He slides out the Joker card that I slipped underneath his glass earlier, when he was listing wilder and wilder guesses about my job, despite usbothknowing that I am on the run.
He holds up the card. “Oh, you really are a magician.”
“Quite the icebreaker, huh? There is a thrill to being in control and manipulating reality. No one can see through my illusions. I can trick someone, and they never see the truth before it’s too late.”
I grin, baring just a little too much of my canines.
Unsettled, Joker shifts on the counter, before he slides the card into his jacket pocket.
He pats his pocket. “A souvenir.”
If he believes that he’ll be able to take my fingerprints from the card, then he’ll be out of luck.
I study Joker, before finishing my drink. “Ready?”
He nods, before he glances up at the mistletoe above his head, as if he hadn’t been planning this move all along. “Look, mistletoe. You’d better kiss me. It’d be rude not to.”
I stand. “It would be unlucky if I didn’t.”
Our gazes meet like we’re both daring the other to back down.
Joker’s gaze, however, is darting back and forth from my eyes to my lips.
He wets his lips.
I lean closer.
Closer…
Joker’s sweet peach and honey scent drizzles over me.
I shiver, and my eyes close. I stroke down the Beta’s cheek.
My lips almost graze his.
Then I stumble like I am tipsy, knocking our heads together.
“Ouch.” Joker grabs my shoulders, while I hold onto his, deliberately dragging him off the counter.
He staggers, barely stopping himself from tumbling to the floor.
Joker laughs. “How many of those whiskeys did you have?”
“Five.” I allow him to hold onto my arm, as if I need him to help me stand.
I don’t.
Did Joker order a double whiskey to make sure I wouldn’t be able to fight back when he attacks?
When he captures me?Kills me?
Joker wraps his arm around my middle. “Same as me then. We can take advantage of each other.”
I never would.
If he’s drunk, then he can’t consent.
He has no idea that I don’t intend to fuck him tonight.