Chapter 156

Remember that little thing I said about being a brat? Well, that didn't change, even when tipsy. So, when I was ordered not to move, of course, I moved.

I stumbled back to the party, then to my table, throwing myself down next to Ronan.

"Where did you disappear to?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the pounding music.

"Outside," I said, blinking rapidly to adjust to the darkness and flickering disco lights. "How do you do this every week?"

"What?" he shouted.

"I said," I yelled back, "How do you do this every week?"

"It's fun!" Ronan flashed his trademark golden-retriever grin, and I shook my head. It wasn't. I guess it could be with the right company, but Ronan and his druggie friends weren't it.

I watched as Ronan left the table, heading straight for the blonde girl on the dance floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, and I turned away in disgust. My little brother had grown up fast—so fast. The word "brother" sent me spiraling into a rage; thoughts of Alex marrying Mia instantly hurt me.

My phone buzzed; Luca's name flashed on the screen. Despite my better judgment, I declined his call.

The man I had kissed—or, more accurately, who had kissed me—caught my eye across the crowd. Gritting my teeth, I watched as he approached. I guess one kick wasn't enough.

"Hey," he began sheepishly. "About that kiss…"

"Can't hear you!" I screamed, ready to leave. Men could be so creepy sometimes. But when I tried to stand, he didn't budge. I stumbled, and his hand shot out to steady me, his touch lingering on my waist.

Before I could tell him off again, another hand wrapped around his neck. My stomach flipped when I saw Luca. Despite the tiredness in his eyes, they shone brightly in the dark. Taller than the blonde man, Luca leaned in, whispering something in his ear without breaking eye contact with me.

Gritting my teeth, I snaked my hand around the blonde's arm. "This is Chad. My date for the night," I told Luca, feigning confidence. "Go away."

"It's Lucas, actually," Chad nervously chuckled. "And I'm sorry, I didn't know you have a boyfriend."

My eyes narrowed. "He's not my boyfriend."

Chad didn't reply, quickly disentangling himself before scrambling away. I scoffed at my hot, tattooed boss.

"What're you doing here?" I demanded, crossing my arms. But instead of sounding stern, my speech slurred.

"I'm saving you from making a mistake you'll regret," Luca hissed, his voice cutting through the music.

"You don't know me well enough to know what I'll regret," I argued. "Maybe this is just me. I get drunk in clubs and wake up in strangers' beds."

Luca seemed offended on my behalf. "No, you fucking don't."

"Maybe I do," I stubbornly replied. "I woke up in yours."

"Yes, only mine."

His jaw clenched as he stepped forward, and before I could process it, he scooped me into his arms, bridal style. My eyes widened as the club spun. I wriggled. "What're you doing, you tyrant? Let me go!"

Instead of releasing me, his grip tightened until I stopped struggling, wrapping my arms around his neck for support. He carried me out of the chaotic blaze, leaving behind the blasting music and the stench of alcohol and sweat.

I blinked in the outside light, adjusting to the sight of his handsome face—the face I hadn't seen in a week.

"Stop pinching my cheeks, Aurora," Luca said without looking at me. I realized I had been doing it while admiring him.

I pouted, a pang of jealousy twisting inside me at the thought of another woman in his arms. "Okay," I grumbled, looking away and retracting my hands.

The world spun again when he tossed me into the backseat of his car. The alcohol surged up my throat, and I gulped it back down, focusing on my breathing. I couldn't throw up in Luca's expensive car. I couldn't throw up in Luca's car. In Luca's car. I was in Luca's car.

"Where are you taking me?!" Reality hit me like a cold splash. His eyes met mine from the driver's seat, rage flickering in them.

"To my house."

"Why?"

"To make sure no fucking idiot takes you to theirs."

I pouted and threw myself back against the seat, focusing on my breathing until the car stopped. Luca got out, and before I knew it, I was being pulled out too.

"We're at another club!" I grinned, recognizing the one where Luca and I had first met.

"Yes. I'm taking you upstairs."

"To the penthouse?" My eyes narrowed. "I thought that was a hotel room!"

"I own the hotel, Aurora." Luca's grip on my arm tightened as he dragged me into the lobby and then into a private lift. I realized then how little I knew about my boss.

"You own hotels too," I muttered, rubbing my arm where he had clutched me.

When the lift doors opened, I stepped out. "You know, you don't have any right to bring me here!"

"Don't I?" Luca followed me. "I made it perfectly clear no man was touching you until you gave me an answer."

"No, you didn't," I argued. "You said if I accepted your offer, you would be the only man who gets to touch me."

"And?"

"And?" I looked at him, standing my ground. "I'm not accepting your offer."

"I see." Luca crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.

"Yes." I flipped my hair back, trying to muster the confidence I didn't feel being alone with him again. "So, now that you have your answer, I can go back to the club and leave with whoever I like."

I was bluffing; I wasn't going home with anyone. I was going to call a cab and head straight to my apartment.

"Over my dead body," he gritted. "You're too drunk. Change and get into bed."

"Okay," I replied, turning away to unzip my dress.

"What do you think you're doing?" Luca's voice halted me.

"You just asked me to change. I'm changing."

"Here?"

"It's nothing you haven't seen."

The dress pooled at my feet, and I turned to face him in my green lingerie, matching perfectly with his green eyes. If I wasn't drunk, I might have been flustered, but instead, I looked him straight in the eye. "What should I change into?"

Luca's gaze burned into me, his breath heavy as he took a step closer. "Nothing," he whispered, the word hanging between us like a challenge.

Before I could react, he closed the distance, his hand reaching out to brush a lock of hair from my face. His voice was low, dangerously soft. "You're playing with fire, Aurora. But let me remind you—fire burns."