“I said thanks.” I snapped my hand from his grip, annoyance creeping in out of nowhere, and it had to do with Theon’s absence. Was he really not coming?
He left, and after another round of waiting, I decided it was best I enjoyed the night and not let my hours of dressing up go to waste.
I slipped into the crowd, determined to lose myself in the music and shake off the anxiety clinging to my chest. The pulsing beat washed over me, and for a moment, I let go, dancing with anyone who came near, the faces around me blending with the flickering lights. First, I moved with a group of girls, their energy infectious as we swayed and laughed. Then a few guys joined, and I danced with them too, twirling and moving, the beats keeping me from thinking too hard about anything else.
But the worry gnawed at the back of my mind. No matter how much I moved, how much I smiled, the thought of Theon’s absence wouldn’t leave me.
I spun around, dancing with a girl who mirrored my steps, both of us laughing as we played off each other’s moves. Just as I was starting to lose myself completely in the fun, a guy in a mask came up behind me. His hands were suddenly on my waist, tooclose, too forceful. I shifted back, raising my hand in a subtle but clear sign that I wasn’t interested.
He ignored it.
I felt his grip tighten as he tried to pull me closer, his touch dragging me from the haze of music back into the sharp reality of the moment.
“Stop,” I muttered, but my voice was drowned out by the bass pounding through the room. I twisted away, but he didn’t get the message. His fingers dug into my waist.
Something snapped inside me.
I hit him hard in the chest, shoving his hands away. “I said stop!” My voice rose, cutting through the music, and finally, I broke free, pushing him back. He stumbled slightly, and a few people nearby glanced over, sensing the tension.
Anger filled me as I stormed away, pushing through the crowd until I found a dark corner where the music felt more distant. My heart pounded, both from the stupid asshole and from the frustration boiling up inside me. The party felt suffocating now, the noise too loud, the people too much. I leaned against the wall, catching my breath, feeling a rush of anger at everything—the guy who wouldn’t take no for an answer, the crowd, and most of all, at Theon.
Where the heck was he?
I needed a drink. I walked back to the bar, taking a cup of vodka and all things strong concoction. I stopped on the way when I saw Katy and chatted a little before returning back to the secluded spot where a sliver of peace existed.
But there was someone there.
He was wearing a red mask with black web over his face, blending into the dim shadows where he stood, like some brooding figure from a dark fantasy. His black shirt was casual, yet devastatingly attractive, with the top buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of his tattooed chest. The sleeves were rolledup, exposing the swirl of tattoos running down his forearm, twisting like secrets only I knew. His presence radiated that heat, even through the mask, his stare burning into my skin.
It wasn’t just someone.
It was Theon.
Relief rushed through me, crashing into the wall of anger I’d been holding back. I ignored the way my pulse quickened, tried to steady my breathing, and walked forward without acknowledging him, trying to act like I hadn’t noticed him, like I wasn’t both infuriated and secretly glad he was here.
I stood in front of him, staring at the dancing crowd as I brought the drink to my lips. Feeling the heat of his body slowly come up behind me, I swallowed, but I didn’t move.
Ugh, the concoction tasted bad, or maybe it wasn’t my style. I wished Jade were here to work her magic, only hers tasted nice.
Suddenly, his hand snaked around my waist from behind, slowly tugging me into his chest. I clenched my teeth as the heat, cologne, and the feel of his body slammed me at once, making it impossible for me to pull away. Not when his head dropped to my shoulder,burying his face in my neck as he breathed me in.
I was still angry, but my inside was melting.
Clenching my fists, I drew my body away. “No, you don’t get to do that after ghosting me all afternoon, evening and night without any explanation,” I said over my shoulder.
His fingers gripped my chin before I could look away, forcing me to stare into the soulless hole where his eyes should be. “Did you wait for long?” His words were muffled, unrushed.
“Obviously. I even had to dance with—” I cut myself off, my chest heaving. It wasn’t a good time to test out his promise about taking out anyone who touched me.
“You don’t have to say. I saw him.” He grazed a finger down the side of my face to my neck.
“You were here?”
“I came in right when you were dancing with him.” He trailed a continuous line down my collarbone, and I swallowed thickly.
“Where is he?”
He leaned closer, his mask almost touching my nose. “You look dangerously alluring, the queen of my heart.”
