Page 1 of Cinder & Secrets (Ink & Ashes #2)

Charlotte

“Are you having fun?” I have to raise my voice over the loud thrum of music, studying River’s profile as he waits at the bar for our shots.

“I forgot how much I missed this,” he admits, meeting my eyes for the briefest moment before turning his attention back to the bartender.

River Parker is so much hotter than the picture his sister, Lyric, keeps of him on her desk in our shared dorm room. I mean, he’s good-looking in the picture too, but in person... A girl could really lose herself in those hunter-green eyes and crooked smile.

“Parties?” I wager a guess by what this is. Though party is putting it mildly, considering we’re in the middle of the largest soiree of the school year—a glow party put on by one of the fraternities.

“Being young,” he corrects.

“You talk like you’re forty.” I snort out a laugh, my throat hoarse from talking so loudly over the music all night.

“Might as well be.” He graces me with that lopsided smile I just referred to, the sight causing me to feel a little unbalanced on my feet. Then again, that might be the alcohol, the buzz radiating through every pore in my body.

“How old are you again?” I ask.

If I remember right, he’s only in his early twenties.

“Twenty-three.”

“Oh my God!” I mock. “You’re soooo old.” I smack his bicep playfully, not missing the hard cut of his muscle as I do.

“Things are different once you graduate college and have to start living in the real world.” He shrugs. “Just wait. You’ll see what I mean one day.”

“Graduating college is no excuse to stop having fun,” I disagree.

“Oh, I have plenty of fun.” He throws me a sideways glance, the kind that makes my stomach hollow in the best sort of way, and I can’t help but think how much I’d love to experience the version of fun he’s talking about.

“Just not this kind of fun.” He swirls his finger, gesturing to our surroundings.

“You seem to be having plenty of fun, just fine.” I graze his paint-covered shirt with the tips of my fingers, not missing the way his eyes flare ever so slightly at the touch.

“Here ya go.” The bartender makes an unfortunate appearance with our shots, drawing River’s attention away.

Damn it.

I mean, it’s not like anything was about to happen, but that sure as hell doesn’t mean I didn’t want it to.

Snap out of it, Char, I silently scold myself, reaching past River to snag four of the eight shots sitting on the bar in front of us.

Once River has the rest, I turn, following him back through the thick crowd to where we left my two roommates, Maisie and his sister, Lyric, on the dance floor.

“We got shots!” River announces as we approach, and I can’t help but smile at the two paint-splattered beauties in front of me.

“Two for you.” I hand Maisie two of the plastic shot glasses while River hands two of his to Lyric.

“Two?” Lyric looks at her brother like he’s lost his mind.

“As tightly wound as you are.” He smiles at his sister. “Trust me, sis, you need them.”

She inspects the liquid briefly before dumping the first shot down, her grimacing expression pinned on me as she lifts the second shot glass.

“What is this? Battery acid?” Her pretty face puckers in disgust.

“Oh, shut up and drink it.” I grin, pouring both shots into my mouth in quick succession.

“Cheers.” River knocks his shot glass against Lyric’s remaining one and she reluctantly drinks the second shot.

When River collects our cups and leaves to dispose of them, I have a momentary lapse where I almost tell Lyric how badly I would like to fuck her brother, but thankfully, even drunk, my brain recognizes that maybe it’s best if I keep that little piece of information to myself.

The minutes bleed together. The pulse of the music. The heat of the room. The burn of the alcohol in my veins.

River is careful to keep a few inches between him and everyone else, keeping a steady eye on our surroundings like he’s afraid someone might try to slip up on his sister.

I think it’s cute—his overprotectiveness—even if it is misguided.

Lyric may look innocent, but she can handle her own. Of that, I’m sure.

It isn’t until Maisie excuses herself, Lyric going with her to find the restroom, that I snake up a little closer, basically giving River no choice but to dance with me.

“Come on, old man. I know you can do better than that,” I openly complain when he doesn’t so much as lay a single finger on me as we move.

Without a word, he reaches for me, his fingers biting into my hips as he pulls me closer.

“Is this better?” he asks, the warmth of his breath sliding across my face.

For a second, I forget how to form words.

“A little.” I snake my hands around his neck, pulling him closer until we’re practically nose to nose, not a single inch of space between our bodies.

I hiss when the fingers at my hip dig in even deeper but not because it hurts—it doesn’t—but because a wave of sudden and undeniable need washes over me and my entire body flushes with heat.

I lean in, with every intention of pressing my mouth to his, the draw to do it too strong to stop myself, but just when our lips are about to make contact, River’s hold on me vanishes in an instant.

“We should... Uh... We should go find my sister. She’s been gone for a while.” He runs a hand through his hair and I’m instantly jealous of that hand, wishing it were mine tangling in the messy, blond strands.

“Yeah, okay.” I try to mask my disappointment. Disappointment that’s quickly replaced with something else when he reaches behind him and takes my hand, pulling me through the crowd.

He’s holding my hand. He’s holding my hand. He’s holding my hand. My inner voice chants over and over again like she can’t quite believe it herself.

I’m even more surprised that he doesn’t let go as we reach a clearing. If anything, his hold on my fingers tightens and I revel in the feeling.

I’ve been kissed by my fair share of guys. Fucked in every position imaginable on just about every surface known to man. But I can’t say I’ve ever had someone hold my hand. The feeling is... exquisite, and honestly, a little disorienting.

Or maybe that’s the alcohol. Though I highly doubt it.

It takes us a few minutes to spot Lyric, and once we do, I realize we may have stumbled upon something we shouldn’t be interrupting.

Hoping to give her a little heads-up that we’re there, I reluctantly pull my hand out of River’s and bound toward her and a somewhat angry-looking Kai Elliot, a senior who has quite the reputation.

Oh my...

“There you are!”

Lyric turns as soon as she registers my voice.

I also don’t miss the way Kai slinks away as soon as her attention is on me. Nor do I miss the disappointed look she tries and fails to hide. These two have been skirting around whatever is going on between them for a while now. A part of me wants to shake them both and say just fuck already!

“Who was that?” River asks, gesturing to the spot Kai occupied until only moments ago.

“Nobody. Just some guy.” Lyric does her best to brush it off as Maisie suddenly appears out of the crowd.

“Is it just me or does this party suck all of a sudden?” she slurs, her dark hair matted with sweat to the side of her face.

“Everything okay?” Lyric loops her arm through Maisie’s, who seems unsteady on her feet.

My goodness, how much has the girl drunk? I’ve had just as much and I feel totally fine. Well, not totally. But fine enough.

“Boys suck.” She groans, and I don’t have to guess who she’s talking about. Macallan Stewart. Star football player. Sexy as hell but an absolute douchebag when it comes to women.

I don’t even know why Maisie likes him so much, though a part of me feels like it’s probably the thrill of the hunt. I doubt any man has ever made Maisie work for it, but Mac is really putting her through it right now. Dumbass.

“Girl, don’t I know it,” Lyric murmurs, having her own frustrating womanizer to deal with. Must be in the water. Hopefully, it doesn’t spread to me. Lord knows I don’t need that kind of drama in my life. “I’m ready if you are,” she tells Maisie.

“Do you mind if I stay?” I abruptly ask, nowhere near ready to leave, but kind of feeling like an asshole at the same time. I know how much misery loves company, but I have no desire to join them in their pouting.

“I’m not leaving you here alone.” Lyric shakes her head at me.

“I’ll stay.” River offers and it takes everything in my power to stifle my smile of victory. He doesn’t know it, but I was counting on him offering to do just that .

“You sure?” Lyric looks between the two of us.

“Yeah, this is probably the last time I’ll ever get to attend one of these. I can hang out and make sure Charlotte gets home safe.”

“Really?” I clap excitedly. “I mean, if that’s okay with you.” I give Lyric the biggest pretty-please smile.

“Okay,” she reluctantly agrees.

“You’re good to get home?” River asks.

“I know how to order an Uber,” she fires back.

“Text me as soon as you’re back at the dorm.”

“Yes, dad.”

“And don’t ever call me dad again.”

I would have laughed at that, but I’m too busy trying to figure out my play once Lyric is gone.

So no, I doubt she’d be thrilled if I hooked up with her brother. Then again, I don’t think she’d hate me for it either, and well, that’s good enough in my book. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten laid and even longer since I’ve wanted it as badly as I do when River even so much as looks at me.

“You ready?” Lyric turns toward Maisie, who nods.

“Yes, please.”

Arms linked, they make their way toward the exit.

River watches until they disappear outside, indecision weighing heavily in his expression.

“She’ll be fine,” I reassure him. “She’s tougher than she looks. Besides, no one is going to fuck with Maisie. Even drunk, she’d whoop someone’s ass if they tried.”

“I have no doubt.” He chuckles, turning back toward me. “Now what?”

“ Now we dance.” I take his hand, tugging him back toward the dance floor.