AT THE PARTY NEXTDOOR BY MELLA

t to play with the big boys in M

zipper up the back of my dress. I gasped as the fabric squeezed my ribs. I

lingerie than an outfit. The neckline plunged dangerously low, and the side

d, tugging at the hem. "I look like I'm

virginal, pure, and calculated to make my red silk look scandalous by comparison. "Daniel Thorne told you to wear som

warm, but her gaze remained as sharp as a razor. "Besid

what I'm afraid

a rhythmic heartbeat that seemed to pulse in time with my own anxiety. We di

ked like they belonged in a private militia. The moment we

nd the air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars, top-shelf gin, and the kind of perfume that cost more than a month's

er of it al

jacket anymore. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up to reveal

s eyes f

ilk. It wasn't the dismissive look he'd given Summer. It was heavy. It was ho

red, her voice tight. "I'm

ld protest. I stood there, feeling exposed

ned," Dani

the small of my back, his palm was searing through the t

mured, his voice cutting through the thumping music. "I t

e of the noise," I li

laced by the rush of the wind and the distant sound of the ocean. He didn't let go of my back. He pulled me

inches from mine. "You've been thinking about

d. "Watc

looks your terrace. I saw you this afternoon, Tyla. Sitting out there with your book,

hadn't realized

stalker,"

unging neckline of the red dress, his touch barely grazing the swell of my breast. "And I w

my heart hammering so hard I was su

te in his mouth. "Your friend has a habit of putting

ha

rushing against the shell of my ear. "I don't share

lips, and for a second, the world narrowed down to just the two of us. He began to lean in, his hand slid

I've been looking

pen. I jumped back, my hea

t in each hand. She was wearing a look of pan

ten lost!" she cried

ver the edge of the curtain, her arms flailing

ess. The cold liquid soaked through the silk instantly, staining the fab

near the curtain

ass for dramatic effect. "Tyla, I'm so sorry! I

looked at Summer. For a split second, through the fake tears and t

. She had turned my "powerful" m

f cold fury, his eyes darting between me

gan to whisper, I realized Summer hadn't j