Deeper (The Deeper Chronicles #1) (14 page)

He leaned in close to her, fingers gripping a part of her body he planned to see up close in an hour or so. “I want you.”

Noah’s sensual words replayed in her head. It wasn’t until his hand left her thigh that the haze he induced lessened. The world around her filtered back into her subconscious, and it was then that Avi realized the room was embarking on a game.

“...murder mystery,” someone said. “These are so fun.”

Avi caught snatches of conversations around her, but she couldn’t focus on anyone. She grabbed her glass of water to help ease her dry throat while Noah chuckled beside her.

“We’re looking for a couple to help us out,” Detective Smith announced. “You there.”

“Me?” Jayson asked.

The detective spoke into the microphone, “No, the gentleman across from you and his wife.”

Noah’s image blurred, and in an instant, his hand was on the back of her chair, pulling Avi away from the table.

“Um, no. What? He’s not—”

They weren’t married. And she certainly didn’t like him, no matter how many times she had screamed his name in her dreams.

“Avi, we’re being asked to play.” Innuendo dripped sweet and thick like honey into her ears.

She gulped down her anxiety. “B-but—” she sputtered, half-rising.

“Let’s thank this beautiful couple. Seems the missus is a bit on the shy side,” the detective guffawed into the microphone, earning a few hearty chuckles and handclaps.

“You’re not going to let Sofie down, are you?” he said in her ear. “Unless you’re afraid to play...with me?” The challenge in his voice was clear, but Avi was sure Noah underestimated her.

She stood upright. “You want to play?” She leaned in and spoke so only he could hear. “Let’s play.” She allowed him to lead them toward the group.

“I play hard, Avi. Are you up to that?” he asked.

The sound of his voice caressed her. It made her want to be carefree and join him in the banter. Instead, she walked with him, her head held high and her back stiff, to the center where the group waited for them. Once there, Noah and Avi were given their roles in the game—a newlywed couple—and were told to improvise but stick to their characterizations. Eventually, Avi loosened up and mingled with the crowd, although Noah was never more than an arm’s length away.

“It was the husband,” a voice yelled out. “He killed the man, because his wife was two-timing him.” A man with a blond crew-cut stood, pointing at Noah, who lost all outward signs of lightheartedness and now looked as if he’d swallowed something distasteful.

Noah grabbed the microphone from the detective and yanked Avi to his side. “Fuck you.” He gave the device back and whispered in Avi’s ear, “You cheat on me and I’ll kill you
and
the man who dared touch what’s mine.”

Avi searched his face for the smile that should’ve accompanied his bad joke. Her spine tingled at its absence. “Well, thank God this is just a game then.”

His once cold eyes warmed as he tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear. With a feather-like touch, he cupped her cheek. “You think I’m playing.”

He turned back to the game without another word.

At the end of the game, Noah revealed the man who had heckled him was Sofie’s uncle and insisted they should meet. Despite her refusals, his large, commanding hand on her lower back guided her from the center of the room to a table off to the side. As they neared, Avi stopped.

Noah stepped in front of her and tipped her chin up. He stared at her until Avi began to fidget. “Relax. My friends won’t bite.”

She bit her inner cheek, a childhood habit she used to hide her nervousness. “I am relaxed.”

At her side again, he pressed his hand into the curve of her spine, and the heat instantly burned through the layers she wore.

“You’re a bad liar, Avi. Leave that to the professionals.”

Before she could respond, Avi was enveloped by a soft form and pulled forward.

“I’m Bethany, Sofie’s aunt, but please call me Beth. She’s told us so much about you,” she gushed.

Beth’s smile was friendly and inviting. She could easily pass for a twenty-something, rather than someone nearing forty years old, as Sofie had told her. The man beside Beth came forward with an outstretched hand.

“Avi, meet Cassian Walker and his saint of a wife. He’ll be getting a pink slip on Monday,” Noah said with a straight face. The presence of his dimples betrayed his words.

Avi tried to stifle a grin that still worked its way on her lips.

“That’s a promise?” Cass quipped back.

“Please excuse the Neanderthals, Avi.” Beth rolled her eyes. “This has been my life for more than a decade now.”

Avi simply nodded at the camaraderie between the three, but didn’t having anything to add. It had been just Avi and her mother for so long that any relationships beyond two members seemed complicated. Besides, her mother kept her guard up at all times.

“The best years of her life. Right, Cass?” Noah said, practically in Avi’s ear.

Behind the Walkers, a loud screech was heard. Sofie ran over to the group.

“Oh. My. God. That was freaking awesome.” She hugged Avi and kissed her on the cheek. “You were a natural. I’m so glad I didn’t tell you about the murder mystery.”

Avi’s smile was instantaneous and genuine. “You’re just lucky I’m good at everything I do.” Words and laughter tumbled from her lips when addressing the one person she felt comfortable enough to lower her guard with. Sofie had a way of disarming her.

Before Sofie could respond, her aunt and uncle drew her away for a private conversation.

Noah stood in front of her, crowding her and demanding Avi’s focus. She jumped back a little, but he pulled her back to him. Heat rolled off him, drawing her nearer still.

He stared down at her. “You’re good at
everything
? Is that right, fake wife?” His low tone tangled her up with its seductive edge. The back of his hand brushed some hair from her cheek and grazed the shell of her ear.

The longer they looked at her, the darker, if that were possible, Noah’s eyes became. They were like black licorice. A turn off for most, but Avi was enthralled. As he straightened, his desire was made evident in his determined posture and the hunger in his obsidian eyes.

“Avi—” Noah began.

“Let’s go change,” Sofie interrupted, tugging on her arm.

She nodded at Sofie, thankful she’d never hear the rest of Noah’s request. Whatever it might have been, her response would have been yes. Without acknowledging anyone, she walked away from the group, wondering what was going on with her. She berated herself and the enigmatic man named Noah Adams.

What are you thinking?
A grimace scrunched up her features.

“Wait up, Avi,” Sofie said, finally catching her at the doors.

She turned. The tiny hairs on her arms rose. Glancing over Sofie’s shoulder, she met Noah’s scrutinizing stare.

She shivered.

It was both comforting and disturbing how the bewildering man watched her.

T
he following morning found Avi seated and waiting to receive her made-to-order quiche. To her right were Sofie, Beth, and Cass, while on the other side were Gavin, a man, and a woman—the last two Avi didn’t know by name, but were probably considered Sofie’s close family friends just by the air of familiarity with which they spoke. An empty seat separated Avi from those on her left.

“I’m sorry I was late,” Avi whispered in Sofie’s ear.

“No worries. We did spend the entire night dancing our butts off,” Sofie said through a smile.

Chuckling, Avi teased, “Who knew you could get down and dirty like that?”

Last night was all about Sofie’s after-party, where the DJ spun the latest hits and everyone danced until sweat poured from their bodies.
Good times.

The sounds of deep chuckles and light-hearted bursts of laughter drew Avi’s attention.

“Girl, stop playing and let me take you out,” said a bald African American male.

The ‘girl’ in question was a voluptuous, dark-complexioned woman with an oval face framed by a modern style cut at an asymmetrical angle at the sides.

“Fool, I’m married. Respect the bling.” She held up her finger for inspection. It was weighed down by what looked like carats Avi had only seen in luxury magazines.

The woman winked at Avi, causing them both to grin. Her deep, brown eyes sparkled with amusement. The table snickered as the man clutched his heart in dismay.

“I don’t see a husband around,” he said, coming back with an easy retort.

“You’re such an idiot, Roland Harris.” She pushed at his broad, muscled shoulder after he switched seats to be near her. The name she used was definitely one Avi hadn’t heard before. “You better be glad I married you, saving the world from your foolishness.”

“That’s Ro and Stacey. He works with my uncle,” Sofie said under her breath.

“Oh.”

Then she remembered there was one face she hadn’t seen in hours. Even though she didn’t want to, Avi’s gaze had a mind of its own and panned the large tent. But there was no dark brown-haired man who towered over guests.

“In case you’re looking for Jayson, he’s over at table twenty-three,” Sofie said before turning away to speak with her aunt.

She’d totally forgotten him. She picked up her hand to acknowledge his presence, but she became puzzled when Jayson turned to the side. Avi caught a glimpse of his sneering features. She frowned. Beside her, the chair’s legs scraped the floor. Her head turned just as a large hand landed on the back of the empty seat.