Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
OPAL
The car rolls into the driveway, and my jaw drops. This house is massive, every inch is decked in lights, pumpkins, and fog machines. Skeletons hang from the balconies, cobwebs cling to the railings, and music thumps through the crisp air.
We step out of the Uber, and they drive off.
“Whose house is this again?” I ask, craning my neck to take it all again.
Alex glances at me “It’s a house the university owns. Student organized party.”
“Oh.” I pause, letting my eyes roam over the crowd gathering on the lawn. “So… full of frat boys, then?” I roll my eyes.
Alex slaps my arm playfully. “Sexy frat boys, Opal. Don’t act like that’s not the best part.”
I laugh, shaking my head. My heart is pounding so hard I swear its in my ass.
Alex grabs my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, and we push through the crowd of people, the smell of alcohol and perfume thick in the air. The lights flash in every color imaginable, bouncing off the walls and ceiling.
We head straight for the bar set up in the corner, dodging groups of people laughing, yelling, and dancing.
“Okay,” Alex yells over the music, leaning close so I can hear. “First things first—drinks. What do you want?”
“Uhh… wine?” I reply.
Alex blinks. “Jesus Opal. No. Never mind. I’ll be right back.”
She sashays off toward the bar, leaving me standing here, eyes all over me. My cheeks heat up, and I take a deep breath.
I glance around, and freeze.
A woman dances across the room, draped in a skimpy white and gold dress—the perfect Greek goddess. My jaw practically drops. Every curve of her body is stunning. Probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I can’t tear my eyes away.
Alex returns just then, her grin wide, nodding toward the woman. “She’s hot.”
She thrusts a tall clear cup toward me filled with green liquid. “Liquid marijuana.”
Then she hands me a tiny shot glass with a goldish-green liquid. “Green tea. Take this first.”
I gape at her, trying to process both drinks and the goddess across the room. My hands shake just slightly as I down the shot, chasing it with the taller cup. The delicious burn slides down my throat, warming my belly.
Alex grabs my hand, tugging me toward the center of the room, and I stumble slightly over the sea of bodies. The dance floor is packed, pulsing with music and flashing lights.
Alex looks incredible—her Poison Ivy costume clinging perfectly, hair cascading in fiery waves. Heads turn wherever she moves. I admire her confidence, the way people are drawn to her.
We find a small patch of space and start dancing, strangers bumping against strangers. I feel my nerves start to loosen a little, drinks warming me and the beat pulling me in.
I down the rest of my drink in one long gulp, letting the warmth spread through me as I move to the beat.
Alex leans in close, her lips brushing my ear over the pounding music. “Ghost Riley over there? Can’t take his eyes off you.”
I glance where she’s nodding and I almost stumble.
A huge man, head to toe in black, leans against the wall. Easily six-five, maybe taller. Every muscle outlined in the flashing lights, his posture rigid.
I turn back to Alex, eyebrows raised. “I’m pretty sure that’s Kade Cross. Ghost Riley wears a skull mask.”
Alex shrugs, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “We’ll whoever he is, he can’t take his eyes off you… Kade Cross has good taste.”
I laugh nervously, feeling my heart thump harder. The intensity of his stare… it makes me feel sexy. Wanted. Heat pools low in my core. I shiver and bite my lip at the thought of being watched.
Then—my mind drifts to Kellan. I can't help but picture us curled up on the couch, blankets tucked around us, reading together, spooky movies playing on the TV. The thought makes my heart ache a little.
I shake my head and force myself back into the present. We’re not doing that, so might as well have some fun while I’m here.
I let my body move with the music. I steal glances toward him again. He is playing the role of Kade Cross very well—watching from the shadows.
I lick my lips without thinking, my pulse spiking as my mind drifts to those dark, obsessive stalker romances I devour. The thought makes my core throb with desire, and goosebumps break out across my skin.
I bite my lip trying to focus on the music, on dancing. The more I think about him, the hotter I feel.
Alex leans close over the music, shouting in my ear. “Want me to grab us more drinks?”
I nod. And she disappears into the crowd.
A pirate—complete with an eye patch and swagger—slides up behind me, grinding far too close.
I step away and he steps closer spilling his drink, laughing.
I try to step away again, but the pirate’s hand shoots out, gripping my hips and yanking me back against him. His body presses into mine, the music vibrating through both of us.
“No—” I start, shoving at his arm, but he shushes me, obviously very drunk.
I dart my gaze up toward the wall, toward the spot the masked man had been standing, watching me with the dark consuming intensity.
But he’s gone.
The space is empty.
A chill runs down my spine as the pirate’s breath is hot against my ear. I twist in his grip, trying to wrench myself free, but his fingers dig into my hips.
“Hey, I’m not—” I shout, but the words cut off.
Because suddenly, he’s gone.
The pressure against me vanishes, and I spin around just in time to see the pirate lifted off his feet like a rag doll. He’s suspended in the air by a single massive, gloved hand clamped around his neck.
The masked man towers over him, black clothes stretching across every bulging muscle. The pirate's hands shoot up in surrender, eyes wide.
The man lowers him only to shove him violently back, the pirate stumbling, nearly falling before scrambling into the crowd, disappearing.
I stand frozen, chest heaving, staring at the stranger—at the intensity radiating from him.
“Hey, drinks!” Alex’s voice cuts through the haze, and I turn sharply. She’s balancing two cups with a bright grin, completely oblivious to what just happened.
Alex’s grin falters as her gaze flicks past me. Her eyes widen, then snap back to mine.
“Uh—am I interrupting something?”
I quickly grab one of the green drinks from her hand.
“Thanks,” I say, my voice shaky.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him return to the spot against the wall, like nothing happened. Only now his posture is sharper, attention locked entirely on me.
His eyes don’t leave mine. Not for a second.
I swallow hard, turning back to Alex. Her brows shoot up and I lean in close and tell her what happened. By the time I finish, her mouth is hanging wide open, eyes practically bulging out of her head.
“No fucking way,” she gasps, clutching my arm. “Opal! Go talk to him! He’s like…bodyguard stalker. Which let's be honest, is your dream scenario.”
“Alex!” I hiss, swatting at her.
“Go!” She urges. I nod and turn toward him.
My drink is slick in my sweaty palm, condensation dripping down my fingers. Every step toward him my thighs dampen more with the wetness seeping from under my skirt.
He doesn’t move when I stop in front of him, doesn’t even shift weight. Just stands there—massive and immovable. Like a wall of muscle and black fabric.
I tilt my chin up, my words fumbling out before I can think. “Thank you.”
His eyes, shadowed beneath the mask and goggles, flicker down at me. He gives me a nod.
The silence between us stretches thin and tight, so loud it drowns out the thrum of music and laughter. My mind scrambles for something—anything—to say.
“So, um… do you always go around rescuing people from pirates? Or is that just, like, a Halloween thing.”
He stares and shakes his head. His gloved hand lifts and points a single finger at me.
My heart stutters. “Me?”
He nods once.
A rush of heat floods my chest, my stomach, and lower. My lips part as the meaning sinks in. “Oh…” my voice trembles. “Just for me?”
Another nod. Steady and certain.
Suddenly I’m feeling too hot. I run my eyes over him once more. His height, his broad chest, his muscles straining under the tight fabric. Oh, he’s playing this part very well.
I swallow hard and take a tiny step closer. Close enough to feel the heat of his body. My head barely reaches his chest, the weight of his gaze pins me in place.