Page 37 of Busted Dreams

I smiled and took my wine to my bedroom. Not really sure what I was supposed to wear to this party, I found a slightly dressier royal blue jumpsuit in my closet. That would work.

When I came down the hallway with my empty glass, I had a case of uncontrollable giggles.

“Looks like you finished all your wine.” Rhys grinned, but tipped his head to the side when I got closer. “Damn, I think you’re drunk. That second glass was a bad idea.”

Slapping his chest, I stepped closer until my front was plastered to his chest. “I’m fine. I feel great. I’m ready.” More giggles.

“I don’t know.” He sounded concerned as he scrunched his brows together. They looked so much like caterpillars in that moment, my giggles turned to full blown laughter and I dropped my forehead to his chest.

I’d found a pair of wedge heels Mother Dearest had bought me last summer. It was part of my motto to never wear heels, but they had a cute, gypsy look so I had kept them. They matched perfectly with my jumpsuit. And now I was a little taller, able to grip the tops of his shoulders easier.

“Nonsense. Let’s go.” I was tipsy, but I felt amazing. Worried about other people? Pshhh. Not now. I was pleasantly tingly, with a warm flush creeping over every part of my body from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

A myriad of expressions flickered across his face, but I was too tipsy to accurately pin point any of them. Except the last one. Resignation. For some reason, this was hilarious, partly because I knew I had won and we were going to the party.

“Okay, but you are not to be out of my sight at all. Take no drinks from anyone who isn’t me, actually scratch that, no drinks for you at all unless it’s water.” Then it sounded like he muttered, “The guys are going to kill me,” under his breath.

The ride over to the party, Rhys held my hand in his lap and I leaned my head on his shoulder. I loved the comfort I got from him, and I loved the way he took care of me in his own way. Just dinner was amazing.

I jerked up when he parked the car. Wow, I had almost been asleep, and I never slept in cars. This was it—wine was the miracle juice I would forever keep in my home. It was so muchfun.

“All right, baby. Let’s go in for a little while. We won’t stay long,” he said as he opened my door and helped me out of my seat. For a moment, he held me to his chest as if he had no intention of going inside at all.

Pressing tighter against him, I rubbed my cheek over his heart. He called me baby. Rhys had never called me any pet names before. My stomach flipped over in a sweet knot of first love.

I loved him. My star hockey player, who was so distant from the rest of the world but sweet for me.

Tilting my head back, I cupped the nape of his neck, letting my fingers play over his too long hair. “It’s okay. I’m not drunk. Maybe I was heading there before we left the house, but I already feel more myself. I want to be here with you.”

The skin around his eyes softened as his hands glided along my waist. “Let’s go.”

He let his fingers trail lightly up my back and down the back of my arm, until he threaded his fingers through mine. A shiver worked its way over my entire body at the suggestive contact.

What could he do with those fingers if we were alone? Would he be just as soft and attentive? I’d never burned more than I did in that moment to find out.

The house we’d arrived at was at the edge of Silver Ranch. The quaint neighborhood was similar to ours, but the houses had more space between them, and more trees. I could see why this guy threw the parties. There was less of a chance of noise being an issue.

Once we made it inside, there was barely any space to move. People were packed in so tight, their collective body heat was already washing over me. For such a dry state, the inside of this house was humid from sweaty, dancing bodies.

The same as the last party I attended, the music was loud, thumping, and coming from every corner of the house, as if the guy had set up speakers every ten feet. Only this time, I was tipsy and the music seemed a part of me. I’d even started to sway a bit with the beat.

“I see Darren in the living room,” Rhys said in my ear, then he was making his way across the room with me tucked close to his back.

“Rhys!” A cheer went up from the crowd. People were chanting his name, girls were catcalling and whistling like he was a piece of fine meat on display, and the guys were stomping in time with their chant.

The anxiety that always plagued me was absent, only a sense of pride for Rhys remained. I pushed my hand under his shirt and squeezed his side to show him I was here and I was okay. He glanced back and smiled softly.

“Darren, got room for me and my girl?” Rhys spoke over the insane volume of the room.

“Hell, yeah!” A shorter, stocky guy climbed off the back of the couch to motion to a group of younger guys on the couch. “You three, out.”

And they left. Just like that.

Rhys must not have thought it was odd at all, because he took the corner seat, pulling me down between his legs.

Part of my brain tried to wake up at that. Like it was trying to tell me this was a bad idea, that no one knew we were this close. But then it dissolved as if it had never been when Rhys brought his arm around the front of my chest to lock me to him.

It was a proprietary hold, and the possessiveness practically bled from him.

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