He slides his arms around me from behind, sending her a big fat signal that I’m sure she’ll ignore. She’s been after him since day one, I just didn’t see it until now. Her effusive praise at the KPT open house, her eagerness to get to know me and get on my good side. She’s been infiltrating.
The Nàdarians should get Lara to help them find the weapon. No one can plot and sneak as well as she can.
“Who’d you come with?” I ask her.
“Cole.”
Who, incidentally, is nowhere to be found.
“Oh. Are you two going out?”
She shrugs, her eyes on the guy holding me. Poor Cole.
I turn to Zander. “Let’s get some drinks.”
His frown lifts as he takes my hand and guides me back out to the dining room. “It’s open bar, babe. Go wild.”
“Hmm. Okay.” I ask the bartender for suggestions and finally agree to a Cosmopolitan. It’s delicious. Dangerously delicious.
We enjoy a peaceful, Lara-free hour, buzzes building as we drink and dance. Except for a quick break to help Braden with the raffle tickets, Zander hasn’t left my side, or should I say front. We’re plastered together as we pulse to the music, and my naughty hands have been wandering—into his curls, down his chest, across his back. I’m fast approaching that oblivion I’ve been seeking. My mind has clocked out and left my body in charge.
We’ve all shucked our masks, but Braden and Jake are keeping things festive by weaving through the sea of bodies handing out Mardi Gras beads. When they get to Jenna, Mia, Liv, and me, Braden grins and waggles his brows. “You ladies know what you have to do to earn a string.”
We all look down at our one-piece cocktail dresses. How are we supposed to flash anyone in these?
“Just give me the damn beads,” Mia says, shoving him in the shoulder. He wisely hands over several strands. Meanwhile, Jenna offers Jake a black bra strap and a bare shoulder.
Braden turns to me and winks. “How about a little leg, Betsy?”
What can I say? Braden knows how to make a girl feel hot and I’m just drunk enough to enjoy it. I reach for the hem of my already short dress and pull up, noticing the flash of heat in Braden’s eyes when I reach the lace of my thigh-highs.
Zander growls at him and snatches away my hand. “Back off B. You’ve got your own girl, you don’t need to be eye-fucking mine.” He nabs a handful of beads and pushes his best friend in Liv’s direction.
It takes some cajoling to get the scowl off Zander’s face. I stroke his jaw and flirt. “Are you gonna give me those beads?”
“If you show me what you showed him.”
I take his hand and slide it up my thigh, past the lace. His pupils dilate as his fingers grip my bare skin. “Fuck, I miss you.”
“I want my beads.”
He places two of the three strands around my neck.
“Ooo. Purple,” I remark. As cheap as they are, the plastic beads catch the lights and sparkle like real jewels. “What about the last one?” I eye the gold string dangling over Zander’s forearm.
“If you give me a kiss.”
My stomach flips but I ignore it, burying my fingers in his thick hair as he covers my mouth with his. This feels so good, so non-threatening and familiar. I sink against him, letting him hold me up with his strong arms. “Babe—” he groans, and kisses me again.
I pull away before I completely lose control. I’m too lit to comprehend what I’m doing and why.
Satisfied, Zander gives me the last strand of glittering beads. They swing back and forth across my chest as I dance. Feeling generous, I give the green necklace back to him, giggling when he double wraps it like an opera-length string of pearls.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Liv pushing through the crowd toward me, wearing a broad smile and doing that little skipping step she does when she’s excited. She cuts between me and Zander and gushes, “I’m gonna be an O-Chi Sweetheart!”
“What? You are?” I gape at her and then at Zander, who breaks into a grin.
“Braden just told me,” Liv squeals. “The brothers voted me in!” She hugs me so tight I squeak.
