7

He didn’t look away.

Not for a long time.

I stood in the water, staring back, heart racing, mouth dry, my body still humming from Danika’s fingers and Chance Black looked straight through me like he could hear every filthy thought in my head.

Then finally, he peeled his gaze away.

He lifted his drink to his mouth, took a slow sip, and turned. He walked back into the house like nothing had happened.

My stomach dropped.

I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the leftover tension in my body, but I moved fast. I pushed out of the pool and grabbed a towel, dripping wet, my thong sticking to my pussy, my nipples showing through the stretched white tee. I didn’t care.

I needed to find him.

I didn’t even know what I was going to say.

All I knew was my thighs were still clenching, and my cunt was throbbing again. I could feel the heat pulsing between my legs as I started toward the stairs.

Danika caught my wrist. “Where are you headed?”

“I need...” I started, but I couldn’t finish.

That’s when I saw them.

Kole and Ava. Grinding.

Right in front of me.

Her ass was smashed against his crotch, slow and shameless, like they weren’t in public. His hands were on her hips. Her arms were around his neck. He was grinning, mouthing something at her ear. She laughed.

My breath caught.

They knew I was here, they fucking knew.

“How can you disrespect me like this?” I snapped.

Kole looked up. “Oh shut up, Ember.”

Ava didn’t even turn around.

“I already begged you,” Kole said. “What else do you want? Blood?”

“You begged me?” I walked straight up to him, shaking. “You begged me while your dick was inside her.”

“You’re drunk,” he said, loud. “Go cry somewhere else, bitch.”

Something snapped.

I grabbed the nearest cup and dumped it right over his head.

Vodka. Full.

He gasped, flinching. Ava screamed. He shoved the drink away and lunged like he was going to grab me, but three people jumped between us fast.

“Don’t fucking touch her!”

“Back off, man!”

Danika was already beside me, gripping my arm. “Ember...”

“I’m fine,” I growled, chest rising. “I’m fine.”

But my fists were tight. My heart was racing. And even with my whole body shaking from rage.

Danika stepped between us, eyes wild. “Were you just about to hit her?” She raised her voice and launched forward that they had to hold her back.

“you fucking pussy ass bitch!!!” she screamed on top of her lungs.

Kole didn’t say anything, but his jaw was tight. Fists clenched. He looked like he didn’t even know what he was doing.

“That’s fucking pathetic,” Danika spat. “You cheated. You begged. And now you’re out here acting like you own her?”

A few guys pulled Kole back. One shoved him toward the gate. Another girl grabbed Ava’s arm, dragging her away.

I was still standing there, soaked, heart pounding, fingers curled into my palms.

“I’ll be right back,” I said quietly to Danika.

She nodded, eyes still on Kole.

I turned and walked fast into the house.

Upstairs was mostly empty now. A few people making out in corners, so was throwing up in a bathroom. But not him, not anywhere.

I checked the hallway. The balcony, nothing. Did I imagine him? Had I thought about him so hard that my brain literally created him being here?

He was gone.

I walked out the back door, heading toward the edge of the yard, ready to give up, when I heard footsteps behind me.

Before I could turn to look back, a hand had grabbed my wrists and in seconds, my back hit the wall, that one hand pinning my wrists above my head.

A second hand came up, holding a lit cigarette. Smoke curled past my cheek, the scent hit me fast and I could feel it in my throat.

I didn’t even have to look.

It was him.

Chance.

His body pinned mine with no effort. One hand on my wrists, the other bringing the cigarette to his lips. He took a drag, slow, then blew the smoke right past my mouth. It drifted over my skin.

My thighs clenched. Hard.

I could feel it, moisture gathering fast between my legs. My panties already sticky from the pool, now soaking again. My clit throbbed, my nipples were rock hard under the thin fabric of my shirt. I couldn’t move and I couldn’t breathe.

Every inch of me felt hot and soaked.

Up close he looked even hotter, his eyes searched mine in that frozen emotionless gaze and slowly he lowered his head to match my height, closing the distance between us until I could feel his hot breath against my skin and then he asked in a low, husky whisper.

“Why are you following me?” he asked.