pte

id's

so loud I could feel

se party, but Talia had already pulled me in by the h

ed over the music. "For goodness sake, you

harger incident with Rhett the night befor

on, music, crowds.

lifted up as cheers followed. A fog machine was going f

party Talia had

r, but I felt bare. I coul

a drink in my hand. "

. It was strong. Too strong

trying it out once a while wo

ned. "You'

d and pulled me to the dancefloor as we fol

ension I felt the first time I arrived. I let go of my hoodie

heat sliding down my spin

of the staircase. He wore a black shirt over his che

mm

y ran cold. And the

eck was he

ed tightly. And those eyes–those dark eyes that once looked sof

s started w

d, grabbing her wri

t got here." Talia a

ow

before I could

alled, his voi

cing and stepped

u doing here

n't expect to find you half-dressed and drin

, I was only putting on a crop

half-dressed. And you don't

as if something irked him. Then his gaze fell

N

Astr

was enough. The way people m

nd curled around

retorted as I tried to

o you want me to

im away. But I knew it'd onl

wly and foll

the house was s

I pretended I didn't care that he'd just pulled me out of a party like some overbearing...Brother? Friend

d turned off the engine, b

n us for a moment. Fin

e we doi

espo

ve to embarras

quiet but deep. "You should

You're m

cah would lose it if he saw you dressed like

ot here."

ttered. "And tha

him as my he

a big brother. He wasn't even

e a man trying to hold h

s his hand came up to my face, his wa

tight. "Micah left you in my care. And no

aught. I di

se enough that I felt

e that, I'll make sure that will be the

ha

n, just close enough that I

nd I will."

n my throat as my gaze

mn kissa

idn

er di

slammed into mine,