Page 27 of Double Shot

Fuck. So hot. It was wrong how hot it was.

“I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Clarence murmured in my ear, and I jumped when I felt his fingers ghost over my tail.

I jerked to the side, knocking into the gargoyle, who glanced down at me with a tiny frown before his gaze flicked to Clarence and hardened.

“This guy bothering you, sweetheart?” he growled, his muscles growing harder and more stone-like as he clenched his fists, making his shoulders swell. He was scowling at Clarence now, who paled a little and looked at me expectantly.

I sighed. I couldn’t lie and pretend I didn’t know Clarence. That we weren’t on a date and he was just some stranger making a pass at me. That wasn’t fair. I’d agreed to come on a second date with him.

I couldn’t let him get beaten up by a big hunky gargoyle just because I’d foolishly and desperately hoped a second date would somehow make me magically attracted to him. Even if he did keep touching me inappropriately. First my wings, now my tail. What the Hell?

Maybe he deserved to get beaten up a little for that…

This aggressive and testosterone-fuelled display of masculine insecurity was really getting to me. Plastering a small smile to my face, I shook my head and reluctantly inched away from the gargoyle, closer to Clarence once again.

“No, he’s not bothering me. We’re on a date.” I hesitated, then glanced at Clarence. “Except, well… you really should ask before touching someone like that, Clarence.”

“Like what?” the gargoyle jumped in quickly with a threatening little growl.

Gosh, he was quite handsome, actually. And all… protective and growly and chivalrous, coming to my aid like this…

“I’m sorry, Niko,” Clarence said solemnly, clasping his hands together. “I just… You’re so beautiful, and this date is going so well… I was just trying to match that passionate incubus energy of yours, you know? The vibes between us are just… incredibly erotic.”

The gargoyle gave him a slightly unsettled and alarmed look before he glanced at me again to make sure I was alright. I shared that look with him briefly, then gave Clarence a polite but firm smile.

“Just because I’m an incubus, that doesn’t mean I don’t require consent before I’m touched. Regardless of any ‘vibes’ or energy you’re picking up.”

Any positive energy flowing out of me right now was directed entirely at the display of aggression taking place in the ring, not him. Besides, fauns couldn’t sense energy waves like concubi could. He was talking out of his ass.

“I’m sorry, Niko.” Clarence looked and sounded genuinely remorseful, and I—much to my chagrin—found myself softening again. Mollified, the gargoyle grunted and slowly turned away, but he gave me one final look that said he’d be ready if I needed help.

I appreciated it a lot, and it did make me swoon a little, but Clarence wasn’t a threat to me. Just selfish and inconsiderate, and possibly a little delusional. He thought this date was going well? I’d just ignored him for an hour in favour of panting over men beating the crap out of each other.

Crap, maybe I was selfish and inconsiderate too. Oh Lucifer, maybe Clarence and I really were meant to be. Maybe I was just like him.

That was immensely worrying, because now that I had given him another chance, keeping an open mind to the possibility of eventually finding him tolerable, I could confidently say that Clarence sucked.

Which meant… maybe I sucked too.

Which would explain why no one ever wanted to date me.

I was hit with a sudden wave of utter despair in the middle of this frenzied, bloodthirsty crowd, and an empyn with a purple mullet in the row ahead shuddered and glanced back at me in alarm.

“You okay, dude?”

“I’m fine,” I said morosely. “I’m just an unlovable, selfish and inconsiderate d-bag.”

“Uh…” He looked wildly uncomfortable, electric green eyes darting around. “I’m sure that’s not—”

“Niko, no,” Clarence said, impassioned, taking my hands and squeezing them tight. “You’re perfect. You… This might sound like a line, but it isn’t. Trust me. But you’re honestly the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life.”

My belly warmed from the praise, and I found my lips tilting up as I tucked a curl behind my ear.

“Thank you, Clar—” Then the smile froze on my face as I remembered… “Um, I think you said that to me on our last date, actually.”

His expression froze too, like he’d been caught out, before he quickly smoothed it into an ingratiating smile and stroked his thumb over my wrist. I felt only the tiniest shudder of revulsion shoot through me. That was progress, right?

“Well, that’s because it’s just so true. Your beauty made me forget I’d already admitted it.”