Page 48 of Mad As Hell

He chuckled at that. “True, but I’d like to think I’m a little more evolved than the world I was born into.” He winked at Bex. “And technically, my father is a duke, not me. Not yet, anyhow.”

I exchanged looks with my best friend before giving my attention back to Charles. “Just as long as we’re clear that this is nothing more than a friend helping a friend.”

He held up his hands with an innocent smile. “Absolutely.”

“Okay, then,” I agreed, slipping my arm into his.

Bex huffed behind me. “This really isn’t going to end well.”

She was probably right, but the thrill that shot through my veins lit me up with anticipation. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Ryan’s face when another guy led me into his house.

Game on, Ryan.

CHAPTER 13

MADDIE

The noise inside was almost deafening. People were everywhere, except on the stairs, which I noted were blocked by two bored-as-hell looking pledges. A game of strip beer pong was happening in the dining room to the left, and the twelve-foot table was covered in cups and spilled beer as half naked coeds cheered whenever someone landed a shot. I turned away before a girl who was down to her underwear could whip off her bra.

The living room to the right looked like one big orgy as people took advantage of any and every surface to hook up. Most still had their clothes on, but several were naked. The hairy ass of a guy I recognized from the frat started twerking for a girl on the sectional. I whirled away, but not before I got an eyeful of his swinging kibbles and bits.

But the most surprising sight was the banner hanging in the middle of the foyer with a mugshot of Dean that proclaimed, “Ding-dong, the bitch is DEAD!”

And—holy shit—more mugshots had been taped to a wall and people were playing darts.

“Wow,” Charles murmured next to me.

My hand tightened reflexively on his arm as a girl in a bikini ran by, knocking against my shoulder.

“Sorry, Madelaine!” she chirped, rushing past us. A second later, a guy from the football team chased after her with a whoop.

I stepped aside to avoid being flattened by Ryan’s offensive tackle.

“Friend of yours?” Charles asked dryly.

“Never met her in my life,” I murmured, taking in the unholy amount of chaos and debauchery. I knew some of the parties around here could get crazy, but this was a whole new level.

Bex moved to my side, her eyes wide and alarmed as she looked around. “This is insanity.”

I shook my head, barely able to think. I was on sensory overload. “Let’s go out back,” I suggested in a voice that was more yelling than anything.

Charles nodded and used his larger frame to move people out of the way as we walked down the hallway toward the back of the house. Bex linked her fingers with mine so we didn’t get separated threading our way through the packed kitchen and out the back door.

I jerked to a stop, staring at all the naked bodies in the pool playing volleyball. People danced on the lawn under strings of Chinese lanterns hanging from tree branches. A DJ had been set up in the far corner with massive speakers pouring out music.

“Oh, this is much better,” Bex muttered, rolling her eyes.

My gaze roved around as a prickle of awareness tingled up my spine. I could feel eyes on me, and I knew whose they were before I found the owner.

Like a king amongst his subjects, Ryan was seated in the middle of the large group of people around the fire pit. The flames reflected in his crystal blue eyes, and I swallowed when he stood up and moved toward us.

“Oh, shit,” Bex muttered, casting me a nervous glance.

I hated that my body immediately reacted to seeing Ryan. My mouth practically watered at the sight of his wide shoulders encased in a tight-fitting white t-shirt that hugged his biceps and clung to his chest before tapering into a waist where I knew he was rocking more than a six-pack. A shudder rippled down my spine as anticipation sang in my blood.

If he had come up and pulled me into his arms, I would’ve gone willingly. Wantonly. I would’ve climbed him like a monkey and wrapped my arms around his waist before—

“What the fuck is this?” Ryan growled, snapping me out of my rapidly devolving fantasy. He glared at where my arm was tucked inside of Charles’s before turning his hateful look to the guy in question. Like Charles had super-glued my hand to his elbow without my consent or knowledge.

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