Dragon Heartstring(18)

I stepped up to the table with as much of a smile as I could muster. “Hello, Shakara.”

“Oh. Hi. I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“Likewise.”

“Jed, this is Demetrius Cade.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said with a friendly smile and reached out to shake my hand. “You’re Jessen’s brother.”

Shaking his hand, I replied, “Yes. That’s right.”

“Well, I’d better get up on stage. We’ll be starting soon. Good to see you, Shakara,” he said with a squeeze of her arm before he sauntered across the dance floor and leapt up onto the stage.

“Sorry,” I said. “Did I interrupt something?”

“With Jed? No.” She laughed. “We’re just friends.”

“Good,” I couldn’t help but say.

“Though I did have a crush on him once.”

My gut wrenched. I glanced up at the pretty boy fooling around with his bandmates. I shook my head. “No. He doesn’t suit you.”

“You don’t think so? Why not?”

I shrugged, swiveling my attention to her. She wore another V-neck, this time a white, airy halter dress that tied at the neck and had pearl buttons lining the front. I imagined unbuttoning the entire line all the way down to her naval so I could get a better look at her lovely complexion.

“Demetrius?”

“Why not, you ask? Well, for one, he seems to be more of a kid. Not serious enough for you.”

“You think I need someone more serious?”

“Definitely.”

“Hmm. I rather like to laugh.”

I could think of no appropriate reply. Her attention was drawn to the stage again as Jessen stepped up to the microphone.

“Welcome, everyone! First, I’d like to thank all of you for your support of the Gladium Children’s Hospital. Your attendance alone will help provide equipment and resources the hospital needs to care for our sick youth. We have also set up a silent auction on the second floor if you will please peruse the items there and make a bid. Remember, all proceeds go to the Children’s Hospital. And other than that, thank you for coming and enjoy your night. We have the band Elysium about to kick things off for us.”

Applause welcomed the sudden burst of music as the drummer and two guitarists, all Silverbacks and all blond, lit up the club with a steady beat. They appeared to be brothers. If Jed had wings, I’d say all of them were. Jed started crooning a sultry melody about two lovers under the moonlight.

“Would you like to dance?” asked Shakara.

“I’m not much of a dancer.” I wished that I was so I had a reason to pull her into my arms.

“That’s too bad.” She stood as if to leave, either for the bar or another drink or simply to get away from me.

I searched for something quick to say to keep her close for a while. “Would you join me at the silent auction?”

She glanced at the stage then back at me with a shrug. “Sure.”

I stood beside her and placed a hand on her back where the dress was open all the way down and her skin was bare. Her wings tightened at my touch, the bottom of the one on my side brushing my arm. Guiding her to the elevator, I allowed myself the pleasure of sliding my fingers across her satin skin and down her spine. She stiffened, but didn’t flinch away. Rather, she leaned closer into the crook of my arm, an unexpected but delightful reaction. There was hope yet.



*

I couldn’t believe it. Stern, grave, all-business Demetrius Cade was showing affection in a public place. My first instinct was to pull away, but my traitorous heart hammered hard, and to my surprise, I liked the weight of his warm hand on my back. I liked it too much.

He dropped his hand when we entered the elevator. My dragon growled in protest. I kept my gaze steady and straight, my pulse thrumming at his light touch from a moment before. When the elevator door opened and we exited, he pulled me to a stop facing him, both hands cupped around my bare shoulders. The hallway leading to the second floor gallery was empty. We were completely alone in the alcove. I stared up at him and waited. His jaw tightened as he ground his teeth together. My dragon senses honed in on every line of his tense expression—the way his brow creased then smoothed, the tightening of his lips—as if he fought some inner battle. When his dark eyes landed on mine after perusing my face for what felt like an eternity, I knew he’d come to a conclusion about something. But I certainly hadn’t expected the words that came out of his mouth next.

“I’m going to kiss you now, Shakara.”

“What?”

My heart plummeted right into the pit of my stomach. My wings tightened to my back, an instinctive response when I was surprised or scared. Right now, I was both. I couldn’t say a word as he slid his long fingers around my nape and pressed his palm to my jaw. His fingertips curled and tightened when he leaned forward. As if I would try to get away. I thought about it as his mouth lowered to mine. I should be resisting. I should be protesting.

“Demetrius, I’m not so sure this is a good idea.”

When he pressed his lips to mine, so gently, barely there, adrenaline shot through my body. I gasped at the sudden energy charging the air. He pulled back, capturing my gaze with those dark eyes, most definitely seeing the dragon in mine.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked. “Because I don’t think you do.”