Elite (Eagle Elite #1)(9)

“Cool, huh?” Monroe nudged me. “Let’s get something to drink.”

I followed her to the food and couldn’t close my mouth even if I wanted to. Everything was in ice. And I mean everything. Tons of desserts I’d never seen before were placed on and around ice sculptures. Toward the end of the table was a type of blue waterfall with glasses lined around it.

“Elixir of the gods,” Monroe yelled above the music. She had two plates in hand and had piled on pieces of chocolate-covered fruit and desserts in no time. We made our way toward the blue stuff. She picked up two champagne glasses and filled them full.

Maybe it was some sort of punch?

We found a table and sat.

“Try it.” She pointed to the punch and grinned.

It looked harmless. I took a big swig and began coughing wildly.

“What? They don’t have alcohol in Wyoming?” An irritating voice said from behind me.

The four Elect were standing right next to our table. Each of them smiling at my misfortune.

“Yes, but when you drink underage you get arrested, smart ass.” I put the glass down and grabbed a chocolate-covered strawberry. At least I knew that was safe.

“There is no law here,” Nixon said, pulling out the chair on my other side. “And if there was a law, I’d be the sheriff, judge, and jury.”

“Good for you.”

I knew the rules. I patted him on the arm anyway.

Much to Monroe’s amusement. She chuckled next to me.

Tex held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

Monroe blushed and took his hand. “Don’t kill my brother, Trace.”

“I will try to control my urges.” I saluted.

“Oh, I wish you wouldn’t.” Chase plopped down next to me and smirked.

“Leave!” Nixon yelled this. Both Phoenix and Chase left the table.

“Why’d you do that?” I gave him a pointed look.

“Because he shouldn’t be flirting with you.” Nixon shrugged and plucked a strawberry off my plate.

I felt myself blush. “He wasn’t flirting.”

“Yes, he was.” Nixon stole another strawberry.

“No.” I smacked his hand sending the strawberry to the floor. “He wasn’t. He was just being nice, you should try it.”

“Sweetheart, I can be nice to you. Believe me. I can be so nice you won’t know what hit you. But is that what you really want? For me to be nice?” His breath smelled like strawberries as it trickled across my face. I licked my lips and forced myself to look away from his piercing gaze.

“Here.” He held out a strawberry in his hand.

I reached for it, but he pulled back. “Tsk, tsk. Allow me.”

He held it out again. I groaned and leaned forward.

“Open.”

“No.” I grit my teeth.

“Then no strawberry.”

“I think I’ll survive.” I jerked away from him and stood. His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

“Sit.”

I did.

“I don’t want to make your life hell. You know that, right? I don’t want you to cry to sleep every night or curse me every morning. Know that you make your own choices. You create your own destiny. And baby, I have the keys. So either play by my rules, or don’t. The choice is yours.”

“Why does it matter anyways? Either way I could never trust you.”

His eyes flickered before he broke his gaze with mine. “Trust is like love. It doesn’t exist. It’s a fairytale society feed us in order to get us to conform. I don’t expect you to trust me. I expect you to follow the rules. Rules keep you safe.”

“And if I don’t?”

He stood and dropped the strawberry on the plate. “Then you will be forcing my hand, and the last thing I want is to hear stories from my sister about how you cry yourself to sleep every damn night just because you couldn’t follow a few simple guidelines.”

I swallowed. “Fine.”

He smirked and straightened his tie. “I knew we’d understand one another… eventually.”

“I’m not agreeing with you. I just knew that would be the quickest way to get you to leave.”

Nixon was deathly silent and then he reached up and touched my cheek. I fought against every instinct to slap him. My treacherous body was starved for touch, for attention. I missed my grandma. I missed my grandpa. I wanted someone to hug me and tell me what to do. But I was alone.

I shuddered.

“Dance with me,” he commanded.

I opened my mouth to deny him, but he was already leading me toward the dance floor.

People gaped as a slow song came on and Nixon pulled me into his arms. He didn’t say much. Neither did I. Instead, I began to shake because I knew. I knew it had already begun. I challenged him and he was going to make me pay. He was going to make my life hell. I didn’t know how or when, but I knew he would strike, and it would be where it hurt most.

Right when I began to relax, just as the song was coming to an end, Nixon pushed me away. I stumbled but otherwise stayed on my feet.

The music stopped.

Great.

“What?” Nixon yelled and then laughed. “Are you insane?”

Clueless, I looked around me then back at him.