Page 31 of Louder Than Words

Alex and I are both dressed as police officers.

Meanwhile, Angel…

“Wait—what are you supposed to be?” I ask, eyeing him from head to toe, half-expecting another riddle.

He’s in a band tee, skate shoes, and denim jeans… and once again, I’m stumped.

Then he grins. And I do a double take when I catch the light bouncing off the pair of pearly white fangs peeking out.

Jax chuckles beside me. “Oh man, you better watch out for Ana,” he says, tipping his cup toward where she’s standing with James and Desmond.

Apparently everyone decided to be vampires tonight.

James. Desmond. Angel.

What the hell is happening?

Alex chuckles, shaking his head. “Alright, we’re out. Gotta hit the road early tomorrow.”

Jax pulls him into a quick hug, nearly knocking him into Angel. They exchange a few quiet words, and then Alex gives me a shy nod before heading out.

I frown. “Okay, one: why is everyone dressed as vampires? And two: why would they need to watch out for Ana? I’m still lost and she won’t tell me what she’s supposed to be.”

Jax slings an arm over my shoulder and starts humming something low near my ear. The sound sends sparks skittering down my spine. And it sounds oddly familiar.

“It’sBuffy, love,” he murmurs, lips close enough to graze just beneath my ear.

His hands settle gradually on my hips, and I can already feel the way he sways just a little too far to the left. He smells faintly of cinnamon, and his fingers press into my skin like he’s afraid I might slip away.

I quirk a brow, shifting to get a better look at him. “How much have you had to drink tonight?” I raise my voice to cut through the music.

He smirks and leans in closer. “What’s that, love? You want a drink?”

Before I can roll my eyes—or tell him he knows damn well what I said—he’s already grabbing a glass from a passing tray and offering it to me with a small, dramatic bow.

I keep my gaze locked on his, noting the slight redness in his eyes, the way it makes the blue stand out even more with flecks of gold catching in the dim light.

Without breaking eye contact, I take the drink. And down it fast.

So he wants to play.

Fine. I can play.

A low chuckle rumbles from his chest, vibrating through every nerve in my body, just as his hands slide back to my hips. Then a sudden jolt freezes me—the cold bite of metal pressing against my skin beneath the fabric of my skirt as his hands move.

He pulls me closer, then presses a kiss just below my ear. “I never pictured you as the type to want to wear cuffs.”

A slow smile tugs at my lips. I glance around, making sure no prying eyes are on us, then lean back against his chest, making sure my ass grazes against him teasingly. “Who says I’ll be the one wearing them?”

His breath skates over my neck, sending goosebumps prickling along my arms as his hand slides up my back. Without warning, he grabs hold of both ponytails, twisting them taut around his fists, and snaps them back quick—nearly pulling a groan out of me already. “And here I thought you were agoodgirl.”

I shoot him a sideways smirk. “What are you gonna do? Teach me a lesson?”

In a matter of seconds, it’s like all the haze in his eyes clears and is quickly replaced with a burning, unmistakable hunger. His gaze flicks between my lips and my eyes, grip tightening in my hair—

That’s when I remember: we are very much still in a room full of people.

Normally, this would make me want to melt into the floor. But tonight? That fire in Jax’s eyes slithers down my spine and settles deep in my core instead.