Dragons Do It Nerdier (Dragon Shifters Do It Book 2), page 20
Simon presented the bar with an outstretched hand. “I’m guessing you don’t come to many of these, since I’ve never met you and the bar is always out back, even in questionable weather.”
“Nope. I hate people.”
He cocked his head as if confused—he shouldn’t be; I hadn’t hid anything about my personality and all its quirks—then said, “Only in the collective sense, or individuals, as well?”
“Oh, good question, Simon.” I couldn’t resist saying his name. I liked it, with its old-fashioned feel. I’d never met a Simon, not that I could remember. “I’m equally disenchanted with individuals and groups, but for different reasons.”
His lips twitched as he ordered two margaritas from the bartender and asked for two shots of tequila, as well. Once the cute twenty-something behind the bar peeled her eyes off him and started making our drinks, he said, “Educate me. Give me your top three list for groups and individuals.”
“My top three list?”
“Sure. The three things you hate most about people in their singular and collective capacities.”
This guy was dangerous. He didn’t blink at my misanthropic tendencies, and he made my girly parts take notice. Down, tiger.
“Only three, huh? I hate that people in crowds act like Dick.”
“Robert.”
“Yeah, that guy. Maybe he has some degree of social anxiety and feels the need to lubricate at these events, or maybe he knows social standards are loosened in large groups and he just likes the excuse to be a dick.”
Point in Simon’s favor, he did not giggle when the word “lubricate” slipped past my gaudy red lips. “There will always be the Dicks of the world, but that’s only one.”
Then again, Simon wasn’t really a giggle kind of guy. He was more a “chuckle in that deep sexy way that made me shiver.” Oh, yeah, and wet. The mellow tones of his voice were definitely causing a party in my pants.
“Ah, don’t worry. I have more.” I glanced at the two shots that had appeared as we’d chatted. The margaritas were still getting mixed. Our bartender had been multitasking, handing out beer and wine as she made our drinks. Fair enough. There was brisk traffic chez Megan this evening.
Following my gaze, Simon discovered the shots and a sexy grin appeared. Offering me one, he held the other in his hand and lifted it. “To avoiding the Dicks of the world.”
Now that I could drink to.
I welcomed the burn of the liquor. Maybe it would drown out some of the ridiculous thoughts I was having about the human standing a foot away from me.
Because tequila did that: it chased away bad decisions. That earned a mental eye roll. But my recognition of the evils of tequila and its impact on my ability to think critically didn’t stop me from toasting the other five things I hated about people, singularly and collectively.
And bam! I was drunk. Just like that.
To be fair, six shots and three margaritas later wasn’t exactly sudden drunkenness. But time with Simon flew by. However long it took a horny misanthropic vampire to drink six shots and three margaritas, that was how long it took for me to fall completely in lust with Simon Fullerton, engineer, runner, shirt-tucker, and guy whose presence didn’t annoy me beyond tolerance.
That last one was kind of a shocker.
I kept expecting the next words out of his mouth to be the ones that tipped the scales to “and now I want to smack you.”
But it kept not happening.
And this from a guy who wore a pressed button-down to a Halloween party. I had to ask. “You’re not in costume, are you?”
“No.” His smile turned sheepish. “This is how I dress.”
Jeans in good repair that fit nicely over his firm ass, a pressed shirt stretched across his strong chest and tucked neatly into his jeans, a belt that matched his shoes, and the occasional peek of socks that coordinated with his shirt. He wasn’t a fashionable guy. He looked good, but I didn’t get the impression he’d given a lot of thought to his attire. His clothes fit, were in good repair, and all matched in some way.
Simon made it startlingly clear that I’d been surrounding myself with man-child men. I’d hit my thirties and subconsciously expected the men around me to act differently. Spoiler: they hadn’t. Most of them still wore threadbare band tees and faded jeans. Or skinny jeans. Or shorts with flip flops. Welcome to the life of a creative, filled with other creatives.
But Simon didn’t fit that mold. He wasn’t a creative. He wore grown-up clothes…that he apparently ironed. And I still wasn’t finding him annoying.
I blamed Simon’s sheepish smile for what happened next.
Also the booze, but it was the smile that really pushed my buttons.
Warning, warning. Danger ahead. Drunk vampire at a party with a hot human guy.
Warnings were for other people.
I leaned in, wrapped my hand around the back of his neck (not just so I wouldn’t fall over), and tipped my chin up.
A set of very interested blue eyes looked down at me.
And then he kissed me.
To keep reading, pick up your copy of I Wanna Suck Your!
Also by Gemma Cates
Almost Human Vampire Romance
I Wanna Suck Your (Becca & Simon)
I Wanna Bite Your (Megan & Oliver)
I Wanna Lick Your (Yvette)
I Wanna Nibble Your (Kayla)
Van Helsing Sisters Adventures
A Touch of Wild (Mariah Van Helsing)
A Touch of Crazy (Mia Van Helsing)
A Touch of Wicked (Morgan Van Helsing)
A Touch of Sin (Tilly Van Helsing)
A Touch of Monster Hunter Romance (Collection)
Dragon Shifters Do It
Dragons Do It Dirtier
Dragons Do It Nerdier
Dragons Do It Naughtier
For the most up-to-date list of Gemma’s books, visit:
www.GemmaCates.com
About the Author
Fanglicious! That’s Gemma Cates.
She writes flirty shifter and vampire romances with plenty of the steamy stuff and a solid dash of humor. If you’re looking for hot paranormal fun, fangs, and laughter, she’s happy to oblige.
When Gemma’s not cooking up happily-ever-afters for her heroes and heroines, she might be writing books in other, sweeter genres. (She’ll never tell.)
For release announcements and more, subscribe to her newsletter on her website: www.GemmaCates.com
Copyright © 2021 by Catherine G. Cobb
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Gemma Cates, Dragons Do It Nerdier (Dragon Shifters Do It Book 2)
