“Uh—am I interrupting something?”
I quickly grab one of the green drinks from her hand.
“Thanks,” I say, my voice shaky.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him return to the spot against the wall, like nothing happened. Only now his posture is sharper, attention locked entirely on me.
His eyes don’t leave mine. Not for a second.
I swallow hard, turning back to Alex. Her brows shoot up and I lean in close and tell her what happened. By the time I finish, her mouth is hanging wide open, eyes practically bulging out of her head.
“No fucking way,” she gasps, clutching my arm. “Opal! Go talk to him! He’s like…bodyguard stalker. Which let's be honest, is your dream scenario.”
“Alex!” I hiss, swatting at her.
“Go!” She urges. I nod and turn toward him.
My drink is slick in my sweaty palm, condensation dripping down my fingers. Every step toward him my thighs dampen more with the wetness seeping from under my skirt.
He doesn’t move when I stop in front of him, doesn’t even shift weight. Just stands there—massive and immovable. Like a wall of muscle and black fabric.
I tilt my chin up, my words fumbling out before I can think. “Thank you.”
His eyes, shadowed beneath the mask and goggles, flicker down at me. He gives me a nod.
The silence between us stretches thin and tight, so loud it drowns out the thrum of music and laughter. My mind scrambles for something—anything—to say.
“So, um… do you always go around rescuing people from pirates? Or is that just, like, a Halloween thing.”
He stares and shakes his head. His gloved hand lifts and points a single finger at me.
My heart stutters. “Me?”
He nods once.
A rush of heat floods my chest, my stomach, and lower. My lips part as the meaning sinks in. “Oh…” my voice trembles. “Just for me?”
Another nod. Steady and certain.
Suddenly I’m feeling too hot. I run my eyes over him once more. His height, his broad chest, his muscles straining under the tight fabric. Oh, he’s playing this part very well.
I swallow hard and take a tiny step closer. Close enough to feel the heat of his body. My head barely reaches his chest, the weight of his gaze pins me in place.
CHAPTER EIGHT
KELLAN
My head is spinning. Do I say something? If I open my mouth, will she recognize me? Will I fuck it all up?
I want nothing more than to bend her over right here and take her, without giving a single fuck who is watching. And the way she’s looking at me right now—like she can't decide if she wants to run or climb in my lap—maybe, the silent thing is working.
Christ, she’s close enough I can smell her perfume under the booze. My cock is hard against my zipper; all I can think about isfucking her against this wall. I want everyone in this place to know she belongs to me.
She tilts her head, a little smile playing on her lips. “So, you’re not going to talk to me?”
My throat tightens, but I keep my mouth shut. My eyes drag down her body and back up slow. She’s trembling, keeping her thighs pressed together. Oh, she’s enjoying this.
Her cheeks flush. She bites her lip and leans in close, “I know you’re always there, watching me…and part of me is desperate for it. You love this don’t you, Kade, watching me unravel?”
