Page 86 of Ruthless Chaos

The bartender hands me the drinks.

Liam’s eyebrows furrow. “Two drinks?”

I nod. “One for me, and one for my roommate, Tara.”

He puts his hands on mine, and my fingers are twitchy. I look at the drinks, then up at him. He holds my gaze with soft eyes and gives me a gentle, knowing smile.

“Tara Garcia Vásquez?”

I nod, surprised that he knows her.

Liam grins. “How about I bring this drink to her,” he says, taking one drink from me. “And you give me the privilege of a dance when I get back?”

Alexander’s warning appears in my mind.

Liam’s gaze is compelling, though. Every encounter I’ve had with him has been respectful, which is more than I can say for Alexander. He doesn’t have the right to tell me what to do when Liam has treated me better at every turn.

One dance, then I’ll get back to Tara.

“Sure,” I say. He seems pleased with my answer.

As he disappears into the crowd with her drink, I take a sip of my vodka lime with shaky hands, willing it to calm me down.

I am my individual.

I don’t have to do what anyone tells me to.

This ismycollege experience. I can do whatever I want if it doesn’t blow my cover.

Alexander doesn’t control me.

It turns into a chant in my head.

By the time Liam is back, I’m sure of my decision.

The drink is tasty, so I swallow the rest of it in a single gulp.

Liam raises an eyebrow and grins, giving me his hand. I take it—it’s warmer and softer than I remember.

He leads me a few paces away from the bar.

We’re closer to the music here, but not in the thick of the party.

The music is even more hypnotic than before. The rhythm is bone deep, rippling all over my skin. Liam is close behind me, his hands on my waist.

We sway to the beat together, and I float away.

I’m wrapped in euphoria—my body is hot and cold and an electric current vibrates through me, from my scalp to my toes.

I even feel it in my fingertips.

My body has a mind of its own, almost. It’s so easy to dance.

“Enjoying yourself, beautiful?” Liam’s breath is hot against my neck.

He sounds far away, which is odd, since I know he’s shouting over the music. His hands move lower on my body, leaving a strange trail of heat in their wake.

My core throbs in time to the bassline.