Page 41 of A Wild Darkness

Then out of the corner of my eye, a tray of champagne appears to float by. My arm darts out to grab one of the crystal flutes. I bring it to my lips and take a generous drink to calm myself.

“I’d advise against drinking while on the job,” he warns, while I down the entire glass. “Um, yeah. Okay, Stevie, I think you’re good now.”

The bubbles hit the back of my throat, with the relief that’s to come in the next couple minutes. I place the glass back on the silver tray and match Sebastian’s stare. “I needed that.”

With a quick lick of his lips, he smirks. “I understand it’s your first time doing something like this. But no more. And when we leave here, if you’re still looking for something to drink, when you’re safely back at the manor, I’ll show you where the cellar is, and you can go to town on anything you want.”

I cock my head at the way he’s negotiating with me like I’m unruly.

“Fine.” The only reason why I’m not going to argue with him is because I know I need to follow his directions to make sure we’re both safe and for whatever comes our way tonight.

With a small flash of his white teeth, he smiles. “Good girl.”

“Don’t good girl me, Sebastian.”

He laughs. “So, let’s check out the place, or maybe be a couple and hit the dance floor?”

Seems simple enough. “Okay, then we wait for them to contact us?”

“Yes.”

What if it takes all night?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SEBASTIAN

Stevie’s large dark eyes pin me with annoyance from the suggestion of hitting the dance floor together, and I revel in her annoyance. Since she asked me to zip up her dress earlier this evening, my fingers have been craving the touch of her heated skin. Not to mention how utterly breathtaking she looks tonight in her skintight, lacy black dress and the sexy as hell mask I ordered for her. And when I saw that dress on the racks of gowns the personal shopper sent for me to choose from, I knew it would look good on her.

I shake myself out of it and quickly filter the inappropriate thoughts about a woman who—more or less—doesn’t like me much.

“You don’t want to dance with me?” I tease.

Stevie’s tongue darts out, licking her bottom lip as she shoots me a side-eye. “If you insist.”

I smile, take her hand in mine, and lead her to the wooden dance floor. Couples dressed in Victorian costumes, all with their faces covered, move to the music. Women wear elaborate masks with feathers or lace, and seductive dresses made from various fabrics which hug every curve. But none of them compare to the woman standing in front of me.

As Stevie and I approach the middle of the dance floor, people part slightly, making room for us under the low lighting. My eyes capture hers and a smile breaks.

I slide my hand onto the small of her lower back and clasp the other in her opposite one. Her delicate fingers, with nails painted black, intertwined through mine.

“Don’t get too excited, Sebastian,” she warns with a smirk, resting her hand on my shoulder. “This is all for show.”

I pull her into me, bringing her body flush against mine. A tight gasp escapes her lips.

“Then let’s give these sick bastards a show, shall we?” I say.

“Never took you for a showman, Dark Prince.”

I glance around the room, keeping one eye on Stevie and the other alert to our surroundings, always aware. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Seems like it,” she answers.

Her body moves slowly back and forth with mine to the band playing their own moody rendition of Florence + the Machine’s “Seven Devils.”

A few minutes pass before Stevie rests her head on my shoulder. “I do like this song.”

It’s nice. The sweet scent of her shampoo makes me lean into her.