Chapter 201: The Past [7]

"Can you afford it?"

The corners of my lips twitched when she replied to my offer to buy her a drink. This... was what I meant, and I was enjoying it far too much.

Something about her utter disrespect thrilled me. Maybe because I have been around so many respectful humans... that this error was hardly one.

The usual response would be to correct it, but...

"I’m wounded," I said, releasing her wrist I had grabbed at the point of our conversation. "Didn’t realize you thought so little of me."

I don’t blame her. She thought I was just a stranger who almost died and came back to repay her kindness with a drink.

"It was just a question," she replied in her sassy tone.

But then there was a switch, as though damning it all to hell.

"Alright then, it’s my birthday after all."

She sat down on the sofa and crossed her legs, her porcelain glittering under the light.

"Fair warning... I’m gonna drain every penny in these pockets of yours. That is, if you still wanna buy a girl a drink."

An amused chuckle slipped from my lips before I could make an account. "I wouldn’t have made that offer if I couldn’t."

"F-Fair point."

She was nervous. I could tell. However, she hid it really well, and she had a habit of coming on strong as though if anyone saw that side of her, it was unacceptable.

I wonder... who does she let see that unfiltered version?

I sat down, but not where she was expecting me to.

She tensed further when I got comfortable next to her, my arms spreading across the back of the sofa.

We maintained eye contact for a really long time. I hadn’t taken a smoke for a while, at least just today, so I figured she was distracted by my green eyes.

So I was... those gray eyes of hers were unique, and it dragged me back to that night we met.

She cleared her throat as though to take control of the situation, and blinked away, finding a much better viewing point, which was the sofa across from us.

Cute.

"So... is this dead man being chased again?" she asked, and I caught how she leveled her gaze as though to check if I had any guns on me.

"Not today," I said.

"Good, because I’m not in the mood for blood. By the way, blood doesn’t look good on you." She finally reached for the drink.

"Blood doesn’t look good on anyone, beautiful."

"What did I say about you calling me beautiful?"

My lips twitched, and my hand did too, aching to put her in her place, but I was enjoying this far too much.

"You mentioned it’s your birthday."

"I did..." she murmured in reply before sipping and frowning.

I darted my eyes toward the bartender. He caught my gaze and stepped out from the bar.

"Then why are you here alone?" I asked as I dragged my eyes back to her. "Aren’t birthdays meant to be celebrated with... people?"

She snorted, sipping again, and wincing. "People..."

"Family."

She pinned her gaze on me but only briefly.

When the bartender came over, I said. "Cocktail, no alcohol."

She made another attempt for the drink, but I effortlessly took the glass and set it down on the table.

"Strong drinks don’t seem like your territory."

She flicked those gray eyes to me again, but this time she didn’t shy away. "That’s very observant of you, and you have only been here for a few minutes."

A slow smile curved my lips. "What can I say? I pay attention to things that interest me."

Her cheeks heated up, and it spread to her neck. Her freckles came out more, and I found myself counting every single one of them.

She straightened her spine. "Do I interest you, um..."

"Zade."

"Zade..." She tasted the name on her lips like it was a mystery.

She leaned forward, pressing my palm into my thigh so that she could get closer.

"An interesting name for a dead man."

I licked my lips. "Perhaps tell this dead man yours."

"Nope!" She leaned away like what just happened never did.

Her cocktail arrived, and she happily sipped through the straw and finished it in one go.

"I’m done. Thanks for the drink, Zadey."

Zadey?

She rose, but I was quick to snatch her wrist and pull her down to my lap. She gasped, tits bouncing as she dropped her gaze to the position we were then back at my face.

"Zadey?" I questioned, my voice twisted in amusement. "Not many have made fun of my name and lived to tell the tale."

She shivered, and I relished the thrill that shot through me straight to my cock, because not only was she frightened right now, but not enough to urge herself to push me away.

If anything, she seemed more intrigued. Confused... but intrigued.

"I-Is that a threat?" She balled my suit with her hands.

"It’s a fact. Will I see you again?"

She bit her bottom lip, but she didn’t reply, pushing off me and straightening the rim of her dress.

I waited patiently, even though she looked like she was on the verge of bolting.

"Maybe," she grumbled before leaving.

At first, I thought maybe having my men follow her, but I thought otherwise.

I’m a patient man after all.

~☆~

The music was booming, but faintly from here. I was at the same spot we were last time as I brought the tumbler to my lips and sipped the whiskey.

I was in the middle of bringing my cigar to my lips when it stopped halfway.

I saw her, slowly walking towards me as though counting her steps to her doom. I pressed the bottom of my cigar into the ashtray as I took a really good look at her.

She was wearing a soft powder blue mini dress. It had a sweetheart neckline, with sparkling pearls around the cups.

Fuck me. Did she walk into this club looking like this?

Having that thought in mind, I found a guy tracking her movement, particularly on her backside. I’m gonna have to deal with him later.

She clenched her purse tightly as she came closer.

"You’re here," she said, almost relieved.

I had a hunch she’d dressed up just for me. I’m pleased.

"So are you."