Read Online Fire and Ice by Michele Barrow-Belisle - Free Book Online Page B

strength draining from my limbs, the way it had the other night at Lemon Balm. Technically, it was entirely his fault Brianne wanted to publicly humiliate me.
    I stepped aside as his lean frame brushed against me to hold open the door. He looked and smelled amazing.
    â€œYou look beautiful,” he said, reaching out to tuck a curl behind my ear, before motioning for me to enter first.
    â€œThanks,” I murmured. It was impossible to ignore the spark that sizzled when his fingers made contact with my skin.
    The foyer was shadowed in dim lights, and people milled about not ready to take their seats. I inhaled a sharp breath, feeling a new layer of anxiety gnaw at my insides. It was a strange sensation wishing for the night to be over and not wanting it to end at the same time. We checked our coats and Adrius handed the girl a huge tip. She gawked with a star-struck stare, but I don’t think it had anything to do with the small wad of bills he’d handed her. The way her face flushed bright pink when he smiled… the nervous little giggle when he took the tickets from her hand; she was as dazzled by him as I was… as every girl who caught sight of him was.
    â€œLorelei!”
    I pivoted toward a voice as pleasant as nails grating across a chalkboard. She strode toward me like the hall was her personal catwalk, decked in a clingy, low-cut black and red designer number.
    â€œBrianne.” I greeted her, self-consciously adjusting my dress. Somehow I always felt totally eclipsed when she was around. Given the circumstances, mustering even a fake smile for Davin’s sake was impossible.
    â€œYou came .”
    She couldn’t have laid it on any thicker.
    â€œI didn’t really have much choice,” I mumbled. If ready-to-wear-Barbie had been even marginally clued in, she’d have picked up on the thinly veiled loathing in my voice, but as was typical, she was oblivious. “Hi, Davin.” I turned my attention to him, avoiding eye contact with Brianne.
    â€œHey,” he replied, but he looked right past me, his gaze fixed squarely on Adrius. “Have we met?”
    â€œDavin, this is Adrius.” I gestured, taking any excuse not to talk to Brianne.
    â€œNice to meet you, man.” Adrius extended his hand, which Davin shook stiffly, without a word.
    â€œAnd this is Brianne,” I added when she’d cleared her throat for the third time. When he shook her hand she wrapped her perfectly manicured fingers around his and refused to let go.
    â€œArt class… You’re the new guy, right?” she oozed.
    Adrius nodded.
    Brianne tossed her hair, the ends sweeping across my face. “Well, if you ever need extra help, with anything… I’m always available.” She was batting her lashes so fast it looked like she was swatting flies.
    â€œReally…” Adrius stared back at her.
    â€œ Really ,” she gushed in a throaty purr.
    He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to me, circling his arm around my waist. “I don’t know. Lorelei, do you think after all of your extra help, I still need more?” His cheek brushed against my hair.
    I shook my head, biting back a laugh as Brianne switched from flirty to ticked-off in two seconds flat.
    Davin wouldn’t have been impressed, if he’d noticed any of it. But he was still staring hard at Adrius. The glare lingered a second longer, then he gave me a confused frown. “So, are you two… together?” He pointed two fingers at us.
    Tongue-tied, I glanced up at Adrius, feeling my face grow warm. “Um…”
    â€œYes. We are,” he answered, without hesitation. “And we should probably get inside to register. You ready, Lorelei?”
    â€œReady as I’ll ever be,” I said quietly, offering a Davin a thin smile. “See you later.”
    I reached for Davin’s hand. Before I could touch him, Brianne wrapped her arms possessively around his neck.