Chapter 4

Chapter 4: A Defender's Stand and a Jealous Pang

Lucian's hand was still gripping mine when I felt his body tense. A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as he leaned in closer, causing my heart to skip several beats.

"Your heartbeat... it's racing," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.

I couldn't move, couldn't speak. This close to him, I noticed details I'd never seen before – like the small mole at the corner of his lips, barely visible unless you were inches away. The scent of his cologne surrounded me, woodsy and intoxicating.

When he finally removed his blindfold, his playful smile vanished the instant his eyes locked with mine. The warmth in his expression cooled to ice so quickly it was like watching a flame extinguished.

"You?" he said flatly.

He dropped my hand like it burned him and stepped back. The crowd erupted in laughter, some pointing at me, others whispering behind their hands.

My cheeks flushed hot with humiliation. I wanted to disappear, to sink into the floor and vanish from his piercing gaze.

"I didn't mean to—" I started to say, but my voice faltered.

"Well, that's a mood killer," someone called out, triggering another wave of laughter.

I took a step back, desperate to escape, when a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"I invited her."

Caleb Monroe emerged from the crowd, his expression stern as he came to stand beside me. His presence was like a shield, and I felt a rush of gratitude wash over me.

"She's my guest," Caleb added firmly.

Lucian's eyes narrowed as they shifted from me to Caleb. "Since when do you hang out with nerds, Monroe?"

"Since I realized intelligence is more attractive than arrogance," Caleb shot back, his voice level but challenging.

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut. People had stopped dancing, all eyes now on the confrontation between the two guys. I wanted to shrink into myself, to become invisible.

"You know," Lucian started, taking a step closer to Caleb, "I always thought you had better taste."

Before Caleb could respond, Elias Sterling – one of Lucian's friends – stepped between them.

"Easy, guys," Elias said, placing a hand on Lucian's bare shoulder. "It's a party, remember? Good music, drinks, hot people... let's not ruin it with testosterone."

Lucian held Caleb's gaze for a moment longer before his eyes flicked to me. Something unreadable flashed across his face, too quick for me to identify. Then he shrugged, turned away, and rejoined his group of friends.

"Sorry about that," Caleb said quietly, turning to me. "I didn't think he'd make such a scene."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault. I shouldn't have come."

"Don't say that," Caleb frowned. "You have every right to be here. Don't let Thorne make you feel otherwise."

But I did feel otherwise. I felt like an intruder, a misfit among these beautiful, confident people. Caleb was kind to defend me, but his kindness only highlighted how much I didn't belong.

"I'm going to get a drink," I told him. "You should go back to your friends."

He hesitated. "You sure you'll be okay?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "I'll be fine."

After Caleb reluctantly left, I found a relatively quiet corner of the room and sank onto a plush couch. From here, I could see Vivienne dancing with a guy I didn't recognize, her face alight with laughter. She caught my eye and waved enthusiastically. I managed a small wave back.

The music thumped through the floor, vibrating up through the couch and into my bones. I watched the partygoers – drinking, dancing, flirting – and wondered what it felt like to be so carefree, so confident in your skin.

My eyes, betraying me, drifted toward Lucian. He was leaning against the bar now, surrounded by his usual crowd. Despite the many beautiful girls trying to capture his attention, his gaze seemed unfocused, distracted. Then something caught his eye.

I followed his line of sight to a girl by the pool. She wore a tiny white bikini that left little to the imagination, her golden skin glowing under the pool lights. She was stunning, the kind of girl who turned heads wherever she went.

Bianca Summers. Of course.

As if feeling his gaze on her, Bianca turned toward Lucian and smiled – a slow, deliberate curve of her lips that was pure invitation. She walked to the edge of the pool, her movements graceful and seductive, then dove in with barely a splash.

When she surfaced, she pushed her wet hair back from her face and locked eyes with Lucian, who was now watching her with undisguised interest. The message was clear: come and get me.

A familiar smirk appeared on Lucian's face – the one that promised sin and pleasure in equal measure. He handed his drink to Gareth, kicked off his shoes, and strode toward the pool.

I couldn't look away, though every cell in my body ached to do so. There was something painful about watching him, about seeing the desire clear on his face as he approached Bianca.

"Aria? You okay?"

I jumped at the sound of Isabelle's voice. She settled beside me on the couch, her expression concerned.

"I'm fine," I lied, tearing my eyes away from the pool scene.

"You don't look fine. You look like someone just stole your puppy."

I forced a laugh. "Just tired. Parties aren't really my thing."

"Is this about what happened with Lucian? Because he's a jerk to everyone, so don't take it personally."

"It's not that," I insisted, though it was partly that. "I'm just not good at... this." I gestured vaguely to the party around us.

Isabelle followed my earlier gaze toward the pool, where Lucian was now standing at the edge, talking to Bianca who swam lazy circles around him, clearly enjoying his attention.

"Oh," Isabelle said softly. "I see."

"See what?" I asked too quickly.

She gave me a knowing look. "You're not the first girl to fall for his bad-boy charm, you know. But trust me, he's not worth the heartache."

"I haven't fallen for anything," I protested. "I barely know him."

"Good. Keep it that way." Isabelle squeezed my hand. "Come dance with us instead. It'll be fun, I promise."

Before I could answer, a commotion broke out by the pool. Lucian had finally accepted Bianca's invitation and jumped into the water. They were close now, her arms around his neck, his hands on her waist. Their bodies moved together in the water, a dance far more intimate than anything happening on the actual dance floor.

Something twisted in my chest at the sight – a sharp, unexpected pain that caught me off guard. I didn't understand why it bothered me so much. Lucian Thorne wasn't anything to me. He was arrogant, cruel, and clearly out of my league in every possible way.

Yet I couldn't deny the ache that spread through my chest as I watched Bianca reach up and trace her finger along the mole I had noticed earlier on his lip. The same mole I had been close enough to see when he held me during that stupid game.

"I think I need some air," I said abruptly, standing up.

Isabelle looked concerned. "Want me to come with you?"

I shook my head. "No, stay and have fun. I'll be back in a bit."

As I made my way toward the patio doors, I glanced back at the pool one last time. Lucian had Bianca pressed against the pool wall now, his head bent close to hers. I couldn't see his face, but I could imagine the smirk that would be there – predatory, confident, knowing he'd caught his prey for the night.

The ache in my chest intensified, and I hurried outside, gulping the cool night air.

What was wrong with me? Why did I care who Lucian Thorne flirted with or took to his bed? He'd made it abundantly clear what he thought of me. The memory of his face when he removed the blindfold – the way his smile had dropped, replaced by cold disdain – should have been enough to kill any attraction I might have felt.

But standing there under the stars, I couldn't lie to myself anymore. There was something about him that drew me in, despite every rational thought telling me to stay away. Maybe it was the glimpse of gentleness I'd felt in his touch before he knew it was me. Maybe it was the way his eyes sometimes held a depth that contradicted his playboy image.

Or maybe I was just another foolish girl, destined to have her heart broken by Lucian Thorne.

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the mild night. The music from inside thumped on, a jarring counterpoint to the quiet of the garden where I stood alone.

This wasn't like me. I didn't pine after unobtainable guys. I didn't get jealous over people I barely knew. I was practical, focused on my studies and keeping my head down until graduation.

Yet here I was, my heart aching over a boy who would never look at me the way he looked at Bianca.

"This is stupid," I whispered to myself, wiping away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen. "Get it together, Aria."

I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. I would go back inside, find Vivienne, and tell her I was ready to leave. I would forget this night ever happened. I would forget the feel of Lucian's hands on my face, the sound of his laugh before he knew it was me he'd caught.

I would forget the inexplicable pain I felt watching him with Bianca.

As I turned to head back inside, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the glass doors – the same plain, unremarkable girl I'd always been. The girl no one noticed. The girl Lucian Thorne had looked at with such disappointment.

For the first time in my life, I found myself wishing I could be someone else. Someone beautiful and confident. Someone worthy of a second glance.

Someone like Bianca.

The thought startled me with its intensity, and I pushed it away immediately. No. I wouldn't go down that path. I was Aria Calloway, and I wouldn't change for anyone – especially not for a boy who couldn't see beyond appearances.

With renewed determination, I walked back into the party, the bass-heavy music enveloping me once more. But despite my resolution, I couldn't stop my eyes from seeking him out one last time.

Lucian was still in the pool with Bianca, his attention fully captured by the beautiful girl in his arms. And though I told myself I didn't care, the ache in my heart said otherwise.