I forgot what with the toe-curling kiss he gave me.
Then he was even sweeter, putting some food on the grill and loading music on his phone. He took my hand and pulled me closer, smiling at me.
“Really? Right here? Not just when it’s us after a date?”
“Right here, right now, agra. I would dance with you anywhere, all the time, as it always makes you smile, and you let me hold you close.”
Damn, he was good. Like dayumn.
“And it normally puts me in the mood to be naughty,” I teased him.
He cleared his throat and moved us to the music. “I hadn’t really noticed that.”
Bull. Shit. Of course he had. My prickly pear paid attention.
We swayed together, smiling when he spun me out and then back towards him, dipping me so my hair touched the ground. He picked me up for a turn and I kissed him, pressing my breasts against his chest.
For once, I didn’t care about the eyes or crap. I didn’t notice people whispering, and ignored if this was going to be a thing they took issue with.
I simply enjoyed my boyfriend and the fun we were having.
It died fast when he spun me and I locked gazes with one of the vampire councilmen.
“Don’t,” Darby warned, pulling me back against him. “Don’t react. It’s normal they’re here. A few from each council show to the games to show support and their faces. Aides always do. I’ve never not seen at least a few at a game.”
I nodded I understood, but I doubted they normally roamed the tailgating students, and I didn’t think coming our way was just a coincidence.
“Good day to you, Ms. Vale,” he greeted, staring me over as if appraising an asset he was planning to purchase. It was one step above a mare for auction kind of gaze, but still sick in my mind. “I’m shocked to see you smiling and having so much fun.”
“I have it all the time. I’m sorry you’ve never given me reason to smile around you in the fun sort of way,” I threw right back.
His eyes flashed anger, but he schooled it more quickly than most. “I mean, given you murdered eight dragons weeks ago, I would have thought you would still be recovering and reflecting on your actions.”
“Given you’re supposed to be the law for your people, I would think you knew them better. Murder is defined as the crime of unlawfully killing a person, especially with malice aforethought. I certainly didn’t plan on them illegally coming for me that day. What happened is called self-defense, and I would have thought you’d thank me for what I did, not toss around baseless accusations.”
He blinked at me before chuckling. “Thank you? My gods, whatever for?”
“For protecting the vampires that were there that day, as those dragons were willing to take out anyone to get to me, and my barrier kept them safe. I took them on so no one else got hurt in their insanity, as trying to just take someone for greed and power is insanity.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “That’s according to you they were willing to do all of that. No one has verified it. And it’s because of your stunts that—”
“And now that you’ve seen what I’m actually capable of with a sword, I would have thought you’d thank me for not embarrassing your pawn, your secret weapon, Blake Ward. I could have done much, much worse to her or had an ‘accident’ during our sparring, like you were planning on her to have with me, but I didn’t because I play fair. How is Blake? It’s such a shame she can’t ever come back here. Ever.”
“Someone will take you down, and then we will all—”
“Excuse me, I’m on a date with my boyfriend, and listening to the hysterical ramblings of another council member isn’t on the agenda today. Enjoy the game.” I pulled on Darby’s hand and spun around him.
“You won’t always be able to hide behind the dragons, Mr. Moore. One day they will put their people first and leave you out in the cold. You will get your due punishment then for disobeying your council.”
“Councilman, if anything you asked of me was by our laws, I would gladly accept my punishment. But everything was against our laws, and the gods, and the woman I love, so no matter how it plays out, I have no regrets. I appreciate the dragons and their protection, but my faith is in Tamsin, and that’s where it should be.”
“I love you too,” I breathed in his ear. I threw up a barrier to keep out whatever anyone might say from our ears and also block us from view before kissing him in a way no one should see right then.
“Gods, I love you so much, agra,” he moaned, as I ground my body against his. “Does my girlfriend want me?”
“Yes.”
“Does she need me?”
“Always,” I panted as his hand moved under my shirt. “Do it. Do it right here where no one can see, but they’re all here, Darby.”
“Dirty fairy,” he growled, sucking a mark on my neck as his hand changed course and slid in my jeans. He had started doing that with my neck now that I let him near it again. I wasn’t sure he was really into it, but it was more he was relieved I would trust him near my neck. Maybe a reminder he wanted me more than my blood?
Hell if I knew what was going on in anyone’s mind. I barely knew my own most days.
It was ridiculously hot that he fingered me right there where no one could see us, but we could see them. He
