Loud music vibrates in the air when we reach the front. The smell of stale beer and sweat hits me in the face as I take in all the party-goers.
“Wow, this place is packed!” I shout over the music, and Shannon gets that look she had before.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, and she starts to step back a couple of steps.
“I don’t know if I can do this, I’m not ready,” she stammers, and I grab her by her shoulders and make her look at me directly in the eyes.
“You will stay at this party and fuck someone if you have to! Do you understand me?” I shout loud enough for at least ten people to hear. Her face turns cherry red and I can’t help my smile as it grows. She then busts out laughing so hard and I follow. She gives me a hug and I squeeze her back.
“Thank you, Erica,” she whispers, and emotion clogs my throat. I feel extremely grateful that I found a friend here.
“Now let’s go get a drink and have fun,” I say, and we make our way to the kitchen.
We sip our warm beer, which is disgusting. Shannon seems to be scoping out the place, drinking the warm beer, and all I can think is for rich kids they sure don’t give a shit about the quality of little things like drinking a nice cold beer. I shrug my shoulders, and moments later I’m being pulled onto the dancefloor.
“Let’s dance, I’m feeling this song right now!” she tells me, and I feel like tonight is going to be life-changing.
I follow her to the dancefloor and we start to move our bodies to the music. I close my eyes and lift my hands over my head, enjoying the feeling of being free. Here I feel I can be someone different from Erica Castello. I can be anyone I want, and it’s liberating. Moments later I feel two hands wrap around my middle and pull my ass to his rock-hard front. Right now I couldn't care less who it is, because I feel good and I’m not letting anyone ruin that.
When I open my eyes I see Shannon dancing with someone. I slowly spin around and I’m met with hazel green eyes. He’s handsome enough, with his dirty blond hair and pearly white teeth. He looks like a typical college kid.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he slurs, and I sigh.
Great, he’s drunk. That’s so unattractive.
“Hi, bye.” I roll my eyes and turn around to escape, but his hands have other plans. This guy has the nerve to grab my waist hard and pull me to his front. His lips crash to mine and I try to push him away.
Then he’s gone. His body is being lifted in the air and smashed to the ground, an angry-looking Jared pummeling his face.
“Jared! What the fuck are you doing?” I scream, but it takes more than my mouth to stop him. A couple of guys come out of nowhere and pull him off the boy that is now bleeding profusely on the ground. How the hell did he know I was here?
I look at him in confusion when his frantic beautiful eyes land on mine. He stares at me with rage masking his handsome face. His fists clench tightly to his sides and he’s breathingheavily. Jared is in his mid-twenties, maybe early thirties. There is no way he was already here partying with these people. Everyone shuffles back like they’re afraid to approach him. Like he’s some vicious creature that will rip their throats out without a second glance.
“Erica! Are you okay?” Shannon stumbles over to me.
“I’m fine,” I say, still staring at Jared’s wild expression, and walk off quickly to the bathroom.
Shannon follows me and I turn towards her when we make it in the bathroom.
“What the hell was that?” she screeches.
“I have no clue.” I splash some water on my now-hot face.
“Well, I think that Jared Knox, the infamous leader of the Vipers MC, wants a piece of my friend and I’m about to tell him to fuck off.” I start to laugh at her banter and look at her face in the mirror.
“Jared is not someone you mess with. That guy who was dancing with you is as good as dead,” she admits, and my eyes widen in horror.
“That guy was trying to kiss me and I didn’t want him to. He saw that I was in distress and helped me. That’s all.”
“Whatever you say, girl but I think he wants you. And if he wants you he’s going to have you. Nobody says no to Knox,” she exclaims, and my stomach twists with nervous energy.
“Trust me, Shannon, I do not like him in that way,” I lie, because the truth is I kind of think I do…
Shannon leaves the bathroom and I start to make my way back to the party, when I’m pushed into a room with a hand covering my muffled scream.
It’s Jared. I sigh in relief and then it turns to anger.
I push his body off of mine and yell,