Lucas stands tall—taller than my brother at over six foot—with light brown hair and arresting blue eyes. He has broad shoulders, and those arms he trapped me with are sculpted.
His eyes flash and his mouth quirks into a sinful curve as he takes me in with a sweeping look.
“Sweetheart, every girl here is mine. And every girl in this town knows it.”
Lucas touches his lower lip with his thumb. It comes away red.
I made him bleed.
Serves you right, dick. I cross my arms.
His amusement grows. He looks at me like I’m a dog performing a cute trick.
“They all throw themselves at me eventually.” Lucas gives a carefree shrug. “You’d better fall in line, or we’re gonna have a problem.”
This self-important asshole!
I grit my teeth. I can still taste him.
“Not happening.” To drive the point home, I return the once over he gave me with one of my own and curl my lip. “Ever.”
Lucas snorts and drapes an arm around my shoulders. I wriggle to get away from him, but he’s strong. He contains me without exerting himself.
When I jab his side with my elbow, I come against hard muscles and the trim physique of an athlete. The hot puffs of his raspy laughter ghost across my skin.
He plucks at my hair and gestures at the giant blow up balloon decorations. “It’s my birthday, you know.”
I blink. “And?”
“Let’s call that my birthday present.” Lucas pinches my cheek and leers down at me. “Although, I won’t say no if you want to give me something else. Eighteen’s a milestone birthday, so you can give me something…” Lucas drags his fingertips down my cheek and traces the neckline of my t-shirt, “bigger and flashier than a kiss.”
As I squirm, he holds me tighter. A frustrated breath hisses out of me. Lucas’ nose presses into my temple and the entertained tilt of his mouth grazes my cheek.
“The way I see it, you owed me that kiss for coming to the party,” he mutters.
“Fuck you,” I snarl.
Lucas releases me and digs his fingers in my hair to keep me close. I could run, but I’d end up with my hair yanked for my trouble. His gaze trails over my body and he smirks. Lucas’ entire aura is smug and cocky.
“We can do that, too, sweetheart.”
The disbelief that crashes over me is so profound, it takes a moment to process the sheer audacity this guy has. A hazy red anger bleeds into my vision. I want to wipe that fucking smirk off his face.
How dare Lucas think I’m something he can have. He must be used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it.
Well, tough shit, buddy.
I’m not the kind of girl who will jump at the snap of his fingers.
I grant him a sharp smirk of my own and relish the way he tracks my lips. I stomp on his foot with all my might, driving my heel down on his toes. Satisfaction blooms in my chest when Lucas bites out a surprised curse and lets me go.
“What the f—”
Before he can retaliate and use his strength to incapacitate me again, I dash out of reach.
Alec stands off to the side with an unreadable expression. I grab a fistful of his shirt and drag him behind me as I navigate through the drama vultures.
I shoulder past people that don’t jump out of my way. Curses about spilled drinks follow me.