Page 50 of Burn of Obsidian
She wore a tight black dress, like a tube from her breasts to her thighs. The black brought out the beautiful sheen in her pale skin, but still he found he missed the rainbow. Other than her tattoos, the only colour she wore was her hair, which was such a pale pink it was edging on her natural silver.
“Well, are you coming then?” she called across, her lips lifting into a genuine smile.
Jax crossed the street, his strides silent as Thea subtly stiffened. He felt an ache beneath his ribs, and at first he thought it was fear that had flashed across her eyes, but it was something else. Something he didn’t catch in time before her smile turned into a full grin.
“Don’t you clean up nice,” she said, purposely dragging her eyes from his black boots, up his black jeans, to his black T-shirt. It wasn’t much different from what he usually wore, except he had no visible weapons.
“Hmm,” he hummed, enjoying her eyes on him. “Where’s the pixie?”
“Probably back at my place by now. I couldn’t just get rid of him. I feel bad.”
“You can’t keep him.”
Thea flicked her hair behind her shoulder. “I’m aware he’s not a pet, you know.”
Jax reached over to grab one of her wrists, and before she could react, he snapped the first band on.
Thea gasped, yanking her arm back. “Jax, what the fuck?”
While distracted, he snapped the second band onto her other wrist.
“Seriously!” She tried to pull them off, her fingers brushing over the metal, trying to locate a latch she would never find. The bands were entirely smooth, around two centimetres wide, and designed to look as if it were a solid piece. “They’re burning me!”
“No, they’re not. The gold’s coated to protect your skin.”
Her lips snapped open, eyes widening. “They’re too tight.”
“A gift for a gift,” he said, jerking his brow. “It’s only fair.”
Thea wrinkled her nose, glaring at the bands that looked perfect against her skin. He’d made sure they were as delicate as her, slim in design and matching the gold septum ring and earrings she usually wore. Fae couldn’t usually wear metal, but it hadn’t taken him long to research ways to coat the gold.
“How do I take them off?” she asked.
“You don’t.”
“What do you mean, you don’t?” She eyed the bands as if they were snakes. “I can’t wear these forever.”
“Only I can take them off.”
She let out a sound like a hiss, her lips pouting as her brows creased together. “Do you know what? I don’t feel as bad as offering you as a date now.”
Jax frowned. A date?
He could tell she fought a smile, despite her frustration still evident in the tension along her shoulders. “You said you were sure I’d come up with something, and you were right.”
Jax growled, and her eyes glittered. Fuck. She was going to destroy him, because all he wanted to do was mark her as his. The bands would do for now, because he wanted people to see how fucking beautiful she was. How untouchable. His.
“This isn’t over,” she growled, shaking her wrists at him. “If I have to cut them off, I will.”
Jax wanted to smile, a warmth spreading through his chest as he watched her. “Who are we meeting?” he asked, guiding her toward the front entrance. The bouncer didn’t bother asking them for IDs, his attention lingering on Thea long enough that Jax actually smirked when she finally met his eyes.
The bouncer quickly looked away, which only made Jax puff out a single laugh.
Thea turned at the sound, frowning up at him. “Your date hasn’t arrived yet,” she said, reaching up to speak over the music. “I need a drink.”
Jax grabbed her arm as she went to move toward the bar. “Stay by me.”
He needed to check out the room and make sure it was secure.