Page 4 of Huge Games

A hand rests on my shoulder, pulling me back, and Dornan's voice cuts through the passion. "Hey, Celine…" I blink up at him, finding soft, concerned eyes. His blond hair flops as he tries to help me stand. "It's okay. You're okay." He's always the one looking after everyone. As soon as I'm on my feet, I grab the back of his neck, rising on my tiptoes to kiss him, too.

It's stupid. He's my friend. We've been through a lot together, and he's shown himself to be a good and reliable person. I don't need to mess with good relationships because a bad one turned sour.

But instead of shoving me away and telling me to stop, Dornan kisses me back, and it's good. So good.

I moan as he pulls me closer, his huge hand on my ass.

But before I have a chance to enjoy the experience fully, a familiar voice cuts through the bliss. "Come on, you guys. Pack it in." Ellie pries us apart with surprisingly strong hands.

Dornan blinks as though he's emerging from the depths of hell into the midday sunshine, and I sway as a broad smile breaks out across my face. I turn to my friend, suddenly feeling lighter than I have all evening.

"What's wrong, Ellie? I'm just gathering my own harem."

She grimaces, and pity widens her eyes and makes her shoulder rise in a dismissive shrug. "I don't think that's how it works, sweetie." When she pats me on the shoulder, words that would cut slash through my mind. Somehow, even though I'm drunk, I manage to keep a handle on them.

"You know, those drinks have gone right to my head." I laugh, and it sounds a little unhinged, then I laugh some more because it's funny as shit.

"I think you need some water, honey."

As I follow Ellie into an empty booth and, as she tells Seb to get us a bottle, a different idea about what I need forms into a plan.

2

DORNAN

"I don't know what to do with her," Ellie says, waving her arm in Celine's direction. "She's a mess."

"She's okay. Just hurting. All it will take is a little time."

"A little time while she kisses her way, or worse, around campus?"

"She's just getting back on the horse." I fold in my lips, remembering how Celine's mouth felt against mine. The passion in her kiss. The way I felt it from the roots of my hair to the tip of my dick. The way it felt so completely right.

Jeez.

Ellie doesn't know, but I've been crushing on Celine since I first laid my eyes on her. She was draped over Eddie's lap, and he had his hand up her shirt, so she wasn't exactly available, but that didn't matter. She was pretty and fiery and funny as hell. She flicked all my switches and more.

But for some crazy reason, she stayed with that idiot, going back to him over and over despite the fact he was a terrible person. Everybody could see it except Celine.When we suggested that maybe she'd be better off without him, she seemed to double down and stay with him longer. She didn't want to face up to the fact that she chose wrong or admit it to anyone else.

And now here she is, wasted and floundering, her vulnerability peeking out from behind a mask.

"I can take her home."

Ellie touches my arm in a gentle thank you. "I would, but I need to get back to Noah, and Gabriella needs to stay for Dalton."

"It's no problem."

As I kiss Ellie goodbye, Elias moves to the booth Celine is currently sleeping in, touching her arm to bring her around. Over my dead body is he going near Celine when she's in this state.

"Hey," I say, covering the ground between us in four long strides.

"What?" Elias turns as Celine cracks one eye open, looking around like she can't focus on anything.

"I'm taking Celine home."

"Like fuck you are."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

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