He must find it hilarious to see his little sister drunk for the first time.
“Lianne thinks you’re sexy.” I giggle. “I guess I can see why in an objective kind of way.” I keep giggling as I pat his cheek in a sloppy slap.
His eyebrows shoot up. “Oh, does she now?”
“Don’t.” I bring a finger to his face.
“I would never. The Divine has chosen for her. Who am I to get in between the Divine and Their word?” He looks at me innocently.
“You are literally the next to lead. You could get in between.”
He lets out a deep laugh, making my body shake with his. His hold draws me closer.
Something hard pushes against me. Something in his pocket is jabbing me. His phone maybe?
He looks down at me as I adjust to get comfortable against it. His eyes hood, and he takes a sharp breath in.
“What do you think?” he whispers.
I am surprised I can hear it over all the noise in the room.
“About?”
“Do you think I am sexy?”
I swat his chest and laugh. “Oh yeah, sooooo sexy.” I can’t stop giggling. I close my eyes, and it feels so good letting him just hold the weight of my body.
His warmth consumes me as he lowers himself closer to me, and I think he is going to say something in my ear, but instead, something soft and warm touches my lips ever so slightly.
I freeze.
My whole body tenses.
I try to shift away from him, but I lose my balance in the heels Lianne put on my feet.
His arm keeps me leveled, and he drags his mouth to my ear. “Happy birthday, my little Eden.” He holds me to him,pressing my stiff neck down so that my head is on his chest, then rocks me from side to side.
My eyes strain to open, still trying to figure out if it is my cheek or my lips he touched. I rifle through the memory, but my head is spinning at an alarming rate. I inhale deeply, smelling Samuel’s oaky scent.
The music muffles.
My attempts to open my eyes become defeated. I can’t stop the way my body caves into him. The way his hands soft caresses up and down my back. I want to fight it, but the comfort of it is too strong. I let myself fall into the feeling of knowing I am safe in Samuel’s arms.
Vibration hits my core, and I jolt away with a sway.
Samuel takes out his phone, pulling me back to his chest. “What do you mean?” Samuel’s posture straightens. “What hospital?”
I look up at him.
Alarm bells go off in my head. Something bad has happened. His blank look doesn’t fool me.
“I’m on my way.” He stuffs his phone back into his pocket, pulling me off the dance floor.
“What is it? What happened?” I slur.
Despite the liquor in my system, I am doing my best to sober up. I don’t realize how much it has affected me until I try to get it out of my system.
Samuel walks us to the booth where my purse is, then scoops it up without even stopping.
