by Doyle, Dawn
“We weren’t that long,” Daria grumbled, stepping inside and around him.
I followed behind and glanced up at the person that greeted us. Steely gray eyes stared down at me, with thick dark brows dipping in the middle. “Hey,” I said, tipping my chin in acknowledgment.
“Hey, yourself,” he replied, his tone lower than before. His darkened gaze traveled down toward my feet, then lazily back up to my face. “And who are you?”
“My friend,” Daria snapped, gripping my hand and leading me further inside. “So stop with your lame-assed flirting, Bobby.” She leaned toward me, turning her head to my ear. “When I said to get experiences, I didn’t mean people like him. That guy is a grade-A player, and proud of it. Stick to guys that aren’t on the hockey team—like your brothers said. Nothing good can come of it.”
“Cash is on the hockey team,” I countered.
Cash raised his brow, a smile tugging at his mouth. “Don’t paint me with the same brush as these jerks,” he joked.
Daria shrugged. “My boyfriend is an anomaly.” She smiled wide, her eyes softening and sparkling with happiness as she looked up at him, his gaze mirroring hers. “He’s amazing.”
“Noted,” I said, letting my eyes slip back to Bobby. He ran his hand through his dark hair, the strands falling over his forehead. I felt the laughter bubbling up when his biceps flexed with the movement, then he lowered his hand and smoothed down his stomach over his hockey T-shirt, the same as Cash’s. The obvious maneuver made me want to roll my eyes.
He walked toward us after shutting the door. “Does your friend have a name?” he asked Daria while looking at me. One side of his mouth curled up, his average-sized lips stretching wider as his eyes fell to my chest.
“Kaia,” I replied, curling my shoulders forward. “And I can answer for myself, Bobby.” I smiled politely, although his staring made me uneasy.
His grin slipped, his mouth forming a tight smile. “Oh, hey, Kaia.”
What’s that about?
Daria snorted a laugh, then slipped her arm through mine. “See ya, Bobby.” She lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers as she steered me through the enormous foyer where people had spilled to from the open rooms.
Our shoes tapped against the tiled floors, and I silently hoped that I didn’t slip on the highly polished surface. With a landing like that, it wouldn’t be pretty, and it would definitely be painful.
I tilted my head back and took in the expansive space. A huge staircase wound around the left side, the ornate black, wrought iron rails adding an elegant feel to the simply decorated area. The metal swirled in intricate patterns, while the plain, oak steps balanced out the strong design. The partygoers standing there—lining the walls—with their red cups in hand, glanced down at us as we weaved through the small crowd. A narrow wooden door stood below with a matching black handle that curved up at the end.
“Whoa.” I was used to seeing places like this, but I rarely stepped inside. My parents didn’t flash their wealth like other top athletes, but my brothers did. Their homes rivaled Channing’s, and completely ostentatious.
“Grand, isn’t it?” Daria asked when we reached the tall, cased opening at the other end. She turned side-on and followed Cash through the gap between the guys standing in the way, sliding her arm down to grab my hand and pulling me with her.
The white frame stood proud of the dark-cream walls with a slight hint of fresh paint lingering in the air as I passed.
“Grand? Dar, it’s gorgeous! Wow, what a house.” My home was modest, a little on the large side compared to regular homes, but far from the celebrity style that others in their position owned. I preferred it that way, too.
“Hey!” a booming voice drew out over the music, shifting my attention. “You’re here at last!” Channing stood above the guests, his hands in the air, his arms extended. “My little cuz is in the house!”
“We’re the same age, idiot,” Daria said, shaking her head and laughing.
“Yeah, but you’re so tiny.” He grinned, then jumped down off the chair he was standing on. He was more than a foot taller than us now, maybe six-three, and so much wider. He yanked Daria from me and into his arms. “You’re like a china doll,” he cooed, closing his eyes and swaying side-to-side. “Cash, my man.” He thumped his fist against his, like Bobby had done.
“Chan, you’re wasted,” Daria said, tearing herself away from him.
He held his finger and thumb close together, and narrowed his eyes. “Maybe just a little tipsy.” He beamed, then turned to me, his now wide eyes taking in my appearance as though I’d just manifested before him. “Hey, there, Kaia. Looking good, beautiful.” He slipped his arm over my shoulder.
A shiver ran down my spine when he pulled me to his side, but I felt nothing that resembled attraction. “Hi, Channing,” I said, trying to put some space between us.
He hugged me tighter. “You know you can call me Chan,” he said, his voice lowering, his tone so gruff that I felt more than heard it. “You look hot tonight.”
“Um, thanks,” I said, but more like a question. “Congrats on winning.” I managed to slide from under his arm and next to Daria.
“Thanks, gorgeous. Doesn’t it bother you that your school lost to us?” He raised a brow and cocked his head to the side, an easy smirk forming on his glistening lips.
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” I replied with a laugh. His smirk grew into a mega watt grin. “I’m not much of a hockey fan.”
He chuckled, the deep timbre doing nothing for me. “It’s cool,” he said with a wink, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I bet I can make a fan out of you yet, sexy girl.”
A burst of harsh laughter flew from my mouth and my hand flew up to catch it, but it was too late.
“Come here, Kai,” Daria said with an eye-roll, tugging me away from Channing. When we were clear from his immediate area, she rounded on me. “Look, babe, I know you’re not actually into him”—she shook her head and closed her eyes for a second as though that thought repulsed her—“but he just doesn’t know when to turn off the charm. He might be my family, but trust me when I say he’s just playing.” When I nodded, she continued. “We have to drink, eat some shitty party food, mingle with the high school tribe that have come here, and you can fawn over hot guys that you’ll probably never see again.”
“Oh, I won’t be fawning,” I said, trying to sound sure of myself, but there were a few I’d passed by that were kinda cute.
“Sure?” she asked, then burst out laughing. “Give it a few minutes, I’m sure you’ll see somebody that catches your eye.”
I playfully swatted her arm, and she dropped her hand while still cackling. “Can you not?” I whispered while holding back a grin.
“Chill, babe,” she said, choking on her laughter. I hoped she continued to choke as people turned to see what was so goddamn funny. “But, like I said, give it time. Just… Not anyone from the Lions. We don’t want war to break out between our teams again.”
No, we didn’t, especially me. I’d had to live with the fallout from that battle, and I wasn’t going to give any cause for it to open up again. My brothers were hailed as heroes in our school, but the Lions’ school… We were their enemies for a long time.
Cash wrapped his arms around Daria from behind and nuzzled her neck. “Those guys can be dicks,” he said into her skin. “And I’ve seen it up close.”
And that’s exactly why my overprotective, overbearing brothers got on my case about sports players; not just ice hockey.
Daria spun around, throwing her arms around his neck right after. “And that’s why you’re an anomaly,” she purred, then pressed her mouth against his, turning around and tangling her fingers in his mousey hair.
I tried to look everywhere and anywhere but at the pair of them. Even though I was thrilled Cash made Daria happy, it wasn’t so good standing alone like an awkward bystander, waiting for them to finish sucking face.
I spotted Channing makin
g his way back through the crowd to his friends, his hockey sweater and jeans seeming to be the uniform for the rest of the Lions. I watched as he lifted his hand, the movements seeming to go in slow motion as he closed his eyes and swept his fingers through his already tousled hair. The girls near him openly gaped, not trying to hide their awe.
“I’ll grab us some drinks,” I suggested, but the pair didn’t acknowledge I’d said anything. I took off in Channing’s direction, assuming I’d find drinks wherever he was. I paused a few feet behind him and another Lion, ready to grab some cups.
“Man, your cuz’s friend is smokin’ hot,” the guy said, nodding. “She looks familiar, too.”
“And off limits, remember?” Channing fired back, raising a finger. “She’s mine.”
My insides whirled around nervously at hearing him talk possessively like that, especially when I wasn’t interested in him that way at all.
“Damn,” the other guy complained, shaking his head, light hair swaying from under his blue baseball cap. “You were serious?”
I looked between them, wondering what his teammate was talking about. When I was about to ask, Channing spoke again.
“Just for tonight, Jonah. Once I’ve had my taste in the blackout game, I’m done with her.”
My spine stiffened and my throat tightened at his words, the contents of my stomach rolling around inside of me.
What the hell’s a blackout game, and who the hell does he think he is?
“Dude, she’s Daria’s best friend. If Dar hears you talking like—”
“Shut up,” Channing hissed, then lowered his voice. “Kaia wants me, man. All I have to do is click my fingers and she’ll be so wet for me, she’ll be begging me to fuck her.”
My hand shook as I lifted it to my mouth, my other arm wrapping around my middle. I stepped backward, ready to turn, wanting to get as far away from him as possible.
“Yeah, well, it’s not like you can just drop her after.”
“Sure I can,” Channing said, grinning. “She’ll take the hint when she doesn’t see or hear from me again for a long fucking time.”
I watched the side of his face as his grin stretched wider and his brows pumped up and down. I felt sick, his real thoughts about me curdling my stomach.
His friend clapped him on the back. “Man, you’re a twisted fuck, you know that?”
Channing chuckled. “Yeah, and so are all you fuckers.”
The other guy nodded. “Maybe, but you’re fucking insane. Dar will kill you.”
What an idiot I’d been to believe that his flirting with me was harmless, even Daria had thought it was.
I headed back to where I’d come from and saw that she’d now removed herself from Cash’s face, but still in his arms.
“He’s a liability,” she said, groaning into Cash’s chest, her hands flat against the lion’s face. “He turns into a pre-pubescent teen when he’s had too much to drink, and I’m worried what shit he’s going to pull. The last time, he got everyone to play spin-the-bottle that resulted in more than a few fights breaking out.”
“He’s just buzzed that we won,” Cash countered, then laughed. “We all are. Whatever he does, I’m sure it won’t be as bad as that.”
“It better fucking not,” Daria snapped, her eyes boring into Cash’s. “It’ll give one of the puck bunnies an excuse to grab onto you and try her luck.”
Cash grinned down at her, and pulled her close. “No, baby, they won’t stand a chance because I won’t be letting go of you.”
Daria blushed and batted her eyes while I rolled mine. “Aww, you say the best things.”
“It’s true.” He dipped his head and kissed her again.
“Hey, sexy, I made you a drink,” Channing said.
I turned to see him standing behind me, a huge grin on his face and a mischievous glint in his eye. I dropped my gaze to the cup, then back up to his face, seeing his dark eyes flick up from where I guessed he’d been staring.
“I’m good, but thanks,” I said, holding my hand up.
Channing frowned and looked down at the drink in his hand. “It’s a party, Kaia. You gotta have a drink.” He held it toward me again.
The scent of alcohol burned up my nostrils, heating my throat. “No, thank you, Channing.” I tried to smile, but it was more like a grimace.
“You look pale, Kai.” Daria’s arms slowly slipped from Cash, her concerned eyes fixed on me. “What’s up?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t going to tell her what I’d overheard, not yet; I wasn’t about to cause a scene. “I don’t want to seem ungrateful,” I muttered next to her ear. “I just donn’t know what he’s put in it—it smells kinda strong,” I explained.
“Good idea.” Without moving her head, she glanced to Channing, then back to me. “Knowing Chan’s mixes, one sip would take your breath away.”
“Party games start in five.” Channing knocked the drink back he’d brought for me. He dipped his head down to my level and grinned. “Save yourself for me, gorgeous,” he whispered, then winked, straightened to his full height, and turned away, swaggering back to where he’d come from.
“What was that all about?” Daria asked. “And what party game is he planning now?”
“Game time!” one of them yelled, and as if on cue, the music turned down to an acceptable level, the heavy bass still thumping through the house, but no longer resembling an earthquake.
“Woo!” another hollered, his hands cupping his mouth.
Channing took the chair he was previously standing on and raised his arms. “Get ready, ‘cos when the lights go out, whoever you catch, you have to make out with!” He pumped his brows and stared in our direction. “Or whatever, if you know what I mean.”
Seriously?
My rigid spine began to ache with the building tension.
“I think he’s a little more wasted than I thought,” she said, groaning into Cash’s chest again.
“Whatever it is, it looks like it involves Kaia,” Cash countered, his wary eyes focused over where Channing had gone. “Pretty sure he’ll be making his way here once those lights go out.”
My stomach churned at the thought. “Not happening,” I snorted. The likelihood of me agreeing to anything Channing Duval had planned would be a miracle.
“No it isn’t,” Daria hissed, then turned back to Cash. “Did he say something to you?”
I stared incredulously at him, watching his cheeks darken. His eyes flicked to mine and then to Daria’s. “He just said he’d told everyone that Kaia was off limits,” he defended. “That’s all he said to me, but the way he’s staring over here…”
Daria glared at him, then turned to me. “He’s my cousin and I love him, but if he thinks he can play some shitty game to fuck with you, then I’ll break his goddamn jaw.” I looked around at the guys and girls all surveying the open space as though eyeing up their target, and Daria blew out a quick breath. “We need to get the fuck out of this room before it turns into a goddamn sex den.”
She took my hand, and Cash’s, but before we could make it out of the gigantic open plan kitchen-diner, we were cast into darkness.
Screams and laughter filled the air, bodies banging into us, but I didn’t dare stop.
What in the ever loving hell?
“Daria!” I yelled when her hand slipped from mine.
“Just go!” she screeched back as Cash’s voice rang over hers, telling me to lock myself in somewhere .
But I had no idea where. I was alone in a strange house with hell knows how many other people all running wild, fueled with alcohol, and hoping to grope whoever they’d set their sights on before the lights went out.
Gross, and all kinds of illegal, but who am I to call it?
Remembering the closed door in the foyer, I flattened myself against the cold wall and slipped past the other girls, their fake screams of ‘oh no’ and ‘I’m so caught’ piercing my ears.
What kind of people are into this sort of fucked up crap?
I fumbled about, my hands searching for a frame nearby, and when my hand came into contact with a solid handle, I let out a long sigh.
Safety.
I managed to scramble into the doorway, pressing the handle and pushing inward, relief flooding me when the door opened. I shut it quietly behind me and sagged against it, pressing my forehead against the wood. “Thank God,” I whispered.
“What for?” A masculine voice asked and I screamed, spinning around at the same time.
The back of my head slammed against the door. “Ahh, shit!” I hissed, raising my hand to the back of my head. That’s when I noticed a soft glow clutched in a hand before it went out.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice stroking over my skin like the softest velvet, caressing every bare inch. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“I’m fine, apart from you scaring me half to death,” I replied, glad I couldn’t see his face in the pitch-black of wherever the hell I’d entered. I rubbed my head. “Shit, that hurt.”
A deep laugh filled the space. “I’m sorry I scared you, but I was kinda here first.”
“And why are you here?” I asked, still holding myself against the surface. Warmth heated my front, warning me that whatever I’d entered was too small for comfort. Prickles worked up my spine and over the back of my head, making the tiny hairs on my neck stand on end.
“I was taking a call. I came in here for privacy and because it’s quiet,” he replied, his answer bringing my attention back to the heat that was more likely from his body.
God, he’s so close. Too close.
I took a deep breath, and inhaled the most delicious scent I’d ever smelled. A light aftershave, maybe, but none of the spice that usually goes with it. It was fresh, like body wash, but there was something mixed in I couldn’t put my finger on.
I swallowed hard as the heat intensified. “Well, everybody’s playing some ridiculous game, so I came in here to get away from it.”
A long sigh sounded from directly in front of me, a gust of fresh air mixed with beer blowing down over my face.
Tall. He has to be tall.
I tilted my head back to see, but it was pointless. My eyes weren’t adjusting to the darkness quickly enough and I couldn’t see a damn thing.
