Page 35 of Savagely Scarred

I grab my belt off the counter and slip it through the loops of my pants. Sadie comes trotting in, her nails clicking on the floor.

“Halt. Sitz,” I command and she obeys, plopping her butt onto the marble floor. “Ava will murder me in my sleep if I show up covered in dog hair.”

She tilts her head at me with curiosity before turning tail and heading towards the living room.

I wish I could run away too.

Sighing, I walk to the steps with my head down, buckling my belt. I hear Liv plodding down the stairs. When I finish and look up, my breath comes out in a rush.

Holy shit.

She stops on the last step, and I take in the view. I thought that the black dress at the Gala was top tier. This will be a close second in my book. She’s dressed head to toe in black just like I am. The leather boots go all the way up to her knees. Her creamy white thighs are exposed between them and a short, pleated skirt. The deep cut of the tank top barely covers her breasts.

“It’s too much, isn’t it?”

Her voice pulls me out of my trance, and I look up at her face. Those gorgeous blue eyes are surrounded by smokey eyeshadow. Her dark stained lips pull into a sheepish grin, and I step into her and pull the bottom one down with my thumb, testing to make sure the lipstick is not going to come off later. When it doesn’t smudge, I internally groan.

“I’m going to buy Ava another birthday present just for picking this outfit out for you.”

“Sooo, I don’t look like a heathen then?”

I wrap my finger around one of the curls in her hair. “You look like the kind of trouble I want to be in every day for the rest of my life.”

She smirks. “Do you want to know the best part about this outfit?” I raise a questioning eyebrow for her to continue. She leans in and whispers, “No panties.”

This time I groan out loud while gripping her hips, jolting her into me.

“Let’s just stay home,” I murmur against her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

Liv leans away from me and pats my chest. “I don’t want to end up on Dateline.”

My head falls back and I stare at the ceiling and sigh.

“Fair point.”

The venue is packed, but we managed to claim a large round table near the back by the bar. There’s still a perfectly good view of the stage and dance floor though. With this many people, I’m grateful to be closer to the alcohol.

Ava is in the middle of smoothing out her glittery mini dress when a waitress comes over and sets a round of shots down.

Ava points to them with one of her black fingernails. “We didn’t order these.”

“On the house, sweetie. Courtesy of the band.” She winks and saunters away.

Ava smiles wildly, and her and Liv turn around to look at the stage where the band members are finishing setting up. The drummer and one of the guitarists wave at them and the girls return the gesture.

That’s who she dated?!

The lanky drummer tucks his long hair behind his ear before setting the cymbal into place. He looks like a fucking hippie with tattoos. I could snap him in half.

I scoff out loud at the same time Lorenzo mutters something in Spanish under his breath. Him and I lock eyes briefly before picking up the shots in front of us. In between us, Dorian is swirling around the neon green liquid, inspecting it.

“What the fuck is this?” he grumbles in disgust.

“Let’s be real. Do you really care?” Lorenzo asks.

He smirks and sets it back down. “Nah. It’ll be a nice change from beer.”

Ava glares at him and hands a shot to Liv. “Don’t go messing up your pretty work shirt.”