Page 78 of The Temptation of Truth

It doesn’t make sense. Not the way my stomach roils or my chest burns. Not the way she smiles up at him like he’s special. Not the way I’d felt just moments earlier when her hands were on me. When her body was against mine...

None of it makes sense, but even though it hurts, even though I shouldn’t care, I can’t keep my eyes from darting back to them at every opportunity. I keep up the conversation with Sav and Claire. I laugh and smile when appropriate. I even order two more cocktails and finish them without wincing. And whenever possible, I sneak glances at Mabel and tell myself that I don’t care.

I don’t care that she’s dancing with this Australian cover model. I don’t care that his hands have grazed and groped every inch of her skin he can reach. That his body has nearly folded itself over hers. That she’s very obviously enjoying every second of it.

She told me this was what she wanted, right? Someone tofeed her ego? Well, judging from her smile and her own roaming hands, she’s definitely gotten that. He’s fed her ego, all right. I bet he’ll feed her something else tonight, too. In the suite that we share. In the bed right beside mine. It will sound like sex and smell like sex and?—

I grit my teeth. I finish off my cocktail.

I do not care.

Because I have no feelings whatsoever for Mabel Rossi.

I repeat this over and over in my head. A mantra. A spell. I almost believe it. But then he kisses her, and I see red.

17

AURORA

I am feelingsomething for Mabel Rossi.

I’m not sure what it is. It might be anger. It might be more. I can’t tell, but I’m definitely feelingsomething, and I don’t like it.

He kissed her.

I watched him kiss her.

This big, stupid ape of a man kissed her right on her neck as his hand grazed the underside of her freaking boob. He practically had to bend in half to do it, and he looked completely ridiculous, too. Like a humpback whale. Like a...like a snail. The invasive kind. The kind you’re supposed to stomp on sight, or they’ll destroy your garden and spread disease to your animals. Or, you know, like an idiot Australian underwear model who will probably be having sex with Mabel tonight. I scowl.

“Are you okay?”

I blink out of my haze and dart my eyes to Sav. She and Claire are both staring at me with furrowed brows. Awesome. I’m a spectacle again. They must think I’m so strange.

“Yep. Great. I just...I have to pee. Bye.”

I stand quickly and walk in the direction of the bathroom before either of them can say anything else, but instead ofturning down the hall to the bathrooms, I take the stairs that lead to the lower level. I don’t consciously make the decision. I’m running on autopilot and adrenaline.

As soon as my ballet flats hit the floor, I point them toward the spot where I last saw Mabel. The spot where that massive giant of a man was feeling her up. With his hands and his mouth and probablyotherappendages as well.

I clench my fists and weave through bodies, bumping and being bumped. Thankfully, I don’t have to go far before the catalyst for my surging emotions pops up in front of me.

Ugh. And she’s all sparkling with sweat and her hair is mussed and her face is flushed and she’s just...hot. The thought brings on a jolt of confusion, but I can’t focus on it through the haze ofotherfeelings. I’m a mess, and she’s so damn hot, and I hate all of it. It’s dumb.

I check behind Mabel, but there’s no attractive behemoth Australian. There’s probably a security guard trailing her, but I don’t bother trying to pick him out. I don’t care about him. Just ol’ Mr. Handsy Hands with the suction snail lips.

“Hey! Did you come back to dance?”

Her question is shouted over the music, drawing my attention back to her face. When my gaze locks with hers, she must see something in my expression because her smile drops, and she steps closer.

“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

“I thought you liked women.”

Her eyes widen, and she blinks a few times. I should apologize, but for the life of me, I can’t remember how at the moment.

“What?”

“That giant man was feeling you up and kissed you on your neck, and you let him, and I thought you liked women. Right? But he’s not a woman. He’s very much a man.”