Page 49 of Forbidden

The same waitress popped up at my side. She passed drinks to Kincaid, Tessa, and me. My gaze went back to where Vander sat. He smiled as he tipped his own glass towards us.

It was as if he’d sensed my dwindling fun. As if he knew I needed something to drown my sorrows.

I downed the drink in one gulp. Another appeared. I shouldn’t do it. But I couldn’t stop myself.

The warmth of the liquor helped push the chill from my veins. I lost myself in the heat of the crowd. In being normal. A person without a past. Without the scars to prove it.

26

Grace

The next hour went by in a blur of dancing and drinks. In gazes and fantasies. I was floating away into a world where nothing could touch me. Where nothing bad ever happens, when two large hands landed on my hips.

The drink in my hand sloshed, champagne dripping down my arm as someone pulled me back against a hard body. Their grip was stronger than a person moving me aside so they could pass. His fingers were possessive as they dug into my skin.

A squeak left my lips, but the music drowned it out. Apprehension slithered up my spine as the stench of beer assaulted my nose.

“I’ve been watching you all night.” A slurred voice shouted in my ear. “Dance with me, hot stuff.”

I didn’t know if it was the scent or his words or the alcohol, but I retched. Nothing came up. That didn’t stop the shaking of my body or the watering of my mouth.

The drunk guy didn’t seem to notice as he pulled me further into the crowd. Neither did Tessa or Kincaid, who were dancing with their arms in the air as they sang to the music. His arm was like a rope around my waist, anchoring me to him.

He shifted against me. I felt thick muscles and something else I didn’t want to identify. Something that sent me into a panic.

Stop.

The protest echoed in my brain, but I kept it inside like I’d done a million times. The drinks made my mind fuzzy, and I fell into old habits.

Be invisible. Pretend you’re somewhere else. It’ll be over soon. It’ll hurt less if you don’t fight.

Years of abuse taught me these survival skills. But they felt useless now. Trapped in a crowd with a stranger.

He grunted in my ear, an angry edge to his tone. His fingers dug into my skin harder. “Move. Show me that body you’ve been teasing me with all night.”

His words clicked my brain into gear. I wasn’t teasing him. I was here with my friends. Trying to have fun. I didn’t invite his attention.

I pulled air into my lungs to scream when, just as suddenly as he appeared, he was ripped away.

My damp hair fell in my face as I whipped around to see what happened. I winced as Vander raised his fist again. Dancers jumped out of the way. A small group gathered as blood splattered the drunk guy’s sweaty gray shirt.

“Keep your fucking hands off my wife.” Vander’s fist swallowed his protests.

In an instant, security guards appeared. They dragged the bleeding idiot out. And it was as if it hadn’t happened. The crowd blended on the dance floor once again, leaving only Vander and me staring at each other. Only the fear in my veins and the specks of blood on Vander’s shirt told me it wasn’t a dream.

His chest rose with heavy breaths where mine barely moved like he’d stolen them. A dark curl fell on his forehead as he stomped towards me. Rage contorted his features, and his knuckles were bruised. But oddly, I didn’t cower.

The rest of the room seemed to disappear as he came closer. His movements slowed, like he was fighting to control himself. He stopped inches in front of me, and I itched for him to close the distance. To feel the anger pumping off him.

It was electric. I could sense it hanging in the air around us. It made the hairs on my arms stand up. Made my thighs tremble. I wanted to be closer to it. To touch it. Touch him.

I licked my lips as he stared. My voice was nothing but a breath. “Thanks.”

I couldn’t explain the buzzing of my skin as he examined me. His eyes scanned every inch of my body, looking for injuries. But I was fine, except that I wanted him to grab me. Kiss me. Something. All I knew was I needed to be touching him.

“Did I scare you?” It was difficult to hear him above the music.

I had just enough alcohol in my veins to make my head fuzzy. To make it seem like a great idea to step forward.

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