A movement in the crowd caught my attention, and I looked to see Rush trying to make his way through the crowd to where I was dancing.
The memory of dancing with Rush at the Wolf's Den, had me almost staying, but I couldn't risk another moment like that. I didn't think I was strong enough. I was willing to admit that Rush was a weakness for me. It was time to get out of here.
"Thanks for the dance," I said, spinning around and fleeing the dance floor, grateful to be away from Dracula.
I thought about hiding in one of the many alcoves in the large hallway, but they were already full of people who really needed to get a room already.
I was back to the brightly lit kitchen and the living room that didn't have enough people in it to hide me. The wide staircase that led to the second level of the house was off to the right, and before I could think any more about it, I fled up the stairs. I doubted I had a chance of finding an empty room, but I just needed to find a place to breathe and text Olivia to see if she would be okay giving me a ride back to the dorm. I hadn't seen her in the living room and didn't know where she had gone.
I walked down the long, shadowy hallway, and all the doors were closed. There had to be a bathroom somewhere up here. I turned the corner and abruptly stopped. Standing only five feet from me was Rush.
Even in the dim light I could see him drinking me in. "You're running from me like I'm the big bad wolf."
My chest rose rapidly. "Maybe because you are," I said breathlessly.
He cocked his head to the side. "How so?"
"You're dangerous. It's not safe for us to be alone together."
"I'mdangerous?" he asked, flabbergasted, taking slow steps toward me. "Have you seen yourself in that outfit? Did you really expect me not to chase after you, drooling along the way?"
"Um..." I said, words failing me, my breathing still not yet back to normal.
"And," he continued as he closed the remaining space between us, "watching that sleazy vampire guy ogle you and have his hands all over you was more than I could handle. The only hands I ever want on you are mine."
His hands delved into my hair as he tilted my face up to meet his, our mouths pressing together, fervent and hungry. A moan filled the hallway, and I wasn't sure if it was me or him or both of us.
This. This was what I wanted.
I'd been trying to avoid him because I'd been nervous this would happen again the next time we were alone. The longer he kissed me, all the reasons why we were supposed to stay apart slipped from my mind.
His hands moved out of my hair and made their way down to my waist, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer to him. I loved how he kissed me, like he couldn't get enough of me, that no matter how long we kissed, he'd still crave me.
Without breaking our kiss, he picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pushed my back up against the wall. He moved against me causing my head to fall back with a soft thud on the wall, my eyes rolling back and my eyelids fluttering at the sensation of feeling him. He took advantage of my exposed neck and kissed down to my collarbone. The soft nips and licks were sensory overload, and I gripped his shoulders to steady myself. As he placed soft kisses along the tops of my breasts, it erased any and all coherent thoughts. And I was lost. So very lost in Rush. I didn't care about anything else besides him touching me, kissing me, holding me.
Him. Us. It was all I needed.
His nose traced up my neck, his lips stopping near my ear, his voice coming out low and husky. "Scarlet, I need you in my life." He pulled back and looked down at me. "I can't keep pretending that I don't want you. I can't keep acting like I'm okay not having you be mine."
I searched his eyes, and there was more there than just desire. There was also a pureness of sincerity and longing. This was more than physical for him, and the thought of that sent my heart soaring.
"But we—" I began but was interrupted by a door opening next to us, causing us both to jump.
I unwrapped my legs from around Rush and he set me back down on my feet. He quickly stepped away from me and put his hands in his pockets.
A couple stumbled out into the hall, both of them adjusting their clothes, not paying us any attention as they made their way back down one of the stairways.
"See?" I motioned between us. "This doesn’t work. No matter how much we both wish it could."
His shoulders slumped and he looked down at his feet. I waited for him to say something, but he remained quiet.
Eventually I said, "I'm going to go find Olivia, so she can take me home. I'll see you around, Rush."
I moved past him and made my way to the other staircase that Rush had used, hoping to find Olivia on that side of the house. I could feel him watching me but mustered all the self-control I had to not look back at him.
I really needed to stop making out with him, because each time it got harder and harder to walk away.
9
