AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I smile, though I fear it doesn’t cover the wistfulness I feel at his question. “Not as much as I’d like, no.” I toss back the rest of my drink.
“Want another?” he asks, gesturing to the empty glass.
“Yeah, but not an old fashioned.”
“What then?”
I shoot him a flirtatious smile. “Surprise me. Maybe something a little sweeter this time around. Something fit for an angel.”
He nods and makes his way to the bar. I watch, enjoying the sinuous way he moves. He’s obviously a man who’s very comfortable in his physicality and has excellent muscle control. It makes me wonder how he moves in other situations, and I feel a little clench between my legs.
He makes his way back a few moments later, carrying another whiskey for himself and something green for me.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Appletini,” he says. “You did specify sweet, after all. But be careful, it still has a little bite to it.” He clicks his teeth, mimicking the bite of the drink, and I wish he were biting me.
“Interesting. I’ve never had one. But I do like apples.” I take a sip, enjoying the combination of sweet and tart. Adan always chooses my drinks for me, in a way that’s frustrating and controlling.
Letting Slade do it is different; it feels fun and a little reckless, like tempting fate. Maybe it’s not the wildest thing in the world, but for someone who lives a sheltered life, it’s a tiny act of rebellion.
“Tell me about yourself, Angel,” he says, running a finger along the back of my hand. I feel the tingle of it in my nipples and all the hairs on my arm stand on end.
I gasp slightly and could swear he grins a secret little grin, as if he knows the exact effect his touch has on me. “All I know about you is that you’re gorgeous.”
It should sound cheesy, like one of the lines he promised not to use on me, but his voice is sincere. Smoldering. It gives me another zing. The effect this man has on me is wild.
“Thanks,” I say shyly. “There’s not much to tell.” What can I offer? At twenty-five, I’m not in school, I don’t have a job, and I’m not allowed hobbies. I’m a trophy, a gift given from one powerful man to another, with no way out.
“Come on, there must be something. You said you’re in between jobs. What is it you do? Or hope to do?”
I shrug. “I haven’t found my passion yet. I like art, though. I’ve always thought it would be an interesting field.”
“You’re an artist? What’s your medium? Paint? Sculpture?”
“No, nothing like that. I would love to make art, but I’m not gifted in that way. But curating, working in a museum…I think I’d enjoy that aspect of it. Or even working in authentication and procuring works for an auction house. Something along those lines, anyway.”
“Fascinating. I can honestly say I’ve never met anyone who wanted to be an art curator.”
I sip my appletini and watch as the jazz quartet sits gears up for another set. During their break, low music played in the background, but now that they’ve returned, the wail of the sax threatens to drown out our conversation.
Slade shoots a glance their way and then turns back to me. “Wanna get out of here?”
Now’s my moment. I can be a good girl and go back home, or I can have one night of fun in this endless, caged existence. Like it’s even a choice.
“More than anything,” I say.
“Your place or mine?” he asks, voice as smooth as honey.
“Definitely yours,” I reply with a grin. He’s probably done this a thousand times, but I never have. I’m going to make the most of it.
Chapter 2
Eva
He throws back the rest of his drink, stands, and extends a hand to me. Before I know it, we’re in his car. It’s a luxury SUV, which I vastly prefer to Adan’s limos. It’s masculine and comfortable, without being pretentious.
Is this the smartest choice I’ve ever made? Probably not. After all, he’s a strange man, and I’m letting him take me to an unknown location. No one even knows I’ve left my condo.
