As Kim and I walk out from her car to Ronan Astor’s huge house, I try telling myself that I’m only here because of Kim.
There’s no way in shit I’m leaving her alone at a party where Xander Knight is present.
Deep down?
I’m at the edge of myself with that damned awareness slicing and clawing at the bottom of my stomach.
This is the first time I’m seeing Aiden after he pushed me against the hood of his car in the rain.
After he wrenched an explosive orgasm out of me where anyone could’ve seen us.
Could’ve seen me.
What would’ve happened if Aunt looked out? If Uncle returned home? If one of the neighbours passed by?
Getting all tangled with Aiden is provoking parts I never wanted provoked.
Because at that moment? All I thought about was chasing the sensation he was pulling out of me.
God. I hate him.
Kim’s eyes sparkle with excitement as we walk through the front door of Ronan’s mansion. Loud music thumps from the walls even before we get in. A butler who looks straight out of Downton Abbey, all complete with the uniform and the tight smile welcomes us in.
Ronan is a lord’s son, but the butlers and servers at a teenager’s party are too much.
I smile, imagining him forcing his parents’ staff to serve at his endless parties.
Almost everyone from RES is here. It’s weird to see them out of their uniforms, laughing, drinking, and grinding against each other to a hit pop song.
This is a normal Sunday night to them. Kim and I are about the only ones who avoid them. For two years, I never felt like I was missing out on the whole teenage scene.
However, Kim always talked about such parties with a certain sadness that knotted my heart. Unlike me, she longed for the normal teenage life. She wants to go to college with one last hurrah.
I won’t kill her wishes just because these scenes aren’t for me. That’s what best friends do, right? They abandon their comfort zones for their friends.
Kim lent me skinny jeans and a black tank top that keeps falling off my right shoulder. Since Kim lost weight, her new size is a bit too tight on me and I feel like combusting in the trousers. I kept my face make-up-less and pulled my hair into a loose ponytail at the top of my head.
Kim opted for a hot pink dress that hugs her petite frame and hints at her cleavage. She’s even wearing heels and has her hair loose.
We’re going all out.
Her words, not mine.
Dangerous Night by Thirty Seconds to Mars fills the space as Kim snatches a drink from a butler’s tray.
I face her. “Are you nervous? We can go home if you like.”
“Nope!” She laughs. “We agreed to not run away anymore, remember?”
“It’s fine to run away sometimes. You know, for self-preservation.”
She chugs half of the drink. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Act so strong, Ellie! I wish I had your cool head.”
I lift my shoulder. “I’m not really that cool, Kim. I don’t show it.”
“Show it?”
I catch a dark figure in my peripheral vision and the blood in my veins turns to ice.
Blood.
So much blood.
Steel blood runs in your veins. You will not disgrace it.
The haunting voice booms in my head like a demon’s. The tips of my fingers tingle and turn icy.
An urge to scrub them clean takes over me like a drug addict burning for a fix.
A weird sensation crawls down my spine as I feel eyes on me. Blank, lifeless eyes. They’re watching.
They’re coming to get me.
They’ll eat me.
Run, Elsa!
NOW!
“Elsa?”
My gaze snaps to Kim who’s waving a hand in front of my face.
“Huh?”
“You just zoned out.” Her brows furrow. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I force a smile. “I just need the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
I bolt out of there before she can say another word. With one of the butlers’ help, I find a restroom. The burn under my skin becomes like hellfire, about to consume me whole.
It only cools once I pour water and scrub it clean over and over again.
I watch my surroundings the entire time as if expecting someone to jump me from the walls. Or worse, the mirrors.
I stare at my spooked reflection. My pupils are round as saucers and my white-ish hair looks like a witch’s.
“It’s nothing.” I force a smile out of my trembling lips. “You’re going to be okay.”
After smoothing my expression and cleaning my hands, I step out of the bathroom.
I’m lost in my thoughts when I walk back into the lounge area where music thumps and everyone dances like they’re in a club.
I barge into a hard wall — or a person.
Ow. Strong hands clutch me before I fall back on my butt.
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I didn’t see you.”
“Obviously.” The laughter draws my attention to the tall, broad and very familiar face.
Levi King.
The previous captain of Elites and the current gem of Arsenal’s midfield.
I’m caught in a near-fangirl moment at seeing a Gunner in real life. I mean, I did go to games with Uncle Jaxon, but this is the closest I’ve gotten to a player.
“Have you seen my dickhead cousin?” Levi’s inquisitive eyes roam over my shoulder.
His cousin. Right. Aiden is one year younger than him and his cousin. Jonathan King is his guardian.
I visibly shake myself. I can’t believe I was almost too caught in the fangirl mode to forget who Levi actually is.
“Wait a second.” He studies me close — too close — that I smell his expensive aftershave.
While Aiden has the whole dark vibe to a T, Levi has pale blue eyes that flick to clear grey in the dim light. His sandy blonde hair is tousled and messed up like he couldn’t care less about combing it when he rolled out of bed.
He’s wearing Elites’ royal blue jacket over a white T-shirt and dark jeans.
“It’s you.” He grins. “Frozen.”
“Elsa is fine, thanks,” I say with sarcasm.
He laughs. “Elsa, right. I didn’t know your real name.”
Of course, he didn’t. Kings don’t know all their peasants, do they?
“What are you doing at Ronan’s party?” he asks. “Wait. Did Aiden drag you here?”
I’m honestly not surprised that he thinks that.
“He did, didn’t he?” He searches me up and down as if Aiden will materialise from underneath my skin. “And where is he now?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
“Huh. He must be playing a chess game against himself like a freak.”
“Wait. He does that?” That’s so weird. I thought I was the only one who does that.
“Stage five freak. I’m telling you.” He winks.
Well, Levi isn’t exactly like the image I painted in my head. After everything I had heard about screwing the teacher and being Elites’ captain, and the king of RES, I expected an older, more bastard version than Aiden.
Instead, he’s more… welcoming?
Would I appear like a creep if I ask for his autograph? Uncle Jaxon would be so happy.
Just when I’m contemplating the idea, the music comes to an abrupt halt. Ronan jumps to the top of a table in the middle of the lounge area where the football team surrounds him.
“Listen up, bitches.” He uses a beer bottle as a microphone. “We’re here today to celebrate our win against New Castle. One to nil. Championship, here we fucking come.”
Everyone hoots and cheers, “Go Elites!”
Even Levi smiles, shaking his head.
“It hasn’t been easy to win without our two strikers.” Ronan’s tone and expression turn to sorrowful before he grins. “But yours truly can transform into a striker any day, bitches! King and Knight, who?”
“Fuck you, Astor,” Xander mumbles from beside him and everyone else laughs.
“La ferme, Knight. Don’t kill my vibe.” Ronan goes back to grinning. “Anyway, let’s ignore Knight’s bitter arse. We have a special guest tonight. Our own Premier League star. Let’s welcome our previous captain, Levi King!”
“He had to do it,” Levi mutters under his breath. “Fucker.”
The rest of the football team cheers and hits the table like crazy.
Ronan points at Levi and shouts. “Come here, Captain!”
“Captain, captain, captain…” The rest chant, led by Ronan and Cole.
Levi grunts and starts to leave, but stops and looks down at me. “Remember what I told you about Aiden being a stage five freak?”
I nod once.
“He’s also a stage five creeper. It’s better if you stay away from him.” He winks. “For your sake, not his.”
And then he’s gone.
I stare at his back, incredulous, as the football team members clasp him in bro hugs.
What on earth does he mean by ‘for your sake, not his’?
“First of all,” Levi says in a joking tone, glaring down at Ronan. “I’m only here to get my dickhead cousin, so fuck you for the speech setup, Astor.”
“Come on, Captain.” Ronan waves him off. “Some encouraging words for the championship.”
“If you don’t get it again this year…” Levi trails off. “You’ll be punished, captain style.”
They all grunt, except for Ronan who jumps up. “Nah, you’re not our captain anymore.” He grins, clasping Cole by the shoulder. “Nash is.”
Levi raises an eyebrow. “And who do you think gave Nash that captain position.”
They all break out in a dispute, except for Cole who watches them with a smile, shaking his head.
Levi put Cole as captain? It’s weird that he didn’t pick Aiden, considering that he’s his cousin.
“Ellie!”
I rip my attention from the football team to Kim who’s grinning as she holds onto a brunette’s elbow.
“This is Astrid.” Kim beams. “Astrid Clifford, you know, the one I told you I sat with during last year’s games.”
I smile at Astrid and her glowing aura. She’s rocking simple overall shorts and fishnet stockings. It’s cute in a girly kind of way.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen her. Her rocky relationship with Levi had been the talk of RES last year. I even caught Aiden hanging out around her.
Actually, Astrid and Silver are the only two girls Aiden has associated himself with.
Not that I’ve been watching him or anything.
“Astrid, this is my best friend, Elsa.”
“Elsa.” Astrid rolls my name off her tongue with a discreet smile.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing.” She laughs, waving her hand. “I just heard so much about you and the only names I got were Frozen and Ice Princess. I’m glad to know your real name.”
I wince.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” She clasps my hand. “I’m really glad to finally meet Aiden’s obsession.”
“Wait. What?” My lips part open.
“He used to watch you all the time.”
She’s about to say something when her gaze strays to where Levi stands with the football team.
An electric current passes between them and I find myself caught in the way they watch each other.
It’s like they’re the only two people in the room.
The longing and the passion are so tangible, I almost taste it on my tongue. My chest squeezes for no apparent reason.
“Come here, princess,” Levi shouts.
“Yes, my queen.” Ronan yells. “Let’s have a drinking competition for old times’ sake.”
“In your fucking dreams,” Levi growls at him.
“I’m in.” Astrid laughs then looks at me and Kim. “Let’s go.”
Kim takes her hand, but I shake my head. “It’s not my scene, but thanks for offering.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Kim gives me a reprimanding look as she follows Astrid to the middle of the party. Ronan is already preparing the drinks with the help of his teammates.
Time to search for a hole where I can hide for the rest of the party — and watch Kim.
She’s on her second — or third shot. We’re definitely not driving back to her house.
A taxi it is.
My gaze gets lost in the crowd as if I’m searching for something.
Or someone.
Nope. I’m absolutely not searching for him.
I head to the reception-style table to pick something to eat.
Here’s to hoping it’s not all junk food.
I collide against a hard chest. Ow. Seriously, what’s with colliding into people today?
Only this time… it’s different.
A strong arm surrounds my waist with ease. I feel his warmth and smell his familiar, head-turning scent before seeing him. My heart does that slight jump that turns my insides upside down.
I step back, but I can’t go far since he’s gripping me tight by the waist. When I lift my head, I’m greeted by the smokiest, most turbulent eyes. Something unreadable forms a sheen in his gaze.
A week.
It’s been less than a week since I saw him, but it feels like forever.
That strong jaw, the straight nose, and the jet black hair seem like a far, distant memory.
Only… they’re not.
Aiden is dashing in the school’s uniform, but he’s irresistible in simple jeans and a black T-shirt. He carries the nonchalant vibe so well, it’s almost unfair.
My gaze locks on the cut near the corner of his mouth. I shouldn’t be feeling guilty considering that I’ve done nothing wrong, but I still do. It doesn’t delight me to see him hurt.
I’m not that person.
The chaos of the drinking competition, the music, and the chants cease to exist.
It’s only me and him now.
Me and my tormenter.
I reach up and touch the pad of my forefinger to the cut on his lip. “Does it hurt?”
He yanks my hand free and holds it prisoner in his.
“You’re getting good at lying, sweetheart.” His eyes gleam, but they’re not playful. They’re downright sinister. “You got me for a second there.”
“What?”
“You don’t have to pretend that you care about me.”
He thought I was pretending? Screw him.
And screw me for actually having that lapse of judgement.
I lift my chin. “I don’t care about you.”
“Is that so?”
“Not at all, Aiden. You’re nothing to me.”
“Nothing, huh?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
I don’t get a warning.
Aiden’s lips crash to mine in an animalistic frenzy. I don’t get to think or breathe.
All I can do is… feel.
Still holding me by the waist, his other hand grabs my nape in a possessive hold.
Aiden doesn’t kiss me, he claims me. His teeth nibble on my bottom lip before he thrusts his tongue inside my mouth.
It’s a clashing of tongues and teeth and lips.
It’s suffocating and liberating.
I can’t breathe.
But who needs breathing?
My fingers dig into the hard ridge of his chest, fisting into the T-shirt for balance.
Aiden lifts me and sits me on some surface. I wrap my legs around his waist while he continues ravaging my mouth. My head turns dizzy, hazy, and begins floating.
Aiden’s presence doesn’t only fill my air, but it conquers it.
Smashes it.
Breaks it apart.
His hand sneaks under my T-shirt at that place where my top meets my jeans. I hiss in a breath when his rough, calloused hand meets my softer skin.
Aiden pulls away, and air assaults my lungs. I’m disoriented when he smirks in a lazy, sinister way.
“Nothing, huh?” he motions behind him.
That’s when I realise we’re in public.
I just let Aiden kiss the shit out of me in front of the entire school.
My cheeks heat and I freeze as if that will make me disappear.
No chatter comes from behind us, so I’m sure everyone’s attention is on us.
Can the earth swallow me, please?
While still tangled around him, Aiden lifts me up and carries me out. I hide my head in the crook of his neck, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.
Aiden leans into my ear and whispers, “It’s time you become completely mine.”
