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‘Sappy git.’
‘Seems to me like I’m not the only one. You’re a lot less of a miserable fuck when your girl’s around.’
‘I can’t help it. She does things to me, man.’ Makes me want to be better.
‘I don’t need the details.’ Logan winked as I rolled my eyes.
Valentina appeared, holding a cake that looked very much homemade. All the money we could need, and she was baking cakes herself. Logan beamed at her as the music dimmed, and we sang.
Mid happy-birthdays, Cora slipped her arm around my waist and beamed up at me. When Logan blew out the candles, we both cheered.
As the music came back on, I took her hand and steered her toward the dance floor.
‘I thought you didn’t dance?’ she said.
‘I don’t. But I’ll hold you while you do.’
Slipping her hands over my shoulders while I gathered her against me at the waist, we moved to the music. The coloured lights danced in her eyes, and I could have lost myself in them.
The sweet smell of her perfume drew me to her, and I grazed my lips over hers.
I wanted to tell her I loved her, that I couldn’t explain how I’d fallen so hard, so fast, but that I wanted to be her person—to watch her grow and succeed.
The words burned in my throat, and when she rested her head against my chest as we swayed, I pushed them back down.
What if it scared her off?
The way I’d gone about our relationship had been wholly unhinged. I didn’t regret a single second of it, but what if she wasn’t ready?
If she didn’t feel the same intensity?
Beside the bar, over Cora’s shoulder, I saw Rob pull out what looked like a gas mask. Some kinksters enjoyed them as part of a scene, but it wasn’t his usual get-up. He was due to perform his shibari act for the guests at any moment. Creasing my brows, I watched him as he checked his watch.
‘Cora, give me a minute. I just need to go see what Rob’s up to.’
Cora blinked up at me as if she didn’t understand.
‘Are you okay?’
‘I can’t feel my legs.’
Panic hit as she stumbled against me, and I caught her in my arms, lowering her to the floor.
‘What’s happening?’ she asked. All around me, people started to stumble and fall.
Rob.
The mask.
There had to be something affecting everyone.
‘Logan, Mac!’ I shouted. ‘Get everyone out.’
Laying Cora down gently as bile filled my throat, I charged toward Rob. Every step I took felt like I was wading through a treacle, and step by step, my charge slowed to a walk. Then, to a stumble.
My knees hit the floor hard, but there was no pain—just numbness.
Tipping to my side, I fell and couldn’t move a muscle. Trying to yell produced a pitiful groan. My arms and legs felt entirely disconnected from my body when I tried to move them.
