Page 4 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

“Oh, this is good,” I moan with my first taste of the Liquid Cocaine. Sure, the name is sus, but it’s so good. Like adult Kool-Aid.

Lars grins at me, but a second later, his face goes back to neutral and he looks away.

Damn it. What did I do?

I turn my back to him and watch the dance floor again. I’ve been here a couple of hours now, and I’m glad to see the place fill out. Few are dressed in costumes, but most of us here are some kind of supe. Any human allowed in already knows about supes, so we’re safe. If they had bad intentions, they wouldn’t be here. At least that’s what I eavesdropped on the first time I came to The Rot. Well, the first time I came, I stayed in my cat form and hung around the building listening in on conversations. I had to get the feel for the place.

I spin back around on my stool.

Lars dips his head. “It’s not you.”

“Right. Cats and dogs don’t get along.” I take another drink and bite back a moan. This really is a damn good drink.

Lars holds up his hands. “No. No. Nothing like that. And I’m a wolf, thank you very much.”

I cock a brow. “Then what is it?”

“Boss man.” Lars nods to someone over my shoulder.

I refuse to look and stay planted firmly in my seat, facing Lars. “You’re not allowed to flirt?” I fake a pout, knowing exactly how cute I look.

Heat presses against my back before someone leans in to whisper in my ear. My ear, however, flicks at the stimulus, and whoever it is snorts out a laugh.

Lars fights off a grin. He covers his mouth, losing the battle.

“Can I help you?” I spin around again and look up.

The demon before me steals my breath away. I swallow, and they track the movement of my throat. They’re stunning. Their eyes are so dark in the colorful lighting that they’re almost black. Black like the universe with swirls of magic or hellfire, I’m not sure. Their horns curve upward, ridged and black, catching the neon lights every time they move. A tail whips around my waist and pulls me closer to the demon.

“Oh, he’s allowed to flirt with anyone in this club.” They smooth hair from my eyes. “Anyone except for you.”

I blink up at him. “Why?” I whisper.

“Because you’re mine.”

Ugh, what the hell?

I fist my hands and push him away. “No, I’m not.”

The demon’s expression shifts. Not anger or annoyance. He’s so confused. Like no one’s ever told him no before. The look gives me so much satisfaction. Lars snorts but quickly stops at the glare from the demon.

“I’m more than a pretty face and a fluffy tail.” I drag a hand down my body. “If you want this cat, you’re going to have to woo him.”

I stomp away and back into the crowd to get lost in the sea of dancers, needing to get away from those eyes that should be illegal. Annoying gorgeous demon.

Sure, I wanted to flirt with Lars because he’s hot, but I’d never in a million years claim someone without even having a conversation with them. What is wrong with people? Attraction’s the easy part. Anybody can want a pretty face. But I crave a partner that wants to know me.

I find my way back to the girls I was dancing with before. Their eyes light up, and they pull me back into the fun. I get lost in the music and dancing, trying to forget the drop-dead gorgeous demon that irritated me. He watches from the bar with an amused smile on his lips. Lars leans over the bar to talk with him between customers. Of course, I’m not watching the demon as much as he’s watching me. That would be ridiculous.

“Wanna come with us to get waffles?” one of the girls I’m with asks. Tiffany, I think. “We don’t wanna go home yet.”

I turn to look at the demon and smirk. “I’d love to join you for waffles. I’m having too much fun to go back home.”

The lights flick for last call for drinks, but I follow the girls to the bathroom to freshen up our looks.

“Wanna meet us there or ride with one of us?” Tiffany asks right before she dabs deep red lipstick across her mouth.

“I’ll meet you. Just need the address.” I pull my phone from my shorts.