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“You look fucking stunning tonight. Maybe I want to keep you on campus so I can have you all to myself.” He lightly bit my ear, causing chills to rip down my spine. “I think stripping you bare and having my way with you would be much more fun than this party.”
Heat curled in my stomach at the memory of how good he could make me feel. But I wasn’t about to be blinded by sex. He hadn’t touched me since we’d gone to Sterling, and even though I wasn’t sure what it was—there was a reason for it. He was trying to distract me to get me to do what he wanted.
“We can do that after the party,” I responded, giving him a quick kiss on the neck before pulling out of his hold. “There’s something you’re not telling me, Gage. And the promise of amazing sex isn’t going to make me forget it. You’ve been trying to keep me hidden away since I got back from Ellie’s.”
His jaw tightened, and he looked half-ready to drag me out of here anyway, but before he could, Alicia appeared beside me, linking her arm through mine.
“Damn, Rynn. You look amazing,” she said as she tugged me away, giving Gage a half wave with her free hand. “I’m stealing your girl for a while.”
“She’s made it clear that she’s not mine,” Gage bit out, his eyes darting around toward the club employees that were running around making last-minute touches.
Ouch. That truth hurt. I didn’t know what the hell was going on with him. When we were alone, he was all for whispering sexy things in my ear, but when we were around other people, he acted like he didn’t want anything to do with me. Yesterday, we’d gone to the cafeteria, and he’d barely spoken a word to me until we were back in my dorm. And he’d been like this ever since I got back from Ellie’s. I had a nagging suspicion that it had to do with the person in that sedan that was following us, even though, when I asked him about it, he denied it.
“He’s grumpy,” Alicia commented as she led me to the bar.
“There’s a lot going on,” I mumbled as she ordered two shots from the bartender.
“I’m glad you’re home,” she said, handing me the lemon drop shot. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
“Of course I wouldn’t miss this. It’s the last New Year’s party before we graduate.” I gave her a small smile. “I’m going to miss you when you leave.”
She clinked her glass against mine. “Where are you going after graduation? You never did tell me.”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “The plan was to stay in Little Haven. But I don’t think that’s possible now.”
She grinned. “Going to run off in the sunset with Gage?”
“Does it look like he wants to go anywhere with me?” I asked bitterly before downing my shot.
“So Jace or Kian, then?” She leaned closer, a wicked glint in her eye. “Or maybe both of them?”
A laugh escaped me as I pushed her away. “That will never happen.”
“I didn’t invite either of them tonight. I figured you didn’t want them here.”
I sighed. “I’m sure they’ll show up anyway. They always do—whether they’re invited or not.”
“My dad is keeping a close eye on both their gangs,” she said in a low voice, her tone turning serious. “Their members are all over the city, and he’s arresting anyone who steps a toe over the line. He’s furious that there are so many here.”
She told me pretty much the same thing a couple of weeks ago, but it seemed like her dad was escalating things. He had only been watching, but now he was interfering. The election was only a few months away, and he knew that was why everything was happening. He wanted to keep his position as police chief, but it wasn’t going to happen. I only hoped he backed down before it got him killed.
“Doors are opening, ma’am,” an employee said as he walked up to us. “There’s already a line.”
“Good. Is everything set up?” Alicia asked.
The guy nodded. “Yes.”
As if on cue, the lights dimmed, and the DJ turned up the music to a good level. Not loud enough to be deafening, but perfect to party all night. Alicia thought of everything when it came to parties, and she was amazing. Which was why she was moving to New York to be a high-end party planner once we graduated. She could live off her family’s money forever if she wanted but was choosing to pave her own way.
“I need to go make sure things start off smoothly.” She motioned to the bartender to pour another shot. “Have fun tonight. You look fucking hot. So if you’re not here with Gage tonight, find another guy to dance with.”
She strode away, and I thanked the guy for the drink before turning around to see the entrance flooded with people. Most were from our college or others in the area. It wasn’t long before I spotted Kian striding inside. My eyes traveled down his body, silently appreciating how good he looked in his dark blue jeans and black V-neck shirt. Tripp was beside him, and when they turned toward the bar, I scurried to the VIP area. I might have thought he looked good, but I was still pissed at what had gone down in Sterling and had no intention of talking to him tonight.
Gage was already lounging on one of the couches, and I sat on the other one across from him. There was an array of drinks on a tray in the middle of the table between us, and I stared at them for a moment before sighing and standing back up. Gage jumped to his feet, giving me a pointed look.
“Sit back down,” he ordered. “I’ll go get your drink.”
My eyebrows rose before I could cover my surprise. “I never said I was going to get a drink.”
