“I’m not the one causing trouble,” I said, nodding over to where Brandon was standing, psyching out his opponent. He was wearing a ridiculous grin and his eyes were wide, like he was trying to appear even crazier than he was. He really didn’t need to try so hard. Any fool could see he was a bloody psycho. He took two steps forward, forcing himself into the other guy’s space and then slammed his forehead against him, saying something threatening to him under his breath. The other guy pushed him off and turned to his crew, laughing. All the while, Brandon stayed focused and didn’t flinch.
Ryan put his arm around me and placed his hand over my stomach, pulling me into him like Brandon had done and I gasped. I certainly didn’t feel irritated this time. No, I felt hot and bothered and found my concentration had been pulled away from the build-up of the fight, like he’d lassoed me and tethered me to him. He made every nerve in my body spark and all I could focus on was him, his breathing, the beat of his heart that matched my own. I turned my head to the side, not quite sure what to say, but then I noticed what’d made Ryan react the way he did. Chase Lockwood stood at the doorway, staring straight at us, but he didn’t look happy. He looked pissed off. I glanced up at Ryan, and sure enough, he was glowering back over at Chase, goading him. Daring him to come over and challenge him in some way. Chase shook his head in disgust and moved his attention to Brandon.
“Are you going to piss on me too?” I pretended to sound unaffected by him, but I didn’t make any effort to move his hand or move away. Why would I? I liked feeling like this; a little wild and reckless. Not to mention, I was probably in a position most girls at this party would want to be in. In Ryan Hardy’s arms. Damn, my body was a traitor. Shit, my mind was joining forces too. I was becoming way too compliant for my own good.
“Only if you’re into that, princess,” he said laughing quietly to himself.
“Gross.” It was official, my mind was mush and I had no witty comebacks. Great.
“Why are you here?” he asked, nuzzling deeper into my neck as he spoke. I felt the tips of his fingers slowly brush underneath my top and my skin prickled into goose-bumps.
“Because you invited me. I got the text. Or wasn’t that meant to go to my phone?” I tried to keep my head clear and not let the gentle strokes he was giving my stomach and hip trick me into falling under his spell.
“I didn’t mean in this building. I meant here, in this room. It isn’t safe down here.” I stilled, feeling a growing warmth inside me from his touch and his words. Hushed, low words meant only for me. He was creating another bubble for us. I liked being in Ryan’s bubbles.
“I feel safe.” And I meant it. As aloof and cold as Ryan could be sometimes, I felt safe with him by my side. Yes, he’d probably been the one to chase me down that corridor at the warehouse party. But if I was truly honest with myself, I knew he’d never hurt me. He was Danny’s friend once and Danny wouldn’t befriend someone who was cruel. The fact that Danny had kept a wide berth from Brandon though said it all.
“Well, you shouldn’t.”
I smiled at his attempt to unnerve me. It’d take a lot more than that. “Shouldn’t you be running a scam somewhere, taking bets?”
“I have people to do that for me. I have other things on my mind tonight.” He rested his chin on my shoulder and the familiarity which he was showing me was breaking down all my defences.
“Like what?” I held my breath waiting for what he’d say next, willing his fingers to brush further down. God, I was losing my mind here.
“Like, what I’m going to do with you to make you behave.” My stomach turned over at the suggestion of him making me behave. Images of the delicious punishments he’d be capable of dishing out flooded my mind and made me blush. Shit, I needed to rein it in. My beating heart was ready to burst free. “Dad told me about your little chat the other day.” Ryan moved his hand off my stomach and instantly I missed his warmth. He wound a finger around one of my curls though, keeping that contact between us. I stilled. Had Sean told him about our tour of his workshop too?
“I was collecting my car. I was on my best behaviour.” My voice sounded weaker than I’d hoped.
“Oh, I know that. You’ve been invited to Sunday dinner. You won’t be able to make it though.” He dropped my curl and in return my heart dropped to the floor.
“Won’t I? I do like a nice Sunday roast,” I said sounding nonchalant.
“Don’t think you’ll be sitting at my table any time soon, Winters.” And here we were again, with Ryan flipping over to distant and unaffected mode.
“It’s your dad’s table, not yours. Anyway, what makes you think I’d want to come? I tend to lose my appetite when you’re around.”
I did, but not for the reasons I was insinuating.
“Nice to know I have an effect on you, princess.”
“Insects always have an effect on me.”
He laughed out loud, earning us a few dirty looks. I tried to drown out the whoosh of my pulse thumping in my ears and focus on the fight that’d started. Brandon was taunting the guy, beckoning him forward and jutting his chin out, begging for a punch. The minute the guy took a swing Brandon dodged it and then threw a punch right into the guy’s side, winding him for a few seconds. Brandon was a clever fighter; measured and calculated. He knew how
to dance around his opponent, use their weaknesses against them. It was like watching a gladiator teasing a lion or a matador mesmerising the bull. He had that guy right where he wanted him.
“So, did you manage to talk to your dad?” Ryan asked, pulling me back from the action once again.
“I did.” If he wanted information, he was going to have to do better than that.
“And?” He wound his arm around me again, as if his body had heard mine and knew exactly what to do to make me talk.
“And what? He didn’t tell me anything,” I said, keeping my eyes on Brandon the whole time.
“I thought you were a good little spy, Winters. Giving up so soon?”
“I said he didn’t tell me. I didn’t say I didn’t find anything, did I?” I grinned to myself. This game of push and pull was the most fun I’d had in… Well, ever.