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His eyes froze me in an instant. They were pale, cold, but even across the room, filtered through green light, I saw things moving in them. Whatever lurked beneath was coming to the surface. His massive body was completely still, but he looked wild. An animal on the hunt. About to attack.
That’s right, Patrick,I thought.Look at me. What are you going to do about this?
The corner went dark. I shuddered in Vine Guy's sloshed embrace. We were in the center of the dance floor, caught in the swirling lights.
I let him rest a hand on my stomach. I let him slobber on my neck as he rubbed up on my ass. When he nudged my breast again, I didn’t push his fingers away.
Dexter.The thought whipped through my mind. This was how Dexter danced with me when we were together. Putting on a show, murmuring that he wanted everyone to know how hot I was.
Just as I recoiled, a hand landed on my bare shoulder.
“Excuse me.” The voice cut through the din. Patrick stood over us.
“You’re excused.” Vine Guy tried to move me away. “We’re dancing here.”
Patrick’s grip tightened, electricity crackling between his hand and my shoulder. “Let’s try that again. I need to borrow her for a minute.” His tone said …and never return her.“You can go.”
“Hey, what’s your problem?” Vine Guy tilted his chin belligerently. “Take your fucking hand off her.”
A fall of blue light captured Patrick’s face, his height, the set of his torso. Vine Guy took one good look at him and slithered off into the crowd of dancers.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hissed.
“No, babe,” Patrick said into my ear, in the same quiet voice that gave me chills in his room. “What the hell areyoudoing?”
Hands grasped my other arm, and a soft body pressed against mine. I smelled Sydney’s perfume, layered with tequila.
“Oh my God,” Sydney gushed, hanging onto me but looking up at Patrick. “I seriously thought you were going to hit him.”
Maria and Ashley appeared on either side of us. “What just happened?” Ashley burst out. “Christina left us all behind, and—”
“This is Patrick,” I sang.
“Oh, heyyy.” They surrounded him, flirting the way friends do when they meet your new guy, or someone who they think is your new guy. Patrick looked briefly caught off-guard as I introduced the girls, and I felt a tingle of satisfaction.
“We’ve heard so much about you,” Maria confided.
“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Christina says you’re superfun, and you like the best music.” Sydney put her hand on his forearm, giving it a little rub.
“Is that so.” He looked at her hand like it was a foreign object.
“Baby, can you get us more drinks?” Sydney asked me. “We just stood in lineforeverwhile you were letting that sloppy guy rub up on your ass.”
The next instant, Sydney was scooped up from behind. She let out a squeal.
“Hey, pretty girl.” Brayden Bronson, the hot basketball transfer, grinned at her. He must have been six and a half feet tall — the only guy in the room who stood taller than Patrick. Unlike Patrick, he had a smile on his face. He gave Sydney a big smooch. “I was wondering if I’d see you tonight.” He caught Patrick’s eye. “Hey, man.” He nodded.
There was an awkward pause. Then Patrick nodded back.
“Meet my girls,” Sydney bubbled, glowing. “This is Christina, and Ashley, and Maria, and Christina’s boy Patrick…” She gave him a wink. “And you guys all know who Brayden is…”
“We’re heading out now,” Patrick cut in.
I checked my watch. 11:31.
“Nice to meet you,” I added to Brayden, because Patrick’s manners seemed like they’d gone as far as they could go.
