Innocent in New York Read Free

Jade. She'd lost that smug look now, replaced by annoyance, looking ready to claw someone's eyes out.
    "Ooh, he's heading upstairs. I knew that was his territory." They watched him move to the double staircase before continuing up them. Agnes grabbed her arm and pulled her with her to the stairs. The vibe from the floor beneath them drowned in new pulsating intensity. Agnes's face lit, obviously enjoying the new floor a hell of a lot better. She loosened her and Sophia's masks and handed them to a guard they passed.
    "Where is he?" Sophia looked around the packed club. They weren't that far behind. If he'd gone to the dancefloor there was no way she'd find him in that mass. A thin layer of smoke spilled over the floor, the lights pulsing different colors through it in tune with the music.
    "Take one guess," Agnes said, and Sophia at once followed her focus to a group of ten or so women by the bar — circled around someone. "The wolves are out tonight."
    "How does he do that?" Sophia asked in shock. "That's not normal ." He smiled at the women, but at the same time kept them at bay while he edged backward. He'd lost his mask, and she spotted a woman playing with it. They surrounded him in less than ten seconds. Wolves? More like piranhas.
    A woman hooked her fingers in his shirt, pressing herself up against him, but he freed himself. He had women standing in line for him. Sophia felt her earlier resolve start to slip away. She'd just be another one of them. He managed to get some distance from the group of women and got ahold of a bartender.
    "He is the hottest man alive. He won't be alone for much longer. This is your opportunity."
    Sophia's breath grew shaky. This was a bad idea. She couldn't compare to the long-legged beauty he was with earlier, and he turned her down.
    " Don't ," Agnes commanded. "I can see where that stupid mind of yours is going. You look fucking amazing, and what you lack in fancy brands you double in charm."
    "You think so?"
    "I know so. Go and order a new drink. You have one chance to make this work." Agnes pushed her in the direction of the bar. Sophia nearly toppled, but caught her balance just in time, grasping the railing lining the bar. She straightened the second James looked her way.
    Smooth. She paused next to him. Her body hummed with delight standing so close. It seemed like her body had a mind of its own, reacting before her mind caught up, and she was fascinated by it. Say something. Say something. Say something . Her mind had never been this blank — even worse than her zombie-stumbling-mornings, and they were pretty bad.
    The bartender saw her and headed over wearing a great smile.
    "What can I get you?" he asked above the new rhythmic song crashing through the speakers.
    "Mojito!" She wanted something tasty.
    "Margarita coming right up!"
    "No, I — uh, whatever." She smiled and nodded, flashing a thumbs up to the bartender.
    Daring a glance James's way, she found he'd fixed his dark eyes on her. Her breath hitched. The way the light hit his cheekbones and jaw, sent her mind toppling right back to the floor beneath them. The same curiosity he had then returned.  She smiled, and his lips quirked in return.
    "He's new," James said, motioning to the bartender who readied Sophia's drink, "consider yourself lucky you're getting a drink starting with the same letter."
    "Thanks for the heads-up." She smiled. "What did you order?" She looked to the out of place orange and pink drink in his hand.
    "This was supposed to be whisky."
    "Oh. Whisky has changed!"
    "Meet Watermelon Sunshine ."
    That made her burst into a laugh. "That — wow, I'm sorry — that sounds fantastic." She sobered, trying to put on a serious face, but failed.
    "It's actually not that bad." He grinned.
    "Perhaps I should write down my order next time, huh?"
    "No, that's no fun." He winked. "Live on the wild side for once, and let him choose your destiny."
    "Ah, tempting," she laughed, "though, I was hoping my destiny was in