Dahlia watched them both from beneath her lashes, and for the first time in his existence, Tarus genuinely had no idea what to do.
Fuck her.
Be fucked.
Let her go.
Keep her forever.
The minute the last thought registered, he felt more than saw Zhan whip his head in his direction.
They couldn’t keep her forever.
She was human.
She would die.
She was supposed to have died.
But now she was here.
Tarus tossed back the drink.
“So…” Dahlia drew out the word. “What now? We all stare at each other dramatically as the music signals that next time on Tied Up with Zhan and…” She paused. “What was your name, sweetie?”
“Tarus,” he and Zhan said in the same breath.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
He blinked. Wait, they hadn’t even fought answering that.
“…next time on Tied Up with Zhan and Tarus, will Dahlia ever get free? Will they ever give her a drink? What tricks are hidden up her non-existent sleeves?” She intoned a dun, dun, dun.
If he kissed her, would she be quiet?
He would bet his wings she was a screamer.
Then she started humming.
Zhan thrust his glass at him, and Tarus refilled it automatically.
Maybe Zhan should kiss her first.
She wanted to bite him, and it didn’t work that way. Tarus bit. He didn’t get bitten.
Ever.
5
‘Justice is swift,’ except when he’s been drinking, and damn, can he drink. - Dahlia
Dahlia
“What is that you’re humming?” Zhan asked as he downed his drink. The inquisitiveness was starting to push the suspicion out. It was in the loosening of his shoulders, the quirk of his lips, and the way he edged closer with desire in his eyes instead of distrust.
“‘Grind On Me’ by Pretty Ricky.” I continued to hum, though it was damn hard to project. They were half a room away, over by the alcohol.
Tarus used his free hand to bunch his beautiful hair back from his face. I’d never thought men with long or curly hair were attractive, but something about his rich, sandy brown hair with large waves really did it for me. The light really did something for him, softened him and chased away the shadows I’d seen at the bar. Even his stunning face that was currently twisted in a what is wrong with you expression. Did I mention he had a long, straight nose that tipped up on the end?
So attractive.
“But why?” Zhan asked. Now, he was just as delicious, and every time he turned away, I almost caught a glimpse of…something hovering behind his frame.
“Subliminal messaging.” I smirked, trying really fucking hard to not fall into another random fit of laughter. There was only myself to blame if they thought I was crazy. And from their covert glances to each other, they did.
I’d have to thank Seth when I got out of here. This was the most uninhibited fun I’d had in…well, ever. We all knew Alex was about as fun as a rusty bear trap.
Oh, I’d been afraid at first. Who wouldn’t after being spirited away by an angel-man? Especially once he’d tied me up. I should have fought him harder. Hell, I should have fought, period. But he distracted me with his gorgeous dark eyes. And damn it, he smelled really good!
It was like I was in some kind of hot guy trance, and he could have done anything he wanted and I was along for the ride. I mean, he kind of did—he tied me up on their kink wall. Red room of pain? Try the green room of gratification. Okay, the room was actually a dark gray, almost charcoal with undertones of blue, it just didn’t sound as good.
Every kind of sex toy or contraption I’d ever heard of adorned the walls. They definitely had that jaded bad boy vibe going on.
Now that I was confident they didn’t want to kill me, not that it would have mattered, this was going to be everything I could hope my last few weeks on Earth would be. If given the choice, who wouldn’t want to spend their last days being sexed up by bad boy angels?
Exactly.
Zhan dropped his head and sighed dramatically. “I can’t, Tarus. I just can’t.”
Tarus patted him on the back like he understood completely. “I know, we’ve never had someone here before that needed Wisdom so much. I think he skipped over her when she was a baby.”
Wait a minute.
What the fuck?
Were they talking about wisdom like he was an actual person? I mean angel? Fuck, not angel. Seth said they weren’t angels, but he never actually told me what they were.
“Fuck you, too.” I spat.
“Is that more subliminal messaging?” Zhan asked Tarus in all seriousness.
“No, that was just a good old-fashioned insult for being such a dickhead,” I yelled. Because it was liberating to say exactly what was on my mind.
My whole life, I’d been the good girl, the helper, the friend, the listener. Look where that got me. I’d already decided I was going to do things differently this next month, so why not be the real me?
Zhan focused on me, and everything else disappeared completely. Except Tarus, he stayed.
Then, as if he didn’t feel the vivid sexual tension between us, he turned to Tarus, holding up his glass. “I need another.”
Like a jerk, Tarus nodded and poured a double. “I’m going to have one, too.”
“What about me? Don’t I get a drink? You know, I might be more compliant if you plied me with the good stuff.” I gestured toward the bottle with the only part of me available—my chin.
They were actually considering it!
Then Tarus shook his head. “No, I think it’s too dangerous. You know how alcohol affects humans.”
“What? They tell the truth?” Zhan scratched his jaw as if he really had to think about the effects.
I couldn’t really dispute that. A drunk man’s words were a sober man’s thoughts and all that.
“No,” Tarus lowered his voice like he was about to impart some great secret. “They turn into neurotic squirrels hyped up on caffeine. That’s good for nobody. I say we keep the alcohol away for now.”
And there went my good mood.
All it took was a few words from a hot man. Angel.
Figured.
“There is something we haven’t tried.” I didn’t like the way Tarus said that. Not at all.
The rope bit into my wrists as I tugged on them one more time. If they were getting ideas that didn’t include a happy ending, I needed to get off the kink wall.
If I could just get loose, there were a plethora of objects that could double as weapons. It was also my luck that Zhan was a knot master because these babies weren’t budging.
Zhan took a sip of, what, his third drink while in this room? Yeah, their calculation wasn’t giving me good vibes right now.
He prowled closer, twisting his glass in his hand and pursing his lips to the side. When he reached my platform, he placed a warm palm on my bare waist and my world tilted. Why did all of these men have to have sexually lethal touches?
“I know, Tarus. You could use your grace to make her talk. It wouldn’t technically go against our vow in this specific situation.” The corners of his mouth curved into a sensual smirk.
His grace? Oh. Hell. Yes. I’d tasted Seth’s grace. That had to be what turned that kiss electric. Tingles raced out over my flesh as Zhan stroked his thumb against my skin. If my nipples got any tighter, I’d be able to cut glass. The ache intensified, and liquid heat sprawled through my system.