Page 76 of Embrace

Cass?I nearly scoff. But I can’t help but notice that he doesn’t hug her back, that his arm hovers. It’s so unlike Kian, I scrutinize him.

When Cassie pulls back she smiles at me. “Oh, you’re matching. That’s so cute!”

The thing about Cassie is that she’s actually nice. Even her appraisal of our matching Halloween costumes is genuine.

She says something to Kian and he nods. A roar of cheers erupts down the hallway. My best friend is leading Dylan through the crowd. He towers over her, completely focused, ignoring the guys chanting “Double D!”

Cassie throws her head back in a laugh, pulling my attention back to her. It’s the prettiest laugh I’ve ever heard. Kian smiles politely and leans in to whisper something, and her grin lights up the room.

The music changes, and suddenly I need to get away from here. My feet carry me to the dance floor almost on their own. Just a few minutes later heat blooms against my back.

Kian slips into the space beside me, right in the middle of the living room.

“I love this song,” I say, shoving the thoughts of Cassie and him deep, deep down.You shouldn’t care.

“Yeah?” Kian murmurs. “You want to dance with me, Scar?”

My gaze rises from his chest, locking with those dark eyes, and I nod.

Twenty-five

Kian

Being dead centerof the dance floor is nothing new for me. But being here with Scarlett pressed up against me is a whole new territory.

My head swims and I’m unsure if it’s from the alcohol or her citrus scent. I’ve been following her around all night like my North Star, and even when Cassie pulled me aside to talk about some hangout, I couldn’t focus. My heart hummed a quiet beat ofScarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett.

The house lights flash in hues of pink, red, and blue, but my eyes are fixed on her lips. How she drags them under her teeth and into a small smile.

The music pulses through our crammed house, bodies sliding against one another. Scarlett grips my shirt again, and I finally feel the music. My body moves in sync with hers, letting her guide my hips as the music seems to grow louder. Seeing her like this is addicting.

I follow her every step like a loyal dog, and I let her touch mehowever she wants. Her hands fall to my shoulders, then up to my ears and into my hair as I lean toward her.

My hands slip to the bareness of her waist, where her cropped shirt doesn’t reach. The smooth skin is soft under my fingertips, and I make her breath hitch when my hands cage her waist. She feels so good under my hands, so right, that I don’t think twice before I lift her. Scarlett laughs, throwing back her head as we spin. I lower her, her body sliding against mine and our clothes rubbing together like they shouldn’t be there. When she comes to my eye level, the music muffles and I can feel her heart thrashing against mine.

I lean forward and her breath hitches, but I don’t miss the way she gravitates toward me too. Her warm breath falls on my lips and the warning of alcohol in her system makes me draw away.I don’t do this.

I stumble back, turning away only to bump right into Sampson, who’s carrying a tray of shots, spilling it all over me.

“Shit, Ishida. Watch where you’re going.” He gives a drunken chuckle. I stare down at my soaked costume.

“Just take it off,” he says, and someone behind him whistles. It’s Cole. Any other day, I’d pull it off and probably take the shots for myself, but right now, I can’t promise what’s happening underneath this after dancing with Scarlett, so I’d rather not take that chance.

“I’m gonna go change,” I say, pushing past people to head upstairs. I step over the baby gate Summer put up to hinder drunk people from going upstairs.

The second I shut my bedroom door, I rest my head against it, feeling the bump of music on the wood. I take a few breaths, but every time I close my eyes, I see her.Feelher. My finger in her mouth, my body between her legs, hers against mine.

“Shit,” I mutter, pulling away to remove my alcohol-soaked costume. I pull off the garment, shrugging the robe past my shoulders.The fabric hits the floor with a quietthudbefore I hear my door open.

“Kian?” her voice puts me on high alert. “I thought I’d check on you.”

“I’m fine. I just couldn’t stand the smell,” I say, still not facing her.

The door clicks shut. For a moment I think she’s gone, but relief doesn’t follow.

“Did I do something?” she asks.

When I turn to look at her, and in my dim, moonlit room, her face nearly glows.