The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (41)

While the coast was clear, I quickly flipped open the note.



Once upon a puppet, she remembered her limits and stayed away from Jameson.

-The Peer



I wondered if he’d meant whiskey or his cousin. Either way, the translation was the same: Don’t get drunk, and don’t cause trouble. My face heated as I inhaled and exhaled at a faster tempo. He hadn’t spoken a word to me since yesterday morning, and when he finally did, it was to order me around? My gaze returned to the balcony, and when I held his, I tore the paper to bits and let it rain onto the dance floor. Later, I’d feel bad about trashing someone’s home, but right now, the only thing I cared about was teaching the King of Brynwood a lesson.

Vaughn had an actual bar that one of our classmates was tending like a real bartender, so I made that my first stop.

“What will you have?”

“Something strong!” I shouted over the music.

He nodded and set about fixing me a drink. What he handed back looked like water with a lime. I gave him a suspicious look before taking a sip. It was definitely strong…and disgusting.

Taste didn’t matter as long as it got me wasted.

Before I could disappear into the crowd, my gaze was drawn back to Ever. Barbie now stood by his side, looking cover-ready in a long-sleeve mini sequined dress. With a snort, I realized the color matched Ever’s tie.

She was tall and prim.

Stainless.

In her gold heels, she almost stood shoulder to shoulder with Ever. Together, they looked like the perfect power couple. Ken and Barbie.

I drank and danced until that fact didn’t bother me.

I drank and danced until nothing bothered me.

I drank and danced until I couldn’t drink and dance.

Or so I thought.

Two girls carrying a two-tiered cake surrounded by sparklers approached the birthday boy, and Vaughn called for everyone to sing. When the candles died, Barbie did the honor of feeding him his first bite, and no amount of alcohol would ever help me unsee it.

Tyra placed a hand on my shoulder, drawing my attention away from the lovebirds. I think I’m going to be sick. “We can bail if you want.”

I didn’t dwell on if Tyra was observant or I was just being obvious as we made for the front door. Tyra had stayed sober, and it was a really good thing because I was having trouble walking on my own.

“Jesus!” she fussed when I stumbled.

“Sowy,” I slurred as sincerely as I could.

“I suppose you needed the fun,” she grumbled.

Watching Ever be fed birthday cake by his pretty, polished Barbie doll was not fun. I wanted to scrub my eyeballs with bleach and a Brillo pad.

I was slurring some version of another apology when I stumbled again. This time, it looked as if I was going down and taking poor Tyra with me. Oh, man, this is gonna suck. The ground started to get closer. I braced myself for the humiliation and hoped I was too drunk to care, but then I felt strong hands holding me up. I was turned and held against a hard chest as even stronger arms wrapped around my waist. Ever became a furnace, protecting me against the chilly night.

“I’m going to spank your ass,” he growled into my ear.

I shivered despite his body heat, and when I peeked up, his regal features were twisted. I burst into a fit of giggles. Maybe I shouldn’t have drunk so much. He growled some more, and then my feet were no longer on the ground.

“Put me down, Mc-Na-ma.” He winced when I butchered his name, but then his jaw hardened when I said, “You’ll get your hands dirty.”

“Shut up,” he barked.

I did shut up but only because of what caught my eye as he carried me away. It seemed Vaughn had saved a wide-eyed Tyra from falling. He still held her in his arms while she stared at him as if he’d grown a second head. Behind them, Barbie stood in the doorway watching us leave together.

I shook Ever’s shoulder, and he bent his head slightly so I could whisper in his ear. “Your girlfriend’s looking,” I warned and then choked on my laugh.

He shook his head and didn’t speak another word as he buckled me into the Range Rover. I fell asleep during the short drive home and woke up to him carrying me up the stairs. Lifting my head, I studied him. Even through my blurred vision I could tell that he was pissed.

“You’re mad at me.” I pouted. Oh, God, was I still drunk?

He kept his gaze straight ahead as he headed for my room. “What was your first clue?”

Tonight was as much his fault as it was mine. He pushed, so I pushed back. Round and round we went. “You shouldn’t order me around.”

He did look at me then, his voice soft when he spoke. “I can’t help it.”

Feeling sleepy and strangely content, I sighed and rested my head against his shoulder. “Try.”

“No.” He didn’t even attempt to consider it.

“Why not?”

“Because I like it too much.” Inside my room, he laid me on my back and knelt to peel my sneakers off my feet. When he moved to the button on my jeans, I panicked and grabbed his hands.

“Relax.” His tone was gentle, but I knew better than to think that it was anything but an order.

Too curious and drunk to fight him, I did as I was told and let him work my jeans over my butt and down my legs. It was impossible not to blush when his eyes fell on my simple, gray cotton panties, and he fingered the material.