Aiden leaned in, and I felt the warm stream of his breath along the shell of my ear. “Want something to drink? A beer? Cup of water?”
The deep sound of his voice had a shiver racing up my spine. I looked up at him when he leaned back an inch. Our mouths were so close together I could have pressed my lips to his. “A beer?” I was at a party. Might as well do what everyone else was doing… well, of the consumption kind.
He held my gaze with his for long seconds and then straightened, looking around. “Stay here, yeah?”
I nodded, loving that he was looking out for me, that he was worried about me.
But the truth was, I didn’t want him to leave. The truth was, I wanted to leave with Aiden right now until we were somewhere alone… until we could explore what we’d started in his car all those days ago.
Chapter Twelve
Aiden
I hadn’t wanted to leave Harlow, but I’d needed to do something other than stand next to her or I would have kicked anyone’s ass who came too close. I was so fucking possessive of her, so damn territorial, I felt like I was losing my mind.
And Harlow didn’t even realize all the guys were eye-fucking her. But I sure as hell did.
Now, Harlow stood off to the side in the kitchen of this out-of-control party, her friend Pixie beside her, and three guys forming a semi-circle around them. Harlow looked like she’d rather be somewhere else, like she felt out of place. I felt the same damn way.
An hour later, I told her I’d go get us another drink, some water, since more alcohol probably wasn’t the best route to go, but then I’d just stood back and watched. I saw how she kept glancing around, and I hoped like hell she was looking for me.
Although we were here together, I gave her some space but kept close in case she wanted me. I didn’t need to hover around her, but if she needed me, if I needed to kick some asshole’s teeth in because they crossed a line with her, well, then I was right here for her.
I felt people staring at me and looked to my right, seeing a guy and girl making no secret of the fact that they were boring holes into me.
I tipped my beer back, because I’d said fuck it and grabbed some more alcohol to get through this party, and glared right back at the guy. He shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable that I wasn’t breaking eye contract, and then he and his girl turned and left.
If people didn’t realize yet, they’d soon find out I wasn’t the type to backdown and wasn’t intimidated.
“Hey, dude, do you want some of this?”
I looked over at the guy who was talking to me, his voice slurred, his face sweaty, and his eyes red-rimmed and glossy. It was clear he was already fucked up, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that bottle of whiskey he held out to me wasn’t appealing as fuck.
I didn’t answer right away as I looked back at Harlow. I saw one of the guys step closer to her, and I felt my rage grow.
What I wanted to do was go over to that guy and push him out of the way, insert my body between theirs, stare him down, and let him know without saying a goddamn thing that he needed to back off. And although that kiss still lingered on my lips, the memory of everything I wanted to do with her, everything I wanted with Harlow playing through my mind, I didn’t go over there. I didn’t want to seem like an overbearing, possessive asshole to her.
So instead, I took that bottle happily, unscrewed the top, and poured two-shots-worth into my mouth. The liquor burned as it went down, but it felt good. I took one more shot before passing the bottle back to him, feeling his gaze and glancing over at him.
“Thanks,” I muttered dismissively.
He stared at me with appreciation in his eyes, maybe because I just downed three shots without taking a breath. But he needed to go now. I wasn’t in the mood for company, especially from some drunken dude I didn’t even know.
He ended up stumbling away, and I focused back on Harlow. The guy kept looking at her, although staring was a more accurate description. I clenched my jaw and curled one of my hands tightly into a fist at my side. There was only so much annoyance I could take, and the longer I watched their exchange, the more I wanted to lay claim to her in front of everybody.
I’d never felt this way before, never felt so territorial about somebody in my entire life. But here we were, my heart already Harlow’s, and she didn’t even know it.
Chapter Thirteen
Harlow
I felt someone watching me and glanced around the kitchen, not seeing anyone right away but then noticing Aiden off to the side, over by the kegs, his focus on me like a predator intensely watching their prey.
I turned my focus from Aiden, because his was so consuming I could feel it in every part of my body.
Pixie was talking to Braxton, but the look on her face told me she wasn’t enjoying it as much as she probably thought she would have. It was clear Braxton was drunk, his eyes red and glossy, his movements sloppy as he leaned in close to her. She wasn’t even looking at him but instead focused across the room, bringing her bottle of water up and knitting her brows at whatever he said. Finally, she shook her head and walked away.
Aiden was by my side when I turned to look back at him. I was so surprised that he was right there a little gasp left me. He held out a red plastic cup, and I looked down at the contents. The frothy beer sloshed around as we handed off the cup. The scent of hard liquor came from Aiden, and I wondered if he’d been drinking more, or if the scent was just wafting around, because everyone was getting good and drunk.
“You didn’t get anything?” I asked right before I brought the cup to my mouth and took a long drink of the nasty-tasting beer. It was cold and foamy, slightly sour, and tasted disgusting. But I took another drink. Maybe more liquid courage would help me feel comfortable in my surroundings.
“I had a couple shots,” he said.
It was about twenty minutes of us standing there, me drinking my beer and Pixie coming up to us a few times before she darted off. I finished my drink and looked at Aiden. He was watching me again. In fact, I don’t think he took his focus off me for more than a few seconds at a time. I felt like he was worried that someone would snatch me up. I couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect that maybe he wanted me that much he didn’t want anyone else to have me.
Or maybe that was all wishful thinking?
“I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” I said, and he nodded. I turned and started looking for the nearest one.
There was one downstairs but currently occupied, the sounds of moaning coming from the closed door having me steer clear of it. I felt Aiden following me, and when I got to the stairs and started to ascend them, I looked over my shoulder. He stood at the landing, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’ll be right back,” I shouted down, because the noise in this part of the house sounded even more obnoxiously loud. I didn’t even know where the bathroom was upstairs, or if it was fuck-free, but I’d find out soon enough.
I made my way up the stairs and moved out of people’s way. As I navigated the hallway and opened doors, I finally found the bathroom, one that was tucked away in a spare bedroom and thankfully free.