Dynasty (Boys of Winter 1)

He gently pushes me back to see my face. “And where does Carver fit in all of this?”

I shrug my shoulders. “He doesn’t. He’s my security blanket, but he could have me if he wanted to, all he’d have to do is say please,” I murmur, letting my hand fall against his wide chest. “You could get in on the action too if you wanted. There’s something about a brooding, silent man that intrigues me,” I tell him, raising my chin and meeting his heated gaze only to see something there that I’ve never quite seen before that has me wondering if maybe there’s a little something here to be discovered.

I push up to my tippy toes and murmur in his ear, pressing my body flush against his and getting sweet chills as his hand involuntarily falls to my waist. “You know, there’s a good chance that tonight will end with King sinking deep inside my ass as Cruz slams into my pussy? I’d hate for you to miss out.”

Grayson’s eyes bore into mine before dropping to my body. His fingers tighten on my waist as his other hand finds my chin. He gently raises it and just when I think he’s about to close the gap and kiss me, he pulls back. “It sounds like you’ve already got your hands full.”

A breathy laugh slips through my lips as a grin pulls at the corner of my mouth. “Two hands, two holes, and a mouth,” I tell him with a seductive wink that has his tongue discreetly slipping out and rolling over his bottom lip. “Trust me, I can handle it.”

Desire pools in his eyes, and before I get a chance to entice him further, Grayson steals the glass of water from the counter, throws back what’s left before looking down and meeting my hooded stare. “You’re drunk, Elodie.”

He passes by me and all I can do is gape at him as he walks past and disappears back through the kitchen door into the crowded party, my bravado completely fading away and allowing me for a second time to let Grayson get away with calling me Elodie.

That can’t become a thing. Elodie is the ghost of a girl that I never got a chance to be, but Winter, that’s the real me. Winter is the girl who holds all the scars, and has learned to not only survive, but to thrive in this broken world. Elodie was just a baby when she disappeared. We may bear the same body and the same blood, but we are definitely not the same girl, and as soon as I can, I’ll be making sure that name doesn’t accidentally slip from between Grayson’s lips ever again.

I fill up the glass of water again before having a few sips and stepping into Grayson’s vacated spot. I lean back against the counter and find myself wondering about everything else that just went down in this deserted kitchen. Grayson didn’t exactly agree to my offer, but he also didn’t reject it either. Is he interested in getting in on this little deal I have with the boys? I mean, I wasn’t lying, I’m so down, but he caught me off guard. Sure, I thought maybe there was a slim chance with Carver, but Grayson? No, he was always a definite no in my mind.

Damn, just the thought of all four of them. Holy shit. Maybe I have had too much to drink.

Feeling my frustration rise up within me, I finish the glass of water and let out a deep sigh before turning around and placing the empty glass in the sink. I should go back out to my party and enjoy myself, only after Grayson’s confusing lecture … or was it a lecture? I don’t even know. Either way, my mood is quickly plummeting and I want nothing more than to go back to being oblivious in that happy place I used to live in.

I stare out the kitchen window at the people gathered around, drinking and partying when a smoker catches my eyes.

Perfect.

I push my way out the side door and walk around to the front of the cabin, going slowly in the grass, knowing that just one slip is going to see my ass landing on the floor with a devastating thump that couldn’t be good for anyone. Though, maybe good for Sara Bennett. I’m sure that bitch would love to see me go down. If only she knew what else I’ve been going down on.

I keep the smoking guy in sight, desperate to get to him and steal a cigarette. I’m sure if I just took a few hits, all my troubles will fade away and then I can walk back into that party with my head held high and enjoy the rest of my night. Besides, Ember is still impatiently waiting to know why the hell Cruz’s tongue was shoved so far down my throat, and after all the drinks I’ve had tonight, I might actually consider telling her.