light hug. “There are cabins downstairs, just pick an empty one and make yourself at home.”

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