Disbelief had her eyebrows rising to her hairline. “That’s it? Because that sure isn’t how you’ve been looking at her.”
“And how have I been looking at her?”
A huff of sarcasm left her tongue. “Oh, come on, Jace. You think I didn’t witness that pissin’ contest out on the dance floor? Throwing a punch over someone just lookin’ at her? You might as well have whipped it out and taken her right there on the floor. Or maybe the bar would have done just fine for what you had in mind.”
Lust curled, and my teeth clenched. Didn’t she get I was trying to keep control and losing it? I sure didn’t need those kinds of visions planted in my mind.
She grinned and then patted my chest. “Mm-hmm . . . that, right there? That’s exactly how you’ve been looking at her. You act on it? Then you’d better plan to stay. Because Faith is the exact same girl you left that day. Kind and pure and gentle, and she doesn’t need any of your games. You say you’re here to protect her? Then protect her heart, Jace, because that’s what is really at risk.”
I flinched. That’s where she had it all wrong. “The threat is serious.”
Her brow pinched. “You think I don’t know that? But at the end of the day, Faith’s heart is what’s on the line. What’s always been. Neither you nor Joseph fully appreciated that.”
“I never wanted to hurt her.”
Courtney stepped back, expression knowing. “Then prove it.”
She turned around like she hadn’t said anything, leaving me there staring at her as she melted back into the crowd.
Heat raced my arm when a hand squeezed my forearm. I whipped my attention that way. “Faith.”
“Tell me she wasn’t botherin’ you. I swear . . . she puts her nose in all the places it doesn’t belong.”
I grinned at her, shaking off the unease. “I think I can handle it.”
“Well, I’m glad you can, because I sure can’t.” She was grinning, too.
“She is your best friend.”
A giggle slipped from her mouth. Fuck. I loved the sound of that. It seemed impossible that she could, that there would be any joy left. It only proved the type of person Faith really was.
“She’s a handful. But she’d do anything for me.”
“I’m glad you have her.”
“So am I. Not sure I would have made it without her.”
My voice softened. “Faith—”
She held up her hand, stepped closer, hitched my goddamned breath when she slid her hand up my chest and set it over the thunder of my heart.
“Shh . . . tonight’s the best night I’ve had in as long as I remember. Let’s not ruin it.”
Like a fool, I took a step toward her, nearly erasing all the space between us.
I dipped down, whispering at the shell of her ear, “Told you that you were going to have all kinds of fun.”
Fun, she mouthed back with a subtle swish of her hips.
Good God.
Ruined.
Completely ruined.
Blood pumping hard, rushing straight to my dick. Straining and begging.
My hand moved to her hip, the other moving high up on her slender waist.
It was instant.
The way tension climbed to the air.
“Jace,” she whispered, staring up at me in that way I recognized from so long ago. In the way that’d made me feel as if I were different.
Better.
A believer, just like Ian had said.
“Faith,” I murmured back, unable to stop myself from pulling her closer.
Which was so goddamned reckless.
She’d had more than a few drinks.
Clearly, her inhibitions were down, the armor she wore loosed, her body lax.
I should get her home, tuck her in bed, leave her there to sleep it off.
But I’d promised her a good time, and I didn’t want my dwindling resolve to ruin that. I had to steel myself.
Get control so I could . . .
She leaned into me.
Sparks. That energy that was always alive a strike in the bare space between us.
My guts twisted into a thousand knots, and I swore I could feel the resolve I was just trying to fortify splinter under the pressure.
Chocolate eyes stared up at me. The strain stripped away and something else in its place.
Something so mesmerizing and enthralling.
Magic.
The girl had always invoked the impossible, but there was nothing dark about it.
Bright, bright light.
Goodness and grace.
I felt drunk on it. Drunk on this girl who clutched my upper arms.
Heat binding. Wrapping and enveloping.
I pulled her flush, her sweet body tucked against mine where we stood tucked alone at the end of the hall.
A whimper left her full lips, and those chocolate eyes flared.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
This was so bad.
I was in deep. Deeper and deeper.
Losing myself.
But the problem was, I’d been lost for years.
And with her in my arms? The only thing I could think was that I’d been found.
Rescued.
Which was so goddamned stupid.
Clearing my throat, I inched back, hating that I had to put a damper on the night.