Asher’s stare, the one that he’d previously levelled on the gyrating crowd, now settled on the man before him. It was a calculative stare, one that glittered with knowing and a deep kind of anticipatory malice. It suggested violence, but not the uninhibited sort that couldn’t reign itself in; the sort that was slow, considered, stealthy.
”Well then, Jack,” the alpha drawled, his eyes never leaving Nocturne’s, “Do let me know if you’re in the market for a change of employment. You seem quite the useful sort.”
The alpha didn’t need his name. This place was run by shifters who were all terrified of him; one of them would know, and one of them would tell him. And if they didn’t, he had other ways of finding out. Turning young adults who had their noses glued to the social media on their phones had its perks.
“Hunting and ferreting?” Asher scoffed, breaking eye contact and returning to his drink. “What do you think I am? Some sort of animal? Sex work is real work, son.”
It wasn’t an attempt in earnest, but perhaps the comment would ease Nocturne’s mind a little - or at least make him question what he now assumed of Asher. A basic trick of manipulation, something that might be just enough to get this guy to see Asher as he had upon arrival; that same, sexy stranger in the shadows that seemed far more approachable before he started digging. And wasn’t that what everyone wanted? To turn back time on those they found attractive and see only the best of them? To see what they wanted to see?
”I think that one’s definitely into you.” Asher briefly looked back up at the other man, then jerked his chin in the direction of the woman who had been nudging her friend and looking over at the two of them. “You should go, dance. I’m sure she’s far more interesting than I am.”
”Well then, Jack,” the alpha drawled, his eyes never leaving Nocturne’s, “Do let me know if you’re in the market for a change of employment. You seem quite the useful sort.”
The alpha didn’t need his name. This place was run by shifters who were all terrified of him; one of them would know, and one of them would tell him. And if they didn’t, he had other ways of finding out. Turning young adults who had their noses glued to the social media on their phones had its perks.
“Hunting and ferreting?” Asher scoffed, breaking eye contact and returning to his drink. “What do you think I am? Some sort of animal? Sex work is real work, son.”
It wasn’t an attempt in earnest, but perhaps the comment would ease Nocturne’s mind a little - or at least make him question what he now assumed of Asher. A basic trick of manipulation, something that might be just enough to get this guy to see Asher as he had upon arrival; that same, sexy stranger in the shadows that seemed far more approachable before he started digging. And wasn’t that what everyone wanted? To turn back time on those they found attractive and see only the best of them? To see what they wanted to see?
”I think that one’s definitely into you.” Asher briefly looked back up at the other man, then jerked his chin in the direction of the woman who had been nudging her friend and looking over at the two of them. “You should go, dance. I’m sure she’s far more interesting than I am.”
