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“Good plan.” Aurora flashes me a mischievous grin. “Jenn and I started drinking before we even left our house, so you have some catching up to do.”
A sharp jab of pain spears through my heart at the casual reminder that that is what siblings do. Drink and get ready together before heading to a party. Together. I could’ve had that too. But instead, I’m stuck with a fucking bodyguard.
“I was just heading to the bathroom,” she continues, and points down the packed hallway. “But Jenn is in the ballroom with Lionel and those guys we met at the party last weekend.”
“Great,” I reply with a smile as I shove aside that flicker of pain. “I’ll meet you in there after I grab something to drink.”
“Yes, we will,” Jace adds, putting just a hint of emphasis on the word we.
We, huh? I suppress another scoff and a wicked smile. We’ll see about that.
While Aurora continues towards the bathroom, I turn around and start in the direction of the basement. Jace falls into step beside me. There is a slight smile lurking on his lips as he strolls along there next to me while also watching the crowd. And the crowd is watching him too.
Several guys scowl at him as we pass, jealousy and annoyance clear on their features. Most girls cast discreet glances at him, but a fair number outright stare too. Their hungry eyes track Jace’s every move as he raises his arm to drag a hand through his messy curls. After raking their gazes over his sinfully hot body, they shoot envious looks at me.
I just scowl back at them. If they only knew how annoying and frustrating Jace really is, they wouldn’t be so jealous of me.
“I thought you were getting something to drink,” Jace suddenly says.
“I am,” I reply.
“We’ve passed the kitchen.”
“So?”
Before he can retort, I round the corner and start down the white marble steps that lead to the storage room underneath the ground floor. Jace, who assumed that we were heading straight forward, has to skid to a halt and then backtrack to follow me.
“You know,” he begins as he hurries to catch up with me again. “Everything would be so much easier if you actually communicated with me instead.”
“Because you’re such a master of communication yourself.”
“I thought the snake in your bed was a pretty obvious message.”
My gaze darts to him. But he only wears his customary casual smile, so it’s impossible to interpret if he meant that as a threat or as a double entendre.
I shake my head at myself. I don’t need to understand Jace Hunter. I just need to get rid of him.
We reach the bottom of the stairs. Only stacks of chairs and tables piled on top of each other meet us there. Most of them have been pushed up against the walls, but the space is still packed to the point that there is almost nothing left of the floor. Not to mention that there is a sliding gate made of iron separating the stairs from the storage area.
There is a confused frown on Jace’s features as he scans the odd space before us. “What, exactly, are we doing here again?”
I twist around so that I’m in front of him instead. Then I let a sly smile curve my lips as I start backing him towards the sliding gate. Cocking my head slightly, I look up and meet his gaze.
“I just wanted to get you alone for a minute before we rejoin the party,” I say, my voice coming out low and sultry.
Even more confusion pulses across his face. And I’m not sure if that confusion is the reason for his lack of resistance, but he lets me back him across the floor.
“Kayla,” he says, a cautious note to his voice.
His brown eyes are full of suspicion as he studies my face. I just keep moving until his back connects with the sliding gate. The metal lets out a rattling sound at the impact. I close the distance between us until I’m standing only a breath away. I can almost feel his chest brush against mine when we breathe, and an involuntary tingle ripples down my spine. While holding his gaze, I slide my hands over my waist. Jace makes no move to touch me. But he doesn’t try to leave either. He just watches me with those intense eyes of his.
“Aurora was right, you know,” I say. “You are hot.”
At last, a smirk replaces the suspicion on his face, and he grins down at me. “I know.”
A laugh that is half surprise and half exasperation rips from my lungs as I shake my head at him. “You’re very cocky, aren’t you?”
“False modesty is pointless. Own who you are.”
