I suck in a gasp, the can releasing from my grip. The spray shoots out again, hitting me square in the neck before Eli effortlessly catches it midair and cuts off the stream. He tosses out a lazy smirk, and I avert my gaze to the ground.
“You seem a little out of it.”
“I’m fine. I’ve just…had a bit too much to drink.”
Yeah. That’s it. Too much to drink. That is the reason I feel so hot and my brain is mush. The liquor has messed up my system. I drank a double vodka soda and beer on a mostly empty stomach since I have to fit back into that damn corset again tomorrow.
He reaches out yet again, but this time I stay stock still. He swipes his thumb up the curve of my neck with a tantalizing touch, stopping only once he gets to my jaw. My nipples pebble, my traitorous body wanting to push forward, but I fight against it.
He brings the pad of his thumb to his lips, and I watch as his tongue darts out with a lick.
I struggle to swallow, mesmerized by the motion.
“You had a little beer there.”
“Oh.” I flick my gaze at him as I bring my hand up, placing it over the path he’d traced. A damp stickiness remained. “Thanks.”
Why is he looking at me like that?
Why is there so much heat in his eyes when all I’ve ever seen is ice?
Why…
Snap out of it, Blair.
This is Eli. He hates your friends, and he hates you. He’d almost gotten Brett, Riley, and D’Andre sent to the E.R. that one day. You need to ignore the pull. You need to forget him. You need to back away.
Now.
My feet finally get the memo, shuffling half an inch back.
Eli’s brow twitches up at the miniscule movement.
I feel like a bunny caught in a trap, and the wolf is watching, waiting…playing.
Run.
I don’t give myself another second to guess; I just go on instinct. I swivel in my boots, pushing my way back through the crowd with zero decorum. An elbow clocks my boob and beer sloshes onto my sleeve, but I don’t relent.
I break free at the booths, and all heads turn to me.
“You didn’t get the Long Islands?” Michelle takes in my empty hands, not noting my frazzled state.
“I’m feeling sick. I’m going to head home.”
“Need a ride?” Riley stands up from the booth, and my brain screams in response.
“Nope, just going to steal my brother to take us back.” I thread a smile across my face. “See y’all.”
I sidestep to the opposite booth before they can hound me with any more questions and grip Josh’s flannel. He shoves my hand away with a grunt.
“Hey, what’s your iss—” His pissed off expression melts once he realizes it’s me. “Bee.”
“It’s time to go home.”
“But—”
“I want. To go. Home.”
