Luring Light - K.E. Osborn Page 0,4

Go back and finish Dash off. You don’t want him fucked off at you for not doing a good job.”

“Maldito hijo de puta!” I throw my hands in the air, spinning to walk away, but I slam straight into Dash’s hard chest.

“I mean no disrespect, VP, but you shouldn’t talk to Ivy that way—”

Void lets out a small laugh interrupting Dash while turning on his stool. His hard eyes pierce through Dash with such vicious intent, even I feel the burn from here. “This conversation isn’t for you, prospect. If you know what’s good for you… you’ll leave.”

Dash inhales, nodding his head. He turns to leave but then looks back over his shoulder and continues, anyway, “Just so you’re aware because Ivy’s too worked-up to tell you what you thought you saw… you didn’t. Ivy was lancing a boil on my thigh. You know, putting her medical training to good use. So, while you’re basically calling her out and slut-shaming her for no good reason…” he pauses and looks to the ceiling, “… maybe you should respect her for the amazing professional she’s turning into.”

I give Dash a weak smile, then he turns to hightail it out of here before Void has had a second to punish him for speaking out of turn. My eyes shift to Void. His are vacant. Small droplets of sweat top his brow before a deep frown etches into his features. Void’s electric blue eyes droop in what appears to be regret.

He exhales, placing his drink on the bar, then stands walking over to me.

My eyes drop instantly to the floor as he grumbles under his breath, “Don’t… don’t do that. You’re so full of fight and fire, don’t lose your confidence because I’m a fucking jerk.”

My stomach clenches as I slowly look up at him.

There’s a pained expression on his face as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “I am an asshole, Ivy… I fucked up. I only saw half a picture. I reacted… I just…” He exhales, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know who I am when I’m around you.”

I stand taller. “You hurt me… just now. No one has ever talked to me like you just did.”

Void grimaces, reaching out for my hand. He takes it, and I let him. The second our fingers connect, my heart slams into my chest wall, making it hard to catch my breath. My skin comes alive, tingling with pins and needles but in a damn good way. I’ve never felt more energized or electro-charged than when Void touches me. Every atom in my body fires all at once.

It’s like the air changes, becoming thinner, harder to draw in, but somehow it tastes and smells sweeter. How does any of that make sense?

I swear Void makes me a little bit crazy. He’s so freaking hot and cold with me. Even now, he just treated me like absolute crap, yet here I am, drawn in by his mere presence.

As I stare into his eyes, his electric blue eyes, I’m captivated by his gaze. That stare sends comfort all over me, covering my body in a warm blanket. Even though, at the same time, he manages to send the coldest of chills through my very being.

Hot versus cold.

Freaking cozy and safe one minute, or left out in a blizzard to fend for myself the next.

Right now, he’s attempting to make me feel safe. Like even though he knows he fucked up and did the wrong thing, he’s trying to right that wrong.

Void could be bad for me.

But aren’t the bad things in life, the things we enjoy the most?

“I wasn’t actively trying to hurt you—” He stops mid-sentence, pondering his next words. “Maybe I was, I don’t know. Seeing you with Dash, seeing what I thought I saw, it shocked me. I didn’t think you were—”

“That kind of girl?” I ask, interrupting his words.

“Not necessarily that. I didn’t know you and Dash were there yet.”

My lips turn up in the corners as I grip his hand tighter. “We’re not, Void. Me and Dash… we’re not like that. Romantic… I mean.”

Void’s eyes light up, perhaps in hope, as he lets out a long breath I hadn’t noticed he was holding. “You’re not?”

“No… I haven’t done anything. With… anyone.”

Void swallows hard. “Shit… I fucked up.”

This thing, whatever it is between us, has been strained for a while. I know I need to spend some time with Void,