Shadowglass

Water still trickled over me, warm and painfully obvious. Embarrassment curdled my guts, and I stuck my hand on my hip, trying to look pissed off instead of bewildered and aroused. “So, what do we do now? Run away? Hide? Jump in front of a tram?”

He fingered his bottom lip with one claw, mesmerizing. “I’m thinking strawberry, rather than chocolate.”

Infuriating boy. “Look, sorry if I’m a bit slow, but what the fuck?”

“Strawberry ice cream. That’s your favorite, right? You look like you could use one. It’s on me.”

I waved my arms in frustration. “You pick now to ask me out? And how the hell do you know what flavor I like?”

He shrugged, sensual. “You want some or not?”

“You wanna go for ice cream? Are you crazy? I mean, hey, I’m flattered, but did you forget that we’ve got Snake-Ass Cerulli and his bondage princess chasing us?”

Andy caught my wrists and gently forced me to relax. “Which is why we’re going for ice cream.

At Valentino’s. Think Chris’ll dare show his scaly butt in Simon’s place?”

My wits flittered about like autumn leaves, and his hot grip on my wrists—I’ve always wanted him to hold me down and ravish me—wasn’t helping. My gaze stuck itself like wet leaves to his silvery mouth, and I peeled it off with a squelch.

Valentino’s. Simon Cruz’s café. Simon would probably be there himself, and even if Peter was around, I still had a day or two’s grace. Grudging respect for Andy’s wits soothed my irritated nerves, and I stopped wriggling. My fingerpads itched to touch him back, but I stilled them.

“Good point.”

“Yeah. I thought so.”

“Andy.”

“What?”

“You’re still holding me.”

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” He let me go, and hid his hands shyly behind his back.

Frustration jammed my nerves, and my wings quivered tight. Maddening, impossible boy.

I straightened, tugging my bag over my shoulder, and side by side we walked over smeared concrete toward the sun.

I stole a glance at him, so close beside me. This was either my lucky day, or some weird nightmare. Sunlight glinted on his silver-foil wings, almost too bright to watch. His lips shone, still silvery wet, and I remembered their warmth on my inflamed throat and wondered if he’d ever kiss me again.

His hand brushed mine, accidental, and he cleared his throat and tucked his hands behind his back again.

A warm hollow emptied inside. I felt like a blushing schoolgirl. Not that I ever went to school much.

A dragonfly zipped by, and he lifted a coppery claw and let the insect land. It preened itself in the sun, wings flickering. He sighed, short. “Look. Ice cream’s not like the diamonds, okay?”

I couldn’t help but glance down at my wrist, where my shinies danced in sunlight. My belly warmed. So pretty. Mine. I got a kiss with them and everything. But at what cost? “Whatcha mean?”

“I did what I did back there with the venom without asking. This isn’t an apology. But we need to talk, Appolonnia.”

My skin dampened at the memory of his mouth on my skin. Sure, let’s talk. About doing it again, only without the venom. “Umm.”

“About this mirror, and what we’re going to do.” He flicked his finger, and the dragonfly darted away.

“Oh. Yeah. That.”

A fleeting glance, delicious. “Besides, I’ve been waiting for the chance to take you out.”

My stomach hit my kneecaps, and giggles ripped in to take its place. Yeah, this must be a dream. A psychedelic one, like when you snort too much banshee blue and pass out. I snickered. “Oh, you’re such a liar. I’ve only asked you about a million times and you always brush me off.”

“You always want to go for pizza. I hate pizza.”

Giddy warmth spilled in my heart. He hates pizza. Who knew?

Notes

Surprise!!!!! I thought because you guys have been so hilarious in the comments i would give you a pressie!!! 3 updates in one night! Fuck yeah reading marathon.
Hope you enjoy!

Stay Weird Baby Bats
- Grimm ;)