Corbin throws a punch and knocks Two out, leaving him lying unconscious on the training mat. Three steps back with his hands up in defence. “What were we ‘spose to do? They were massive, Twelve.”
With another swing, Corbin knocks out Three, then lights up a cigarette. “Send the mute out, and that bitch, Skylar,” he orders before leaving the training arena.
CHAPTER FOUR
Whiskey.
STEEL
IMAGES OF EMBER FILL my mind. With each passing day the need to see her grows stronger. She’s become my newest obsession and I can’t get enough. I’m addicted to her sweet laugh, and the way her cheeks blush when she sees me. I love the way she twists her fingers through her hair when she’s thinking and bites her lip when she’s nervous.
There’s an innocence about her, but she’s guarded, too, and it’s so damn beautiful. There’s just one minor problem, she doesn’t want me the way I want her.
Almost six months, five dinner dates, and more than a few work lunches down, and I’m still trying.
I pull on my suit jacket and head downstairs where my brothers and Autumn are sitting at the dining table having dinner. They all look up at me, Clay smirks, and Flynn raises his brow. Knox shakes his head and keeps eating.
“This is dinner number six, right?” Clay asks. “Jeez, brother, you’re losing it.”
I roll my eyes. “My name’s not Flynn, I can wait.”
Flynn laughs. “You keep telling yourself that, brother.”
I grab my keys off the side table and mumble under my breath as I walk out. “Assholes.”
“I heard that,” Clay shouts as I slam the door closed behind me.
When I get into my car, I relax into the black leather seat and take a long, deep breath. With trembling hands, I rummage through the glove box to find my stash of drugs. When I find the one I’m looking for, I swallow it dry and after a few short minutes the trembling stops. I breathe a sigh of relief as I start the car and head out the driveway.
When I reach the highway, I put my foot to the floor and take off, speeding past the other cars, only slowing slightly for the bends. I open the sunroof and the windows, crank up the music, and let it drown out my thoughts. I need this date to work. I need her to choose me.
Carter, Ember’s guard, has had his sights set on her since the day they met, but he knows the rules, and I intend to ensure he follows them. With Carter being half angel, it’s even easier for me to get into his mind and check his thoughts about Ember aren’t being acted upon.
By the time I pull up at the Jade Apartments, I’m ready for a stiff drink and a cigarette, but knowing how much Ember hates the smell, I leave them in the car and lock the doors without looking back.
At the top of the stairwell, Carter’s standing near the doorway with his eyes fixed on his phone. When he hears me, he slips it into his back pocket and nods slightly. “Mr Fallon, Sir, how are you this evening?”
“I’m good, any trouble tonight, Carter?”
He shakes his head. “All quiet here.”
I give him a nod and head to Ember’s door. When it opens, she’s smiling. Her face lights up and her lips—covered in a smooth pink gloss—look sexy as hell.
“Hey, Whiskey, you’re early.”
I smile like an idiot at her nickname for me. From anyone else I’d hate it, but from Ember it’s like she’s taking ownership of me, and that, I fucking love.
“Hi, gorgeous, ready to go?”
She takes my hand and we head toward the stairwell. “Carter, you can stay here, I’ll take care of Ember tonight.”
He only nods, and when Ember says goodbye, he gives her a mumbled, “Good evening, Miss Lord.”
Suck it up, Carter, she’s mine.
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
We pull up at Gluttony and the valet takes my car as I lead Ember into the restaurant. She looks around with her eyes wide. “This place is more beautiful every time I see it.”
We take our seats in the private dining room, and I order our meals and the wine the waitress suggested. As with all our previous dates, Ember asks for water.
I fill my glass and take a mouthful. “You really don’t like alcohol?”
She sips her chilled water through a straw. “Nope, never have.” I don’t believe her, but I don’t question her again.
I take another sip of wine. “What do you like?”
“Well, other than what you already know, I like coffee, lots of coffee. I love choc chip cookies, and chocolate brownies. Oh, and chocolate covered strawberries.” A dreamy, sexy smile dances across her lips.
I laugh. “I’m seeing a pattern here.”
She twirls her finger through a blonde strand of hair and sips her water again. I could stare at her face forever and never get tired of it.
By the time our meals arrive, we haven’t stopped talking. Ember tells me that when she was a child, she used to build blanket forts in her bedroom and pretend she was hiding from monsters. She tells me about the nights she dreamed she had a brother to play with because her only friend was an imaginary girl she called Bella.
Dinner flies by and as we devour a second plate of warm bread rolls and fresh butter, I tell Ember about my family while trying to hide the fact I’m not entirely human. I want to tell her everything, I want to promise her the world and deliver it on a silver platter filled with chocolate covered strawberries and an open invitation into my bed.
I shake my head hard. Not yet. If I mess this up, I don’t just lose Ember, Autumn loses a friend, and for that, Flynn will kill me.
After dessert, Ember’s eyes light up when I suggest going to the look out on the way to the carnival. On the drive there, we continue talking and I find out her father was an alcoholic which would explain her dislike of alcohol, but there still seems to be more she’s not saying.
I pull up at the top of the lookout and park the car, then jump out to open Ember’s door.
When she steps out, I glance down at her long, smooth legs as I take her hand and lead her toward the barrier where we can view the entire city. The Fallon Towers stand in the distance and to the left the spire of the church is lit up with blue and white fairy lights.
“This is breathtaking. Thank you for bringing me here.”
I lace my fingers through hers. “Not as breathtaking as you.” Damn, that was lame.
She laughs. “Ooh, are you flirting with me? Because I totally fell for it.”
Keep falling, baby. “Absolutely.” I lift her hand and raise it to the sky. “See the bright star there...”
She squints, trying to focus on one star. “The brightest one?”
I nod. “It’s called Caelestia.”
“Really? How do you know it has a name?” She drops her hand and turns to me.
“They all have names; my father is into astronomy, so I know a bit about stars and stuff.” Liar.
I snake my arms around her waist and pull her closer.
Before our lips meet she whispers, “Whiskey...” Nothing else leaves her mouth except for a heavy sigh as she inches closer and we kiss for the third time in six months. Not that I’m counting.
Sweet, soft lips mould perfectly to mine, and her tongue, light and delicate slides into my mouth sending a surge of desire through my body. I tug her closer letting my hands glide up her back until my fingers are twisted through her golden hair.