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sebastianswallows · 4 months ago

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Nobody's Darling — 1. The Road

— PAIRING: Benny Cross x F!Reader

— SYNOPSIS: Benny comes across a girl walking alone in the middle of nowhere and offers her a ride to the nearest town. They stop at a motel.

— WARNINGS: none

— WORDCOUNT: 3.1k

— A/N: Hello, my dears! So yeah, I saw The Bikeriders because of Austin (and Tom Hardy) and of course I had to write something for it 😂 I've been labouring at it for the past two weeks lol This was meant to be a one-shot but it kept growing and I decided to split it into chapters. The plot is partly based on something that happened to me, namely I missed my stop and the bus drove me way out of the city before I realised what had happened 💀 Anyway, hope you enjoy it! 😘💕✨

Grey clouds floated across the sky. Fields of yellow and burnt grass rolled along like waves. A string of birds cut through the far horizon. The fading light of the sun seeped softly through the glass and warmed her cheek but she was happy to keep sleeping, caught in that special spot between awake and dreaming when her thoughts were peaceful, settled, and she could weave from them a pretty fantasy. The chill of a November evening didn’t quite make it into the bus but the windows were already fogging and the seats grew cold.

She woke up with a start when the wheels struck a hole in the ground and everything jolted.

“Where am I?” she groaned, squinting at the window. Her reflection frowned back but beyond it, she could see… nothing. She was in the middle of nowhere with only naked fields and swaying power lines around her. She checked her watch and her heart stopped.

“I should’ve been home by now. Oh no, I did not sleep through my stop,” she whispered to herself — but she did. “Wait! Driver!”

She got up and ran to the front, scrambling past all those empty seats, her jacket in one hand and purse flailing in the other. The driver gave her a bored expression as she leaned panting against the divider.

“Wait, please, I need to get off! Where are we?”

The man looked at her with all the serenity of an overworked drone in a dead-end job. He didn’t seem particularly alarmed to see her there, nor did he seem to care about her predicament.

“Halfway to the next town,” he mumbled as he started to slow down. “There’s another stop ‘bout a mile back.”

“Great…”

“Next bus comes tomorrow ‘round seven thirty.”

“Oh.”

She looked around again as if she could see something different from up here but it was all the same. The vastness of it frightened her and she half-wished she’d never woken up.

The driver pulled over at the side of the road and tilted the cap on his bald head, his teeth tight around a toothpick.

“You’ll be alright?”

“Yeah…” she said automatically. “Sure.”

He opened the door and her whole body began to tremble, the situation suddenly completely real. She gathered all her nerves and put one step in front of the other, and as soon as her feet were on the ground the bus started to move again, driving away.

The sun was dipping into a pool of pink and the birds that circled overhead were growing louder. She was alone in a darkening field with nothing in front of and behind her except for lamplight spilling yellow and pale over an empty road and dead grass all around. If she regretted getting off that bus, it was too late now.

“At least it was warm inside,” she muttered. “But I could never make it back in time for work tomorrow from the next town… Damn it.”

There was nothing left to do. She sighed to herself and started walking back. In her head, she tried to calculate how late it would be by the time she made it home but each result only scared her further.

“Best not to think about it,” she said. “Just keep walking…”

She hadn’t gone on such a hike since she was a little girl, and never far outside of town. She’d only walked through fields and meadows and the forest that stretched east. There was certainly no time for it since getting hired at the local newspaper, and she liked it that way. Her days were measured and predictable, her clothes were always clean, and nothing ever hurt her — except her back if she sat down writing for too long. She was scared now not just because she was alone and in the dark but because she’d never done a thing like this before. Her heels were unsteady on the crumbling tar and her purse felt heavy on her shoulder. Insects were singing in the grass and creatures rustled through it that she dared not think about. Were there snakes around here? Rats? She pulled her jacket tighter around herself.

After half an hour she came across the bus stop that the driver mentioned. The sign for it was half-chewed off and the wooden bench was worn and stained a sickly yellow beneath a flickering light. She considered for a moment sleeping there until the morning but then the ignominy hit her: to sleep on a dirty wooden bench under the flutter of moths and mosquitoes. To come home unwashed and stinky with her hair a mess and her stockings torn. And if any of the neighbours saw her… No. She walked past that bus stop and didn’t look back, and soon found herself surrounded by darkness again.

“You deserve it,” she muttered as she wrapped her arms around herself, her body ambling forward with none of the grace and poise she had half an hour before. “How could you fall asleep? You weren’t even that tired, and the bus ride is so noisy. You couldn’t wait another ten minutes to get home? Idiot, idiot…”

The walk back to the city was taking longer than she thought it would, and by eight o’clock she was still out there. The sky was sprinkled with stars and the wind was flitting gently through her hair and the creatures in the bushes were growing ever louder. If she weren’t so cold and terrified she might have felt exhausted. Her feet hurt and her back was bent under the weight of her purse and she hadn’t eaten since noon. But suddenly, in the distance, she saw a glint of something made of glass and metal — it was a phone booth. The joy that rushed through her wiped all her pain away and she hurried to reach it, nearly tripping. She felt halfway home as soon as she stepped inside its murky walls.

“Please work, please work, please please please.”

She picked up the receiver and held it on her shoulder as she opened the phone book and started leafing through for the nearest police station. They would be obliged to come and pick her up — that is if she could only explain where she was…

“Hello? Operator?” But no voice came from the other side. The tone was dead. “Operator?” she tried again, her voice growing shaky. “Hello? Anyone?”

As she kept tapping on the phone hook, desperate to reach someone, a bright light came peeking over the horizon from the direction she had just come from. It couldn’t have belonged to a car but whatever it was that approached her was fast and loud as all hell. She held her breath as she watched it getting bigger, brighter, closer. This was the only driver she’d seen the whole night and she was equal parts hopeful and horrified of just what it could be. After all, what kind of person would be out driving at this hour on a weekday?

She forgot about the telephone as she followed this strange light until it was close enough to blot out all the darkness. It blinded her for a moment but that thunderous rumble soon settled to a pur and it stopped on the other side of the road from her. When her eyes adjusted to the brightness she realised it was a motorcycle, thin and lean and silver.

Its rider propped himself against the ground on one long leg clad in blue jeans and reached into his pocket. He was tall and slender, his figure swathed in shadows, his motions simple but relaxed and almost elegant.

“It doesn’t work,” he said as he lit a cigarette. “Been broken for a while now.”

The flash of flame from his zippo lighter gave her a hint of his face. He was young, perhaps even younger than her, with full pink lips and a slight stubble, soft blue eyes, and a sprinkle of dirt like freckles on his face. There was a wildness to him and an air of gentleness as well, but his jacket was a dark denim and thick with patches, symbols that probably meant something to him — he must’ve belonged to some sort of “club”. She didn’t know much about bikers aside from what she read about them in the papers, but they’d always seemed to be a bunch of layabouts. Aside from drinking far too much and smoking she knew they got into trouble with the law, had fights, caused accidents, and were generally dangerous to be around.

“I’m… just trying to get to town,” she said in a wary voice.

“Well, I’m headed that way.”

She said nothing, her hand still frozen on the telephone.

“Want a ride?”

It was a tempting offer but one that made her shiver. She’d never been around a man like that, never even exchanged words with one, and everything that she expected from his kind — rudeness, lewdness, and a bad attitude — was suspiciously absent from him. He looked at her with those soft eyes, his long leg braced against the road, and waited. She should have accepted his offer, she should have just gotten on his bike and wrapped her arms around him, but… she couldn’t.

“No, thank you.”

He kept on smoking quietly and looked her up and down much as she’d done with him. She wondered what he saw… She was probably a pathetic sight and a strange kind of person to come across in such a place. When his eyes finally left her figure they strayed across the wilderness. There was nothing around them for miles, they both knew that, and other cars wouldn’t be around that road for hours.

“You know how far away you are?” he asked, rolling the cigarette between his fingers.

“I’ll be fine.”

“It’s a long walk.”

“I don’t want to…” She was about to say she didn’t want to ride all the way back with a stranger but instead said, “trouble you.”

He didn’t react at first, keeping that air of stillness about him that made her wonder what he thought. But after a few moments, he nodded and dropped the cigarette, crushed it underneath his boot, and with a leisurely motion mounted his bike once more and revved the engine up. Before she could say another word he’d already sped into the distance and left only a cloud of dust behind.

She almost felt sorry to see him go. Almost felt guilty too… She didn’t want her distrust of him to be so apparent or to cause offence, no matter what kind of a person he was. But she told herself he must’ve been a dangerous man and that she was better off alone than riding back to town with him. Well, she wouldn’t be riding back with anybody now… The telephone line was dead, just as he’d said. The wire must’ve been disconnected somewhere.

She wanted to cry. Instead, she began to walk once more, trudging through the dark.

The sky was as black as a curtain cast across a silent stage and against it lit from below the pale lights of interspersed lamps. The roaring of the bike got slowly lost in the road that lay before her and soon only her steps echoed to remind her of how alone she was. She watched the small light of the rider fade and hugged herself against the cold, holding the purse to her chest as if it could protect her. Her feet were hurting so much she worried they were bleeding and she considered taking them off until she looked down at the road and its uneven dirty tar. She closed her eyes even as she kept on walking, too tired to gaze out at the same old nothingness again.

But then she heard a roar floating on the wind and felt a tremble in her chest as if an earthquake was approaching, and when she opened her eyes again she saw that lone light making its way back to her. He seemed to ride back faster than he did as he was leaving and he reached her in no time at all. She slowed down to a stop and so did he, parking right beside her.

“Hey,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck in an awkward, boyish way. “Look, I’m sorry if I scared you earlier. But I can’t just leave you out here. You sure you don’t want to —”

“Alright,” she said, her voice already weak and weary. She was hungry and cold and scared that she’d never make it back to town that night. Too scared to refuse his help a second time. “Just… just get me to the edge of town. I can make my own way home from there.”

If he was surprised at how quickly she accepted now, he didn’t show it. He simply moved closer to the front of his seat and made space for her behind him.

She took a deep breath and approached him carefully as if he rode a beast, not something made of metal. It looked solid and precariously thin at once and yet he straddled it confidently. The saddle looked just big enough for two. She hopped on as best she could and tried to keep her legs together but when he looked at her over his shoulder he shook his head and laughed.

“Legs on either side,” he said. “You’ll fall off if you ride like that.”

“But, my skirt…”

He looked up and down her legs and she tried not to read too much into the way his eyes had darkened.

“Roll it up,” he said in a low and soothing voice. “Don’t worry. I won’t look.”

She held her breath as she rolled her skirt up high enough so that she could throw her other leg over the side. He waited while she settled into the position and planted her feet firmly.

“Ready? Hang on,” he said as he revved the engine up. “I’ll go real slow, alright?”

“A-alright…” she said as she placed her hands timidly around his waist.

But he didn’t go slow, at least not by her standards.

It was completely different to riding in a car, more visceral and real with no windows to protect her. She let out a little scream and clung to his body more tightly than she meant to, eyes falling shut, legs tightening around his bike. He smelled of gasoline and metal and several days’ worth of sweat cooled down by the chilly autumn night but he felt so solid in her arms, so firm and steady, even as the world flashed by. Eventually, she was brave enough to rest her cheek against his back and opened her eyes to look at the vacant countryside. It was a little frightening, as she expected, but peaceful too. As she fisted her hands in his jacket, right over his heart, she tried to peek over his shoulder but could just see the side of his face, focused and relaxed, and the white circle of the headlight. Somehow, that was enough for her. His hair tickled her forehead, feeling softer than it had any right to be, and she found herself smiling. There was something base and ancient in the way he smelled, the way he spoke, even in the way he moved. It was as if he had in him the blood-memory of an ancient Knight on armoured steed galloping alone and steadfast through the fields and woods of untamed lands.

The outskirts of town were much tamer than that, however, and before long they could see the faint lights of the outermost buildings, squalid flats, and blinking advertisements. When he started slowing down she felt herself breathe a sigh of relief. It must’ve tickled the back of his neck because he bent his head forward as if to get away — or to ask for more.

“Where are we?” she asked once the noise of the motorcycle died down.

“Marshal Avenue,” he said, easing the bike to the side of the road.

She didn’t know exactly where that was, but she guessed they were on the other side of town from where she lived. All along the street were boarded-up shops, derelict flats, and liquor stores. Across from where he parked was a building that looked to be about a hundred years old. She could hardly fathom walking home at that hour, especially through a neighbourhood like that, but it was better than being in the middle of nowhere.

“Well, thank you. For the ride.”

He lit another cigarette and dismounted the bike, rolling his broad shoulders to unwind. She got off quickly, scrambling to cover her legs in the crumpled skirt before he turned around and saw her. He gave her a look over his shoulder when he heard her fussing and slowly turned around.

“You sure you don’t want me to drive you home?”

“Yeah, I… I can walk from here.”

He looked at her and stayed quiet but there was something in his eyes behind that veil of smoke that made her curious about what he had to say. He simply nodded and turned toward that old building behind him. She hugged herself and looked up and down the street, waiting for him to say anything — to ask for money, to make fun of her for thinking she could make it home, to make a pass at her…

“Well, good night,” she said.

And as soon as she started walking away he spoke to her again.

“Hey, it’s kinda late. They got rooms upstairs.”

“What?” she asked, turning on her heels a bit unsteadily.

“Owner knows me,” he shrugged, crushing the cigarette beneath his boot and immediately lighting up another. “Could get you one for cheap.”

She shifted her weight from one foot to another and looked around pretending to think… but her eyes kept coming back to him. He puffed quietly away and gazed at her with no design behind those clear blue eyes, looking just as uncertain and awkward as she felt standing in the middle of the street. She didn’t want to trust him but a part of her responded in the same way that she did when she saw a homeless puppy.

“You mean, a room of my own?”

“Yeah.”

She looked from him to the large building again.

He could probably tell that she was torn because he helpfully supplied, “They got food too. Hungry?”

She was. It had been over twelve hours since she’d eaten or had anything to drink.

“I kind of am.”

“Me too,” he said. “Come on.”

#Benny Cross #The Bikeriders #Benny Cross x Reader #Benny Cross x You #Benny Cross imagine #Austin Butler #Austin Butler imagine #The Bikeriders Fanfiction #Benny The Bikeriders #sswallow;fanfics #fanfic;nobodysdarling #sswallow;made a thing

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tswaney17 · 4 years ago

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I Do Bad Things with You - Part 17

I had no idea how much I needed to happen during this fundraiser scene, but apparently, it was A LOT. I hate that I had to break this up again, but just got too long to keep it all in one piece (we’re looking at around 12K words between Part 17 and 18 alone). I have most of Part 18 finished, and I’m hoping I can have it up by next weekend because that will be the final piece before I take a break to read ACOSF. I will keep you all updated on what the plan is when we reach that point. I’m so very excited for you to read this, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 💙💚💜

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault, language, NSFW (some brief descriptions)

Word Count: 6,271

Azriel was in the process of tying his midnight black tie when he heard Elain call out for him. He could tell from her tone of voice that nothing was seriously wrong, only that she needed to see him. “Coming!” he hollered back, slipping his Rolex onto his wrist. He tucked the black box sitting on his dresser into his pants pocket. Snatching his suit jacket off his bed, he adjusted the lapels and buttoned it as he made his way to her bedroom. He knocked lightly on her door. “Elain?”

“Come in!”

He opened her door and was met with a whirlwind of brown locks. “Are you all right?” he asked, watching her flutter about her room.

She spoke so quickly, her words blurred together. “Can you zip me up, please? I struggled the last time and I’m trying to get my notes together for the presentation, and my hair isn’t cooperating—”

“Elain!” he stated firmly, gripping her biceps to stop her movement. “Hey, breathe. Take a breath.”

Her eyes were golden orbs in the bright light and they seemed to burn anxiously. She did as he said, taking a deep breath.

“Good, again.”

In through her nose and out through her mouth. She repeated the motion a few times.

Deeming her calmed down, he tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’ve got this, Elain. I know you’ve got this. You’re going to do great tonight,” he said earnestly.

Elain seemed to relax under his stern gaze, letting out another breath. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

His grin was a slash of white on tan skin. “Okay, now turn around,” he said, indicating with a twirl of his wrist.

She did as she was told, pulling her hair to one side over her shoulder.

It took nearly all of his willpower to not suck in a sharp breath at the miles and miles of bare skin he found waiting for him. The last time that she had worn this dress, it hadn’t even crossed his mind what she might or might not be wearing beneath it. But looking at the soft skin of her back, there was no doubt that she was indeed bra-less in the dress. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep blood from running south of his waistline.

In his sort of daze, he hadn’t realized she said something until she turned her head to look at him over her shoulder.

“Huh?” was his undignified response.

Elain snorted softly. “I said there’s a clasp at the top of the zipper.”

“Oh.” Gently, he swept the few stray hairs away from her neck and he took satisfaction in watching her shiver under his touch. His knuckles brushed the top of her spine as he hooked the clasp together. He reached for the base of the zipper, located on the small of her back just above the swell of her perfect ass. Az swallowed hard, gripping the slider with shaky fingers, and slowly tugged it up. He had this sudden desire to lean forward and kiss every inch of bare skin exposed to him. Choking that urge in a tight fist, he finished zipping up the dress and helped put her hair back into place.

She stepped out of his grasp, twisting to face him. Pink dusted her cheeks and she appeared almost self-conscious as she asked, “Well? How do I look?”

He took a moment to just look her over. Fuck, he loved that dress on her. The color brought out this lovely blush all over her body. The slit up her leg made his knees go weak with desire. But it was the daring, open front and plunging neckline that threatened to make him fiddle with his pants.

She looked ethereal, like a goddess coming down from the heavens to steal the hearts of men and women alike. He would follow her like an obedient dog if it meant catching a glimpse of her in that dress.

Realizing she was still waiting on an answer, the only thing his sophisticated brain could seem to come up with was, “You look beautiful.” It didn’t even remotely cover how incredible she looked, but still, she ducked her head in shyness. “Though, I think you’re missing something,” he added.

Her brows furrowed and she looked down at herself like she was mentally checking off a list of everything she should have on.

With her eyes downcast, he took the opportunity to reach into his pocket and pulled out the black box, holding it between them.

Her head snapped up to look at the box, her eyes going wide, though she didn’t say anything. Butterflies churned in his gut, something he hadn’t felt in over ten years, and though he wanted to spit out this entire speech, something told him to just wait—to let her come to him.

As if reading his mind, her eyes slowly slid to his and she voiced, “What is that?”

Carefully, he opened the box and watched as her gaze dropped back down to his hands.

She sucked in a breath, hand coming up to her mouth.

Inside was a rose-gold flower pendant, shaped similarly to a daisy, with small diamonds embedded at the center and up the petals. When he saw it in the shop with Feyre earlier that day, he immediately thought of Elain. It was far less than he was anticipating on spending, but it was the only thing that he saw that struck him as her—that he knew she would love if he managed to get her to accept it.

She stood there, staring at the necklace for a moment until finally, she repeated her question from earlier, almost in a trance. “What is that?”

“It’s a necklace,” he deadpanned.

That had her shooting a glare up at his face. “That’s not what I meant, prick,” she huffed. “I mean, what is it for?”

He raised a brow in confusion. “It’s for you… am I not doing this well enough?” He could see the resistance in her face, in the half step back she started to take.

“No, Azriel—”

But he caught her wrist, stopping her retreat. “Hey, please. Consider it a belated graduation present.”

Elain shook her head. “I can’t—”

“You can,” he interrupted again. “I got it from that little jewelry boutique in the Rainbow and there’s no return policy. So, if you don’t accept it, I’ll just have to give it away and I would really hate to do that.” He knew he had her when that insufferable look crossed her features.

She sighed. “Why did you do this?” she asked, eyes going back to the necklace still sitting in the box between them. Her fingers daintily brushed over the top.

“Because I wanted to. Is that such a bad thing?”

“No,” she finally admitted and peered back up at his face. “It’s beautiful. And I’m glad you chose something from that boutique and not something from like, Cartier’s or whatnot.”

He flinched like a kid getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Her eyes widened. “No…”

Az released her wrist and held his hand up in mock surrender. “In my defense, I’ve never bought jewelry for a woman before. I’m just thankful that Feyre helped me out this morning.”

She started. “Feyre? Why was my sister involved in any of this?”

He winced. “Well, she stopped by my office this morning to show me different paintings she’s working on. I’m buying a piece for there. After chewing my ass out about all of this,” he waved his hand around in emphasis, “I asked her for help in selecting a piece for you. She’s the one who recommended the boutique, and I’m glad she did. I didn’t find anything on those websites that reminded me of you.” He raised the hand still holding the box up a bit. “Just this.”

Elain rolled her eyes. “Gods, our family is meddlesome.”

Az tipped his head back and laughed. “You think?” His heart swelled at the look on her face. Fuck, she was beautiful.

After regaining his composure, he asked her again, “So, will you please accept the necklace?”

She sighed in exasperation, but he could tell she was fighting a smile—and losing. “Yes, I’ll accept it. Can you help me put it on?” Turning her back to him again, she lifted her brown locks out of the way.

He gently pulled the necklace from the box, snapped the lid closed, and set it on her dresser. Carefully, Az stuck his arm through the hole she created with her hair and clasped the necklace around her neck.

Elain let her hair fall back into place and turned to look at him. “How does it look?”

He smiled softly at her, even as his stomach raged with the need to hold her. To kiss her. “Perfect,” was all he managed to choke out.

She seemed to glow at the compliment before she tucked her hair behind her ear—a nervous habit she did when somebody looked at her for too long. “Thank you, Azriel, truly.”

“You deserve it,” he murmured.

Her eyes seemed to pause, flicking between his and he knew she wanted to say something else. After shaking her head to clear whatever fog had formed, she grabbed her notes for her speech, she asked him, “Shall we?”

Az didn’t let the disappointment show on his face as extended his arm to her, letting her loop hers at his elbow. “We shall.”

The pair made their way down the stairs right as the elevator door opened and Connall stepped out.

He smiled when he saw them, nodding once in their direction. “Mr. Knight, Elain. You both look very nice.”

She giggled lightly as they reached the bottom of the staircase. “Thanks, Con. You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said looking him over.

Indeed, the dark-haired twin was sporting a black suit, hair slicked back and if he looked close enough, he’d see the earpiece that his twin was also wearing for easy communication.

“I asked the twins to escort us to the fundraiser. Just in case,” he explained when she raised a brow at the appearance of her one bodyguard.

“Fenrys is in the car waiting for us. Are you two ready?”

Elain snagged her purse from the Foyer. “Ready,” she smiled at him.

Az was sure his heart would stop dead in his chest one day from that smile.

~~~~~

The ride to the hotel where the hospital benefit fundraiser was being held was quiet, yet not uncomfortable. Elain was concerned that being in the car with Azriel and Fenrys at the same time would have been…awkward. Especially after how things went this morning. So, she was surprised when it wasn’t.

Azriel was sitting with his leg propped up on his knee at the ankle, his arm draped over the back of the seat, though he wasn’t actually touching her. She found herself wishing that he was. The suit he wore looked like it was tailor-made for him—which it probably was. It seemed to accentuate every rock-hard muscle on him and truth be told, Elain’s mouth went dry at the sight of him when he stepped into her bedroom earlier.

Her hand automatically went to fiddle with the gorgeous necklace that was sitting on the center of her chest.

“Do you really like it?” Azriel asked, nodding towards the piece of jewelry. “The necklace, I mean.” He seemed shy almost. Like he was nervous she’d hate it. The hope that had flared on his face nearly made her choke.

“Yes, Azriel. I love it,” she smiled softly at him. “It truly is beautiful. Thank you, again.”

The relief in his eyes made something warm pool inside her. It was such a boyish look on such a deadly male, the idea of it almost made her laugh. That was until she noticed Fenrys’ pointed stare in the rearview mirror.

His golden brow was arched as if saying, see, it was jealousy this morning.

Elain quickly looked away, ignoring that searing feeling in her gut. A flush crept down her neck and chest and she sensed Fen’s smirk.

“You okay?” Azriel asked, likely noticing the blush her skin was sporting.

The corner of her mouth quirked up when she looked back at him, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

It looked like he was going to contradict her when Connall interrupted them. “Uh, Mr. Knight. We have paparazzi at the entrance.”

Azriel’s head snapped up to look out the front windows his smile morphing into a frown. A filthy curse fell from his lips.

As they slowly approached the drop-off area, Elain shrank away from the window.

A hand came down onto hers in a comforting gesture, and she looked up to find him watching her carefully. “They can’t see you in here,” he murmured. Indeed, the windows of his SUV were tinted to probably illegal levels—not that he seemed to care—preventing anyone from being able to see inside. He returned his attention to the collection of cameras outside, the mental calculations as clear as day on his face. “Are there any other entrances?”

“No sir. We did a run by this morning. This is the only entrance and exit,” Fenrys stated, the first thing he had said since they all got into the car.

Azriel pursed his lips. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at her. “Let me come around to your side before you get out. Keep your head down until we’re inside.” Her stomach squeezed, not in rebellion, but nervousness. Given everything that was going on, this was starting to sound like a bad idea.

He turned his attention to the brothers upfront. “Con, I want you on her other side. Fenrys will join us after parking the car.” After the twins nodded in confirmation, Azriel and Con opened their doors.

Immediately, the sound of cameras and flashing lights assaulted them and she heard the shouts of, “Mr. Knight! Mr. Knight!” Nerves fluttered around in her stomach as Azriel made his way to her side of the car.

When he opened her door, he braced himself in front of it to shield her from most of the paparazzi, though she could still see the flashes of light behind him—giving him an almost halo glow.

Her eyes found his and he held out his hand to her, nodding encouragingly.

Elain took a deep breath before placing her hand in his and climbed out of the car. The bright lights from the cameras nearly blinded her, but she did as he said and kept her head down, eyes trained on the ground beneath them. The paparazzi seemed to go into a frenzy at her appearance, which only grew worse when Azriel looped her arm into his, keeping their fingers tangled together. She heard the sound of the car door shut and soon felt Connall’s body on her other side, his hand on the middle of her back in a protective stance.

The crowd roared at the sight of them. “MR. KNIGHT, WHO ARE YOU WITH? MR. KNIGHT, WHO IS THAT?”

Some addressed her directly. “MISS, WHAT’S YOUR NAME? MISS, CAN WE GET A PHOTO OF YOU WITH MR. KNIGHT?”

The awful camera lights began to make her dizzy and her knees started to buckle when her anxiety swept over. She could feel her heartbeat in her skull, the sound like distant drums to signal an enemy's approach.

Azriel gave her hand another comforting squeeze and his head leaned into her as he whispered, “We’re almost inside.”

Her breathing came out harsh—stomach churned with nausea. Oh, gods, this was such a bad idea.

The security hired by the hospital noticed the commotion coming in through the front doors and they rushed out to help maintain the crowd, putting more distance between them.

When they finally got inside the hotel, Azriel pulled them into a secluded hallway, just past the ballroom entrance where the fundraiser was happening. He dropped her hand in lieu of cupping her face. “Take a breath, Elain.”

His voice grounded her—soothed the tidal wave of anxiety from a vicious storm. She did as she was told, in through her nose and out through her mouth.

“Good, keep going.”

Her nails latched onto the fabric of his forearms, tethering herself to him and his thumbs swept over her cheeks in comforting gestures. After a few more deep breaths, her stomach settled and her breathing returned to normal. “I’m okay.”

He pulled her to him, lips brushing her forehead in a tender kiss and she felt herself melt into his embrace.

Elain heard a set of footsteps approach and she stiffened slightly until Fenrys’ voice echoed around them.

“They’re going nuts out there. You’re not photoed much are you?”

Azriel twisted her in his arms, tucking her close to him. His cedar and mist scent washed over her, making her relax even further into him. “No, I try to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible. But that, unfortunately, doesn’t stop them from trying to invade my personal space.” His gaze dropped down to her. “You sure you’re okay?”

She nodded, letting out another deep breath. “Yes, I’m fine. That was just a bit overwhelming.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t anticipate paparazzi. Is that normal for these fundraisers?”

Elain shook her head. “No, I think it’s because Thesan is receiving a national award. All the magazines have been trying to get a scoop with him and he’s denied everyone.”

“Well, I’d like to avoid any other surprises tonight.” His hazel eyes returned to the twins. “I want you close to her.”

“Azriel, I have to talk to people. I’m supposed to schmooze with potential donors,” she explained, though she didn’t step out of his embrace, not wanting to leave the warmth of his body.

“I’m not saying you can’t. I just want them in the same vicinity as you throughout the night. I know it’s not ideal, but if we weren’t expecting the paparazzi, what else could we have missed during our run-through.”

She could tell he seemed upset by the encounter with the people outside—that he wasn’t able to control the situation and was now trying to determine what else could happen tonight. He didn’t want to leave her exposed when things with Hybern have been nearly non-existent for too long. Elain knew it put him on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Knew that it was exactly what Hybern wanted from him.

The waiting was almost just as bad.

Not wanting to cause another fight, she relented. “Fine, but please,” she began glancing at the twins. “Don’t hover. I don’t want to have to answer questions that I believe you don’t want asked at the moment,” she finished looking up at the tall male next to her. From her angle, she could easily see his sculpted nose, the sharp jawline that could cut out a girl’s heart and was dusted with a little stubble from his five o’clock shadow that had started forming. She watched it feather as he considered her words—the movement making her knees weak.

Fuck, why was that so attractive?

“Fine, no hovering.”

Elain offered them a tight-lipped smile, pulling her phone out of her purse. “The presentation is about an hour from now. Until then, we mingle. Keep a low profile, please.” She looked pointedly at Fenrys.

He squawked in outrage. “I’m offended by that accusation.”

Connall crossed his arms, his suit bulging with the movement. “Is she wrong, though?”

The golden twin huffed in resentment, but couldn’t deny it.

Azriel released his hold on her shoulders and tucked her arm under his.

Not able to help herself, Elain laced her fingers through his—the scarred flesh serving as a reminder of their time together in high school. Their hands still seemed to fit perfectly together and for a minute, she just studied where they were joined.

At how right it felt to have his large hand wrapped around hers. She had missed this, missed him. When she finally looked up at his face, his brows were furrowed from watching her.

Butterflies erupted in her stomach at how he looked at her—both in concern and like she was the only person in the world. Elain reached up with her other hand and smoothed the crease with her thumb. “You shouldn’t frown. It’ll give you wrinkles.”

It was such an absurd thing to say that Azriel tipped his head back and laughed.

The deep sound slithered along her spine, making her shiver.

He tugged on her arm. “Come on, doctor,” he murmured lowly.

Warmth pooled low in her belly at the phrase. Gods, she wanted him to say that again—to whisper it to her under the cloak of darkness, within the soft sheets of his bed. She was glad he had a hold of her as her knees wobbled dangerously and she swayed slightly in her heels.

“You good?” he asked as they walked into the brightly lit hotel ballroom.

Other guests flitted about, doctors, nurses, and donors alike. The twins seemed to vanish among the crowd.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She flashed a smile, though he looked unconvinced.

A server walked by with hors d’oeuvres and Azriel reached out to grab one, handing it to her, and took one for himself.

Her nerves had spiked and she hadn’t eaten anything all day though she knew she should’ve. The thought of a full meal made her stomach turn queasy, so she avoided food altogether.

When he realized she still hadn’t eaten her appetizer, he gave her a puzzled look. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

He looked skeptical. “Elain, I can tell something is wrong. Please don’t hide it from me.”

It was the desperate tone of his voice that broke her. “I’m just too nervous to eat.”

Azriel eyed the bruschetta appetizer still sitting in her hand. “You haven’t eaten all day, have you?”

She winced, knowing he probably wasn’t going to like her answer. “No, just the coffee and an apple at break this morning.”

He took a deep breath like he was trying to rein himself in. “Elain, you need to eat. You’re going to get up there and pass out because of it.”

“I don’t need a lecture, Azriel.” She couldn’t help the sharpness of her tone and dropped his hand.

But he caught her wrist, preventing her from fleeing. “Hey, please. Just a bite and I’ll stop. I know you’re nervous but you need to fuel your body.”

In her mind, she knew he was right—though she hated to admit it. “Shit, fine. If it’ll get you off my back,” she snapped, popping the whole bruschetta into her mouth. Elain realized her mistake too late—the hors d’oeuvre was too large for her cheeks and she struggled to chew and swallow it.

He reached up, wiping at the crumbs and spread that had smeared at the corner of her lips and then he sucked the mess on his thumb into his mouth.

Her eyes bugged at the sight and she swore she felt the pull of his suck like he had done it to her own fingers. She knew her pupils had blown wide with lust and for the first time since they had reacquainted, Elain wondered how much Azriel had changed in the bedroom.

She knew he was likely more experienced in that department than she was, seeing as she had only ever been with him and with Graysen. But Azriel was a wealthy, highly attractive male. She wasn’t under any illusion that women probably threw themselves at him. And if she had to take a guess, she’d say that he was knowledgeable in how to pleasure a female.

An ache formed between her legs—the first time since that terrible night so many years ago that she was craving physical intimacy. That she wanted sex. Wanted to feel the bliss that came with it.

Her skin heated and she knew she was blushing, could feel the color as it crept down her neck and across her chest.

“You okay?” Azriel asked, pulling her from her reverie.

Elain blinked at him, catching the way his hazel eyes were coated in desire—like he could smell her arousal.

His eyes traveled down her chest, following the blush before returning to her face. It was like he could read her mind, his lips parting for breath. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he whispered, his hand coming up to cup her face.

Her breathing turned labored as he slowly began to lean in. Thoughts scattered from her mind and she could only focus on one thing.

Him.

Her body was hyper-aware of his proximity, of how he seemed to step closer to her. It screamed for him.

Azriel.

Her eyes had just started to flutter shut when the moment broke.

“Elain!” came Viviane’s voice.

The world around them returned into focus and the male in front of her groaned, dropping his forehead onto hers.

She let out a heavy breath, both cursing and grateful for the interruption. There was no going back after that and she wasn’t sure she was ready to cross that line again. Taking a step back, she turned just in time to catch Viv in a brief hug.

“Hi Viv,” she smiled, hoping her face wasn’t still flushed. A tall man with snow-white hair and icy blue eyes tossed an arm over the head nurse. “Kallias, good to see you again,” she acknowledged.

“You as well, Elain. Who’s this?” he asked, indicating to the male behind her.

But before she could answer, Viv popped off with, “This is Elain’s friend, Axel.”

“Jesus Christ, Viv,” she muttered.

Azriel just laughed, stepping around her to shake Kallias’ hand. “It’s Azriel, actually. Nice to meet you.”

“Kallias,” he responded. “You’ll have to excuse my wife. She thinks she’s funny.”

The nurse huffed. “I’m fucking hilarious, thank you very much.”

Her husband just kissed her temple.

“Oh, Elain,” Viv started, “I love that necklace. Where did you get it?”

She felt her cheeks heat and Azriel took a step closer, his warmth radiating into her skin. “Uh, actually, Azriel gave it to me.”

Viviane’s shocked eyes darted up to the male next to her. “You gave her that necklace?”

It was the accusatory tone of voice that made her bristle but Azriel seemed unfazed by it—or hid it well and simply shrugged it off. “I saw it at the jewelry boutique in the Rainbow and thought she would like it.”

Her eyes slid back to the pendant hanging around her neck. “I see,” was all she said.

Sensing the change in direction—and mood—of the conversation, Kallias placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Viv, darling, I believe your Medical Director is trying to get your attention.” Flashing them an apologetic smile, he escorted her away.

“Do I want to know what that was about?” Azriel muttered once they were out of earshot.

Elain sighed. “Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.”

He grunted low in his throat. Extending his arm again, he asked, “Shall we go mingle with actual donors then?”

“You really don’t have to tote me around all night. Most of these conversations will be dreadfully dull. If you want to hang out at the bar area, that’s fine,” she insisted, looping her arm with his, only this time, she tucked her hand onto his bicep to avoid holding his.

He placed his hand on top of hers. “Elain, I’m here as your guest to do whatever you wish for me to do. If you’d rather float around alone, that’s fine. But I don’t mind engaging in conversations at your side.”

Her heart fluttered in her chest at the words and she leaned her head onto his shoulder. “Okay, thank you.”

“Anytime,” he responded, kissing her lightly on her hair.

~~~

The two slowly made their way from group to group—their arms remaining linked anytime they moved. It amazed her that Azriel was able to converse with so many people, knowing that he wasn’t the social butterfly in high school by any stretch of the imagination. The way he was able to branch out, to talk money or business with just about anyone had floored her.

And it seemed he was well-known by the affluent society. If his face wasn’t a giveaway of who he was, his name surely did. Donors seemed to flock to him, eager to chat with one of Velaris’ wealthiest patrons.

They were nearing the time for her to present the award and were making their way across the room when she felt Azriel tense beside her and he swore lowly under his breath.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking up at him with concerned eyes.

He had slowed their strides down but didn’t stop walking or change directions and she noticed a man walking towards them. Azriel leaned down to whisper in her ear, “That is Elias, CEO of Hewn Technologies heading towards us. He’s a real prick. Don’t give him an inch.”

Elain didn’t have a chance to ask what he meant before she heard the other man call out his name.

“Azriel! What a surprise. I wasn’t expecting you here tonight.”

He released her arm to shake hands with the other CEO of their merger—Mor’s cousin if she remembered correctly. “Elias,” he stated voice cold. Distant even.

Elain blinked at the difference between the male that just spoke to her and the one that was speaking now.

“The same could be said about you.”

Though he wasn’t anywhere near Azriel’s physique, he wasn’t unattractive. He had a golden complexion to his tan skin, brown hair swept back in the typical in-style way. He pushed six-foot, though she didn’t think he was quite there and he was toned, but not exactly muscular either. His dark eyes, however, weren’t even comparable to Azriel’s beautiful hazel-colored ones.

His laugh startled her back into the conversation. “And who is this gorgeous woman?” he asked, eyes giving her a too close once-over. “Azriel, you don’t usually bring arm-candy to events like this.”

She froze at the blatant degradation. Before she could even formulate a response, Azriel supplied, “I’m actually her arm-candy for the evening. Elias, this is Doctor Elain Archeron, surgeon.” His emphasis on the word doctor did not go unnoticed by the man in front of them. “Elain, Elias.”

She knew his failure to state his title was a tactical move—and it worked if the twitch of the other man’s jaw was any indication. She stuck her hand out, not giving him an opportunity to respond. “Nice to meet you,” she lied, having no real desire to engage in a conversation with this man.

Elias took her hand and flipped it up to press a kiss to her open palm, his nose brushing the sensitive skin of her inner wrist. “The pleasure is all mine,” he purred, sensually.

Azriel went ridged next to her.

“Your perfume smells delicious.”

Her stomach curled at the words—at the possessiveness in which he spoke.

The man didn’t bother to hide his intent when he said, “I bet you drive Azriel crazy when you wear this.” A slimy grin found its way onto his face. He was enjoying this and she had had enough.

Elain snatched her hand back, her words sharp as a dagger’s blade. “I wouldn’t know, he doesn’t go around sniffing women.” She took a subtle step closer to Azriel’s side and felt his hand slide onto her lower back. “Tell me, Elias,” she spat his name like a curse, “Do you always smell the women you meet, or am I just special because of the company I keep?”

Elias barked out a laugh, returning his attention to Azriel—dismissing her completely. “What a firecracker, this one is.” That insufferable smirk made a reappearance. “Is she always like this?”

“She is right here,” Elain hissed, stepping forward slightly as if to angle her body between the two men. “And yes, I am.”

Over Elias’ shoulder, she noticed Fenrys, standing along the outskirts of the room. He made eye contact with her, asking her with a nod of his head, are you guys okay?

She gave him an elusive nod, before returning her attention to Azriel. “Azriel, would you mind escorting me to the bar?” She tapped her throat, “I need a drink to wash away the sleaze before my speech.”

His fingers pressed into her further, as if tugging her away. “Of course. Elias,” he gave a curt nod to the other CEO.

But as they tried to walk away, the man’s hand shot out, circling her wrist.

Azriel looked like he was about ready to lunge in his direction when her body straightened, and she looked back over at the other man holding onto her.

“It was nice to meet you, Elain. I look forward to speaking with you again soon.” His tone of voice made her skin crawl in dreaded anticipation.

Forcefully tugging her arm from his grasp, she deadpanned, “Pity it can’t be reciprocated.” Noticing the ire on Azriel’s face, she gripped his hand, forcing him to walk away. The last thing they needed was to bring more attention to themselves by having an all-out brawl in the middle of the fundraiser. She could feel Elias watching them, likely trying to determine what they were exactly.

“Don’t look back,” Azriel stated, voice clipped. “He wants your attention and if you look back, you’ll be giving him exactly that.” He tugged her closer, releasing her hand to wrap his arm around her waist—his hand settling on the curve of her hip.

A warming sensation shot through her body at the touch and she subconsciously leaned into him.

He released her when they reached the bar to pull his wallet from his back pocket. “What do you want to drink?”

“A whiskey,” she said honestly. Anything to soothe the creepy vibe Elias gave off—and to settle her nerves that had begun fluttering again as the clock ticked closer to seven.

If he was surprised by her response, he didn’t show it. Turning to the barkeep, he held up two fingers. “Two whiskies.” He dropped a twenty on the countertop after their drinks were poured and handed one to her.

“Is he always like that?” she finally asked, sipping at the amber liquid, remembering she hadn’t eaten much today; she didn’t want to overindulge in the strong alcohol.

Azriel took a large swig from his glass. “Unfortunately, yes. Not too long ago we had a meeting where the executives from either side get together to discuss financials, new projects, and other business efforts. I had my Vice President of Marketing and Operations give a presentation over our newly contracted personal security business—”

“The Cadre,” Elain interrupted.

“Yes. At the time, Aelin—my VP—was still vetting out the small business and Elias made some snide remarks about how she was doing so.”

Her eyes went wide. “Like if she was sleeping…”

A nod. “I cut him off quick but it still wasn’t appropriate.”

“Can’t you do anything about it?” she asked, head cocked to the side.

He shrugged. “Not my jurisdiction. Thankfully, that also means he doesn’t have any power over my half of the merger—which I made very clear in that meeting as well.”

She took another sip of her whiskey. “He sounds like such a pleasure to work with.”

Azriel snorted, finishing off his drink and setting it back on the bar. “Yes, he is a real charmer.” The sarcasm was heavily noted in his voice and she couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at it.

“Doctor Archeron,” a voice called from behind and she turned to see the Medical Director walking towards her. “We’re ready to start.”

“Oh! Okay,” she turned to hand Azriel her glass and pulled her notes from her purse. She hesitated on what to do with it.

“I’ll hold it,” Azriel said, reaching out for the small bag.

“You don’t mind?”

He rolled his eyes in amusement. “To hold your purse? No, Elain, I don’t mind. Here, give it to me.”

She handed over her bag, and he kissed her cheek. “Good luck,” he murmured, eyes shining.

Elain knew she had blushed down to her chest, but she managed to whisper a “Thank you,” before heading off to the raised platform constructed for a stage, her heart beating rapidly in her chest.

“Good evening,” the director announced. “If I can get everyone’s attention.” When the room quieted, she continued. “I want to thank you all for coming tonight. Our annual benefit fundraiser is the most important day of the year for us. Without the help from our generous donors, we would not be able to continue providing for our patients and innovating new ways to create long-lasting care. It is because of you in this room, that we are able to do what we love—helping our patients.

But tonight is even more special because one of our brilliant doctors is being recognized for their achievements in their field. To present the award for Chief of Surgery of the Year, please join me in welcoming to the stage, Surgical Resident, Doctor Elain Archeron.”

Taking a deep breath and plastering a smile on her face, Elain strode up the few steps and walked over to the podium.

~~~~~

Here’s the reference to Elain’s Dress.

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