“Be…because…” I mumble. My dress suddenly feels both too heavy and like pure magic on my body. Every beat of my pulse has the material teasing against my skin. Every time I squirm on the cushions it ignites a fire across my body.
“Because you make me curious,” I blurt.
God, is that me trying to be seductive? Isthishow I try to glean information?
“Do I.”
Carson's tone is both sensual and venomous as he leans closer. His eyes glint wickedly, slicing into me.
“Yeah…” I mumble, feeling melty andsooo good. I have zero desire to keep on touching him, but for the life of me I'm unable to let go of his arm. My grip tightens, like I can’t get enough of the rippling forearm beneath the jacket sleeve. My fingertips glide over the fabric, greedy for the electric sensations it sends through my veins fireworks. It’s not even ahimthing. It’s just that his jacket feelssofreaking good to touch.
Carson eyes me coolly, the light breeze blowing his blond hair back from his gorgeous face.
“Wanna know a secret?” I giggle.
“Absolutely,” he growls. He’s typing something on his phone. But before the annoyance of that can screw with the floaty, happy sensation buzzing through me, he sets it back down.
“Vaughn and Val have thesame butt.”
I explode in giggles, my face hot as I cover my mouth with one hand.
“Fascinating,” Carson smirks, blandly amused.
“They're cute butts, too,” I snort, giggling as I drop my forehead to his shoulder. “Oh. You’ve gotreallystrong arms, by the way.”
That’s when I feel a change in the wind. A chill to the air. A dark force, pulsing against my back, like Darth freaking Vader just made his entrance.
I slowly lift my forehead from Carson’s shoulder and unwrap my arms from around his bicep.
When did I start hugging his arm?
Slowly, haltingly, I turn my head.
Icy blue cutsviciouslyinto me. My chest tightens as my pulse spikes. The throbbing, electric sensations rippling over my skin turn cold.
Vaughn does not look happy.
At all.
“W-w-what are you doing here?” I blurt, the color draining from my face.
“I texted him to comecollect you,” Carson sighs in a bored tone as he shakes me off and then leans in close. “Were you trying to make him jealous with your clumsy attempts to flirt with me?”
My stomach knots, my mind still foggy. “What?! No, I?—”
“Tsktsk, princess.” Carson smiles maliciously at me and then lifts his eyes to the god of wrath himself standing a few feet away, whose gaze is burning holes into my soul. “I think you may have gotten yourself into aworldof hurt.”
I’m vaguely aware of pouting like a child when Carson moves away from me, because the heat of his body feltso goodagainst my arm. And even after he walks over to Vaughn, claps a hand on his shoulder, and leans in to murmur a few words to him, my whole body is still buzzing, warm, and tingling everywhere.
I shift on the couch and literally have to bite my lip to stop frommoaning. God, my clothes feel so fucking good. The dress teases and brushes sensually over every inch of my skin. I shift again and gasp quietly as the material glides over my electrified nipples, sending a zap of hot need between my thighs.
I jolt when Vaughn squats down in front of me, filling my field of vision. A whimper bubbles from my throat when he grabs my jaw tightly, glaring into my face. My eyes dart past him, and I shiver when I realize Carson has gone.
We’re alone.
Gabby's dress feelsso freaking goodagainst my skin. The couch is melting around me. His hand—myGod—feels like pure sin as he cups my face.
“I’m only going to ask this once,” he growls. “What—and I can’t stress this enough—the fuckdid you think you were doing, coming to this party?—”
