Page 54 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“Theo!”

“You don’t usually mind.”

“That’s different!”

Wrestling him off was all the more frustrating because she knew he could pin her if he really wanted to. Instead, he let her grab his hands and push his chest, touches that were entirely unprofessional but in a moment would need to be as natural as breathing.

“Are you trying to piss me off on purpose?” she asked, eyes rolling when he smirked.

“No, I’m trying to help.”

With one last shove she pushed him away and leant back to look out the window.

“You look beautiful, Verity. Truly.”

Her heart kicked and she hated the way the words softened her irritation.

Turning to him she paused, noticing the box in his hand. Small, black with a golden insignia on top.

“Jewellery?” she asked, looking between Theo and the box. “Theo, I can’t.”

“Well, it is Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t turn up empty handed. We are meant to be a couple after all.” He extended the box, frowning when she didn’t move. “You’re right, Verity. It’s going to be a very long night if you don’t play along.”

Opening the box, he pulled a fine gold chain ending in a sparkling flower. The snap of the box closing made Verity jump, and she looked up to see Theo chewing his lip, brows drawn.

“Just leave it in the car later if you don’t want it,” he said, fiddling with the clasp.

“Can I see?” she asked, taking the flower in her hand for a better look, and holy gods. “Are they diamonds?” she asked. It sparkled like a night’s sky, each petal covered in tiny chips of moonlight.

“If you don’t want it…” he started again, but Verity cut in.

“It isn’t that I don’t want it. I was just… surprised.”

She ran her fingers over each petal before turning her back to him and holding her hair out of the way. Cool fingers brushed against her neck sending shivers down her spine, as he fixed the necklace in place.

“I just thought,” he mumbled. “That once all this is done, you can have something to remember this Ostara by. Not that you’d want to remember.”

“As if I could forget,” she said, examining the necklace in the mirror. “It’s beautiful, Theo. Thank you.”

Putting the car into gear, he nodded but didn’t look convinced. “No worries.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence, Theo’s hands tight on the wheel, brows drawn unable to relax. Pulling into the valet he heaved a sigh. “Ready?” he asked, and Verity shrugged.

“Probably not but it’s too late now.”

SubRosa was heaving. Pink light bathed the dance floor where every inch overflowed with couples dancing and writhing in each other’s arms. The centre looked almost choreographed with graceful twirls and the occasional lift, but the closer to the edge, the messier, more lustful the dancing became. There was kissing, there was biting, and there was blood.

The plan was simple. A couple of drinks, a couple of dances, talk to as many people as possible and no private rooms. The night with Theo’s friends was the soft launch, the practice run before presenting a united front to the masses. This was the real test.

The past week might have made Verity feel more comfortable at Theo’s side, made it feel almost natural as his hand slid into hers, but the scene unfolding before them reminded her why this was necessary. She thought back to uni, to the way boys would roam dance floors in packs, searching for a pretty face and a good time. Only these weren’t boys, and they were hunting for far more than a bit of fun.

“You okay, angel?” Theo murmured in her ear, as his hand slid around her waist, pulling her into his side as they approached the bar.

Angel? Her eyebrow quirked in question, but she supposed there was no harm in looking a little… cutesy.

“Fine,” she replied, letting him press her against the bar as he had before.

Not now, she begged her core when he leant over her to order their drinks; but lightning shot between her legs at the feel of his fingers digging into her flesh, holding her against his chest.