We stare each other down, neither apparently willing to break first. The air between us whirrs with tension. Jace moves, his steps syncing with the faint bass from inside. My heart skips.
He stops so close I can smell him. It’s a delicious smoky scent, with a trace of something darker. I mentally kick myself for wanting to lean in closer.
“You’re incredibly stubborn.” His voice travels through my body as he breaks the silence.
I scoff, masking the flutter. “Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You’re the broody gargoyle here. Lurking in the shadows, watching me.”
Jace’s eyes narrow, his jaw flexing. “I was out here first. So how do I knowyoudidn’t just followmeout here?”
“Trust me, if I knew you were out here, I wouldn’t have come out.”
His blue eyes narrow. A hint of danger glints in them. “You really think new hair and a little makeup makes you irresistible? Please. They’re only humoring you. Desperation still shows.”
Fire flashes through me, white-hot and violent. My blood feels like it’s boiling, searing through every vein. Heating me from the inside out.
“Fuck you, Jace.” I don’t have to stand here and listen to this. I shove past him
“No,fuck you.” Jace eats my strides in two steps, his chest almost brushing against me. “You are the one who came and fucked everything up. You are the one stringing my friends along like little puppies. You are the toy they keep fighting over.”
I stare at Jace in disbelief. “You’re mad that they actually have a brain of their own? That they aren’t blindly following your orders? Maybe the problem isn’tme. It’syou.”
Rage flares across his face, which seems to be the only emotion he can’t mask. He stalks forward, his presence alone pushing me back until I hit a column. His hand braces against the column next to my head. I can feel his warmth. My body reacts to him, and I hate it.
“You think you’ve got me all figured out?” he murmurs, so close his lips are inches away from mine.
“I don’t want to figure you out. I want you out of my face and leaving me alone.”
“Liar.”
My heart slams so hard against my ribs I’m worried it’s bruised. I should shove him away. I should say something, anything. But I don’t move.
His eyes flick over me as his jaw flexes, something conflictedon his face. My tongue brushes along my lips, something coming to life within me I don’t understand. I can’t help the pull I feel toward him, even if he’s a massive asshole.
Jace exhales, rough and angry, stepping back, taking his warmth with him.
“Go back inside, Ashthorne. Before you start something you can’t finish.” He shoves his hands into his pockets, and I can’t help but admire the stance.
27 CRY ME A RIVER
The bass thuds through the marble halls as I slip back inside, my fingers still cool from the autumn air. I haven’t been gone long, just long enough for my head to stop spinning from my encounter with Jace.
My eyes scan the room for Dakota, but I can’t see her in the sea of masks and glitter. I keep to the edges of the room and make my way to the punch table. I grab a cup and fill it, just to give myself something to hold.
“Wow.”
I turn and River is smiling whilst leaning on the table behind me. He looks handsome in all black.
“You clean up good.” His eyes drag up and down my body. There’s something that feels off with him.
“Thanks.” I smile tentatively and step closer to him.
“Dance with me.” He leans in, speaking low in my ear.
I smell it, the smell of alcohol. He’s different because he’s drinking. Before I can answer, he takes the punch cup from my hand and puts it down on the table, taking my hand to the dancefloor.
The music is loud and upbeat. A girl to my left tosses her head back, grinding against some guy in a devil mask. He grips her waist as they move.
River turns me and pulls me flush against him, his hands tight on myhips and he starts to move and grind against me. His movements match the beat, shameless, and uninvited. His breath ghosts over my neck.
