I forced out another laugh.
"Oh, sugar, I didn't ask his name. That was at the top of your list of rules. "
She was silent for a few seconds, thinking about my answer. "And what might your name be?"
"Why, Candy, of course, because I'm supersweet. "
Disgust flashed across Mab's face. Evidently, she didn't like hookers with cheesy names. But her reaction gave me an idea as to how I could escape this inquisition.
I wet my lips and stepped forward. For a moment, I toyed with the heart-and-arrow rune on my velvet choker, drawing Mab's attention to it. Her eyes flicked to the rune, then back up to mine. I stepped forward and reached for a piece of her hair that had fallen forward over her shoulder.
I immediately regretted the move, because holding onto to Mab's hair felt like rubbing a lit match between my fingers. I half-expected my skin to start blistering from the sensation.
Still, I gave no sign I could sense her elemental magic.
Instead, I rubbed her lock of hair, curled it around my finger, and pushed it back over her shoulder. I let my fingers linger on her shoulder a moment longer than would be considered polite, then drew my arm back. My fingertips, my whole hand, felt like they were on fire. Somehow, I managed not to look at them.
"You know, I'm here this evening to service the guests any way they'd like," I said in a breathy tone. "And since this is your party, I'd be more than happy to make myself available to you, Miz Monroe. For however long you'd like. Any way you'd like. "
For the first time, something like amusement sparked in Mab's eyes. "You're very bold, aren't you?"
I gave her a delicate shrug and a lascivious grin, making sure to wet my lips with my tongue again. "You have to be, in this line of work. "
Mab's black gaze moved down my body again, this time with more prurient interest. She gave a regretful shake of her head. "As tempting as your offer is, Candy, I'm afraid I don't indulge like that at my own functions. I always keep my business and pleasure separate. "
I stuck my lower lip out and pouted. "Too bad. Well, if you change your mind, I'll be around. All night long. "
I batted my eyes at her. Mab raised an eyebrow, but the corners of her lips turned up into what I assumed was a smile. I couldn't tell if I'd amused her or if she was just mocking me, but I didn't care to stick around and find out.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I really do need to get back to work," I said. "Mix and mingle and all that. "
"Of course," Mab murmured.
I made a move to step around her. But Mab Monroe shifted ever so slightly, so that my body brushed up against hers on my way to the door. Again, her magic washed over me, so hot it seemed as if my dress had burst into flames. But evidently Mab liked what she felt because her smile widened. I gave her another lascivious wink and kept going, even though my stomach clenched at the feel of her magic pricking my skin, even harder and hotter this time, as if I'd aroused her.
I'd just made it to the door when Mab called out to me again.
"Have we met before, Candy?" she asked. "For some reason, you look familiar. "
I turned and shook my head. "I don't think so, and I surely would have remembered meeting you, Miz Monroe.
You're a legend in this town. "
I gave her another smile before I ducked out into the hallway.
Somehow, I forced myself to saunter back the way I'd come instead of running like I really wanted to. I didn't know what bothered me more. The fact Mab Monroe had considered taking me up on my fake offer to fuck her or the fact I'd left the Fire elemental in her own bathroom with a dead body in the tub. Either way, things were starting to get out of hand. I needed to get Tobias Dawson alone - now - or get out. Saving my own skin tonight - and Finn's and Roslyn's - came first. Even before the job I'd promised to do for Warren Fox.
I'd just rounded the corner that led back to the main hallway when someone moved in the shadows off to my left. I palmed one of my knives.
"That was quite a performance you put on back there in the bathroom," a male voice murmured. "Very entertaining. "
Owen Grayson stepped out of the shadows. Like every other man on the premises, he wore a tuxedo. Once again, I was struck by how compact, sturdy, and strong his frame was. Almost dwarven, except for his six-foot-one height.
His violet eyes glittered in the low light, even as his blueblack hair disappeared into the shadows. The white slash of a scar under his lips offset the crooked quirk of his nose, adding that much more character to his chiseled features.
First Jake McAllister, then Mab Monroe, and now Owen Grayson. Terrific.
"I'm not sure what you mean. " I tightened my grip on my knife.