Page 42 of Savage Rose

This drink is making my head fuzzy, and fast. “Occupied?”

Micah chuckles. “Drunk people in there fucking, most likely.”

My eyes widen. “Oh.” I rub my fingers over my lips absentmindedly. They’re a little numb. “Got it.”

Beau laughs and taps me on the nose. “You may want to slow down on that drink.”

Frowning, I peer into my cup and notice it’s halfway gone. “Oops.”

“Yeah, oops.” He shakes his head with a laugh and continues down a hall. “Are you a fucking lightweight, Scarlett?”

“Maybe.” I slap playfully at his arm with a giggle.

He rolls his eyes, and I’m not tipsy enough that I don’t see theOh, shitlook that he exchanges with Micah.

Micah points at an open bathroom as we walk past it. “Lots of bathrooms. If you wait more than five minutes, find another—”

I burst out laughing, unable to stop myself. “Because it’s occupied.People fucking.Got it.”

“Quick learner, right here, folks.” Beau shakes his head again.

We move into a large living area where people are sitting around talking on the couches that have been pushed against the walls. A whole pack of people are dancing—if you can call it that—in the center of the big room. It’s about as close to sex as you can get with clothes on. I can’t even help myself when my hips begin to wiggle to the beat.

“Oh man. Time to find Xander, dude.”

“He’s out back, I think.”

“Let’s go out there, then.” My lips are way loose. “I think I might like him.”

Beau and Micah exchange a look and cover their mouths, leading me to the back door.

When we walk out onto the patio, I stop for a few seconds, scanning the area. Max is across the yard talking to some guy I’ve never seen before. He shoots me a thumbs up, and I return it.So far, so good.

There are a bunch of people standing around the keg getting beer, including Justin, who waves at me. My gaze drifts over the other guys he’s with, but I have no idea who any of them are.

The pool is absolutely jam-packed with people playing water volleyball. As I watch, one of the girls jumps up to spike the ball and loses her bikini top. She shrieks and slaps her forearm across her chest. One of her friends comes to her rescue, helping her secure things again.

Over at the far end of the pool, my gaze lingers a little too long on a couple sucking each other’s faces off. I can’t even help myself—it’s like a train wreck. Can’t look away. From what I can tell, there’s a lot of groping happening, hands disappearing underwater to places better left unsaid. When she starts moaning, I’m surprised no one shouts at them to find a room.

I poke Micah, and he glances down at me as I jerk a thumb in the direction of the handsy couple in the pool. “Does that happen a lot?”

A low chuckle rumbles out of him. “Just wait until later. Half the people here will pair off and disappear into dark corners. It’s best not to roam around at that point or bust into bedrooms, unless you really want to catch an eyeful. At the party last weekend, Beau found six very inebriated people all going at it in his basement.”

“The whole thing scarred me for life. Never seen so much pussy and cock jumbled together in my life, except in an actual porno. There were tits and asses everywhere.” Beau eyes Micah and shakes his head. “You’ve got to stop telling people about it, man.”

“So, it’s really true?” I give him a wide-eyed look, grinning.

“Fuck yes, it’s true. There’s not enough bleach to clean out my eyes after witnessing something like that.”

I stifle a giggle as I look around some more.

There’s a firepit in the yard farther away from the house, and there are plenty of chairs sitting around for casual conversation. And that’s when my gaze shifts left to the hot tub, and I spot Xander. At first glance, I roll my eyes, as he’s surrounded by a bunch of girls. And with my second look, I recognize all of them. It’s totally Aria and her three cheer bitches. They’ve got drinks and are talking loudly with exaggerated hand movements and alcohol-infused voices. Aria appears to be sitting on Xander’s lap. I roll my eyes.Yep, that’s quite the non-relationship they have.She keeps turning to whisper in his ear and play with his hair, all while her boobs in her too-small bikini keep smashing up against his chest. Green, ugly, seething emotion flows through my veins before I even know what’s happening. My fists clench.I want to jab my eyes out with a spoon.He’s notwithher, huh? I press my lips together, a whole lot pissed off.

The one I remember as Farrah gushes, “I know. She was so freakingmean.I like ice cream. And Ihateher.”

I stop in my tracks. “They’re talking about me, those bitches.”

Micah and Beau have also come to a halt on either side of me. “Sounds like it.”

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