Page 15 of Your Biggest Downfall
This is how I’d hang out with Luna... right?
His gaze locked onto mine, and the air between us crackled with tension. I could barely breathe as he moved even closer, his body almost brushing against mine. My heart raced, and I was acutely aware of every inch of him, every subtle movement.
“Have a drink with me. Loosen up,” he insisted.
My body was nodding in agreement before I could voice my insistence that I didn’t need anything, and sure enough, he’d poured me a shot, pouring another for himself.
“Open your mouth wide. Suck it down and then bite the lime,” he said, coaching me.
God, if this was how he acted with a fucking shot...
“Okay.” I nodded and then lifted the shot to my lips.
“Wait.” He reached out, his fingers grazing my arm, making the hairs on my arm stand up. “You have to look me in the eye when you take a shot.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. I don’t make the rules.” The corners of his lips twisted into a grin.
“Fine,” I huffed.
I stared at him, feeling the heat from the drink go down as I kept my eyes locked on his. He did the same, his gaze intense and unwavering, the tension between us undeniable.
His eyes burned into me, and my skin tingled. The anticipation was electric, and every second felt charged with excitement.
“The lime,” he reminded me as the burning pain made its way down my throat.
I grabbed the lime from the countertop and shoved it in my mouth, biting down as he told me to. The tangy citrus burst on my tongue, cutting through the harshness of the alcohol.
He watched me, his eyes darkening with something primal, something that made my pulse quicken. His fingers still rested lightly on my arm, the touch both gentle and possessive. Heat radiated from his body, and the scent of him—chamomile tea and something woodsy—filled my senses.
“That’s it,” he said softly, his voice a low rumble that sent a thrill through me. “You did good.”
“Thanks,” I managed to say, my voice sounding breathless even to my own ears.
He leaned in closer, his face inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. “You’re a quick learner. I like that.”
I swallowed hard, every nerve ending in my body on high alert. Is this how alcohol worked? All of a sudden I was loose andexcited, my tongue somehow not understanding the red flags my brain was trying to signal to it. “What else can you teach me?”
His grin widened, and his eyes glinted with a wicked light. “Oh, I have a few ideas.”
The tension was almost unbearable, every part of me hyperaware of his subtle movements and quiet breaths. It pulled me back to last year, that night on the hotel couch when Austin almost kissed me.
The spark between us was undeniable, but I reminded myself of the pact we’d made. Friends. That’s what we were supposed to be. I pushed the thought away, brushing off his flirting as nothing more than part of the friendship we’d always had—like how Luna could be crass with me sometimes. I convinced myself this was all in my head.
“I cannot fucking believe this is social media Nova.” Jeremy cut through my thoughts, and I welcomed the distraction.
“In the flesh,” I responded.
“Yeah, but you’re all tatted up and shit. I didn’t realize what a badass you were.” He pulled me into a hug.
I giggled. “Thanks. I don’t think I’m that badass, but I appreciate it.”
Jeremy went around the corner and grabbed two beers from the cooler. He passed me one.
“Beer before liquor will get you sicker, liquor before beer you’re in the clear.”
I had no idea what he meant but was grateful it wasn’t another shot.
