They Rise at Dusk (Book #1) ✔️

Chapter 3: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Instead of filling me with fear, Dorian's words evoked spite. I gripped his hand as he tried to pull away and leaned in for another kiss, on the opposite cheek.

"Good." I whispered. "Because I'm not leaving without a fight."

Dorian chuckled almost pleasantly, like his old friend reminded him of an anecdote. He shook my grip off, faced both of us, and plastered a smile on his lips.

"Well, I hope you enjoy your evening. The next bottle is on me."

He walked away, no rush in his step.

As I faced the lounge again, I found Jax staring at me, suspicion shining in his eyes, edged with a bit of curiosity. With a knowing smile, he poured us more drinks and tapped the seat next to him, inviting me. Swallowing my own harrowing suspicions, I sat down, the rebellious spark within me renewed.

Dorian thought I wouldn't play dirty. He thought I'd bow my head, tuck the tail between my legs and leave without a word. But I've had enough. They've controlled my life long enough.

"Just a job interview?" Jax put his hand on the backrest above me and pushed the liquor glass towards me.

"What do you mean?" I looked up, finding his smile inches away from my face.

"Call me crazy, but that seemed like a lot more." He said, the smile unwavering.

I crossed my leg, grazing his knee with my calf, and took the glass.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He grabbed the glass right as I tried to take a sip. His eyes cut through mine, telling me just how observant he was, and his smile flattened. Our proximity hit me without hesitation – a strong reminder that the game I played wasn't quite as harmless.

The red lighting still flashed over his face, emphasizing the black ink of his tattoos and the dark void of his eyes. There was something so utterly human about him; passionate, wild, indomitable. Aware of its short existence.

"Tell me what happened between you two." He demanded, holding the glass away from my lips.

Instead of taking the shot glass from his hand, I shifted in my seat, until both of my knees were on the lounge, allowing me to lift myself a bit. Jax watched me, his gaze jumping from my eyes to my lips to the tiny shot glass.

"Why do you want to know?" I lowered my lips to the glass and grabbed the edges with my teeth.

Once the grip I had on the glass appeared strong enough, I leaned my head back and let the contents fall freely down my throat.

Jax took the glass from my mouth, "I want to know if I'm brining an enemy to my bed tonight."

Surprise shot through me, stronger than the liquor. I fell back into the lounge and watched Jax pour another drink. Giddiness I haven't felt in years warmed my insides. Clear, concise, without double meaning – that was how humans communicated.

"And what if I say I used to be with him?"

It wasn't true, but I wanted to test his resolve.

Jax handed another glass to me, "I'd tell you I don't care with whom you used to be."

We downed more shots. His body came closer to mine with every passing second until his presence completely swallowed me. But I wanted to drown in him, consequences be damned. I leaned forward and brought my lips to his, hovering a word away from him.

"And what if I say I'm with someone else right now?"

When he spoke, his lips touched mine briefly, "I don't care with whom you're here, you're coming home with me."