Page 50 of Raze
I slam the window shut and swear at myself for my mood. This is why I need drinks. And dancing. A lot of fucking dancing. I’ll dance so hard and drink so long that I’ll sleep like a baby tonight. There’s no other way I’ll get there with the direction my mind keeps going.
Kellan has a line of forties on the kitchen counter for me to choose from, along with mixers and add-ins if I need them. I don’t. I’d rather not waste any room on extras if I can fill it with straight alcohol tonight.
I grab the first bottle of whiskey and twist it open with a snap. I chug it for a full thirty seconds and then gasp for oxygen.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Dane snaps out from where he’s staring at me on the couch. He’s in a simple forest green shirt and black sweatpants. His arms are crossed over his chest, one foot up on the couch, as he leans against the arm so he has a clear view through the dining area to me in the kitchen. The game controller issitting on the table next to Kellan’s, and the game is still paused on the screen.
“Life. What’s yours?” I counter back, but with far less aggression than him.
Kellan snatches the bottle from my hand and takes a long swig. I watch his throat work the liquid down and find I’m already thirsty for more. He hands it back to me with a grin. “How drunk are we going for? A happy buzz, puking our brains out, or a complete blackout?”
“Whatever puts me to sleep the fastest,” I answer before drinking again.
“Alcohol isn’t going to fix your fucked up life,” Dane responds instead, and I can’t help but laugh at what almost sounds like attempted advice, even if it is in an irritated tone.
“Thanks, Dr. Phil, but I’m not trying to fix it right now. I’m trying to make sure I still have some fun now and then. You should try it sometime.” I stalk over to the living room and grab the TV remote, flipping over to a music channel and cranking the volume up to full blast.
Whether he had anything else he wanted to say or not doesn’t matter anymore. I wouldn’t hear a thing.
My body moves to the music like we’re back in the club with sweaty bodies closed in around us. It doesn’t matter that I’m the only one dancing here. I close my eyes and throw my head back, gyrating my hips and running my hand up my body into my hair. I let the music overwhelm my senses so all I can hear, think, and feel is the beat. There’s no room for stress or worries when I give in tothe music.
I drink from my bottle while dancing, sucking it down until I feel the warm tingle of a buzz humming under my skin. My eyes open to check in with the room, and Kellan’s convincing Dane to do shots with him on the couch.
“Have some fun for a change, Rapunzel. It’s just one night, and we could all use it.”
Dane eyes the dark liquid in his shot glass. He glances up at me, and I can’t help the grin that stretches across my face while I continue to dance and observe them both. His gaze is hot and intense, watching me with a look that makes me feel like it may cause my alcohol-warmed blood to combust. He tosses the shot back, and Kellan follows a second later with his own. He tops both of their glasses off again for another round.
I don’t know why I’m cheesing so hard at this, but I laugh to release the pent-up energy that produced my grin.
Time blurs after that.
Until the front door opens, and everything comes into focus for a single moment of clarity. Aiden’s staring at me as I’m dancing on the dining room table. I grin at him and keep dancing. Dane and Kellan are laughing and watching me from the couch.
“What is this?” Aiden demands. He strides over to the table and looks up at me. “Get down.”
“Just some fun,” Kellan drunkenly drawls when he gets up to meet him.
“Fun? What were you planning to do if GE attacked right now?” Aiden asks him sternly.
I giggle and take a step in his direction. Except my foot drops without a table there, and my body follows it. Kellan and Aiden both jump toward me. Everything spins and whirls around me, and I squeeze my eyes shut. I land against something warm with a grunt. I take a deep breath, and cinnamon flavors the oxygen I take in. I burrow deeper against the warmth because the smell is comforting and settles the stirring alcohol in my gut.
“I would’ve had her,” Kellan gripes beside me.
“Both of you, sober up,” Aiden’s voice rumbles against my ear. Then we’re moving, and my hands roam over his chest until they find his silken tie to hold on to.
“You’re muscly,” I mumble my observation into his chest. I never could tell from the suits he always wears about how lean he is, but I can feel the pure strength of his arms and the firmness of his chest. I guess he has to heft all those metal weapons somehow.
“Do you hit on anyone when you’re drunk or just me?” His smooth tone glides over me like melted chocolate, and I shiver against him.
He places me down and tucks me in under the blankets. His movements are slow and almost gentle as he gets me settled in. I smile and mumble something incoherent while getting comfortable. Sleep drags me under just as Aiden whispers something to me. I struggle to grab and hold on to it, but I’m out before I can remember what it was.
My body slams back on the mat, and I groan. “Uuuugh. I’m going to be sick. You did that on purpose, you prick.” I roll onto my side and hold my stomach as it roils from being flipped in the air. Bile creeps up my throat, and I slap my hand over my mouth and will it back down.
It’s not that I care about throwing up in front of him. He can fucking clean it for making me do this first thing in the morning instead of after dinner. I just hate throwing up. And seeing or smelling it will make me hurl all over again once I’ve started. Ugh, I feel so gross. This is why I always sleep off my hangovers and wake up in the afternoon.
Kellan’s an absolutedickfor waking me up and then making me train with him while I’m still hungover.
“This was Aiden’s punishment for you, not mine. Take it up with him,” he says with a grin. Oh, he’s definitely doing it a bit for him, too. His blue-green eyes are sparkling with his enjoyment of working me like this.
