He grinned, thrusting the glass out to him. Dylan took it, but he didn't want to drink. He wanted this man to understand what she meant to him. "It's so much more than dating. She..." Lights up my whole world.

The man's smile faded. "Well, you're freshmen in college. You just met..."

Dylan shook his head. "It's not like either of us wanted it. But it happened, I found her, and...I'm in." Well, he was trying his damnedest anyhow. And even if he wouldn't get to keep her, he knew in his heart, in his gut, she was the one for him.

By the time Dylan had showered off his day of travel, changed his clothes-not that he knew what to wear to an underage club in New York City-and made it downstairs, Nicole's friends had probably been waiting a good twenty minutes.

Hearing the laughter and conversation, he stopped midway down the stairs, as the group came into sight. Jesus, when Nicole dressed up she looked like a movie star. At the airport, she'd worn tight jeans, fancy snow boots, and her yellow parka. He was used to seeing her in regular clothes. But tonight? With make-up, deep red lipstick, and glittering diamonds in her ears and around her throat, she looked sophisticated. A true beauty. But it was her dress that blew him away. A rich, deep blue, it tied around her neck, perfectly cupping her breasts and highlighting the feminine slope of her shoulders. The skirt flared below the waist.

She was stunning and, at that moment, completely preoccupied with her friends. He couldn't take his eyes off her as he continued down the stairs. Just then the door opened and a tall, lean guy walked in. He stumbled a bit, but they were too busy talking and laughing to notice. Jonathan?

He was decent-looking, with his shaggy dark hair and soul patch. His tight-fitting black pants and clunky-soled shoes gave him a hipster look.

The guy got a bead on Nicole, whose back was to the door, and he moved in fast. He put his hands on her hips and then leaned in. His chest pressed up to Nicole's back, and Nicole just stood there, smiling, giving him her cheek.

As if someone had tossed a match at his feet, Dylan lit up. No fucking way. In a rush of anger, he raced down the stairs and to her side.

"Hey," he said, to her and to the dickwad who thought it was okay to put his hands on his girl.

She stepped away from the fucktard immediately.

"Hey." She touched his cheek, and just like that his anger melted into a puddle. All the glittering lights, the noise, the overdressed people, disappeared in that one, intense moment that made his pulse gallop and his heart expand.

Her hand left his face, traveled down his arm, and slid around his waist. "You guys, this is Dylan McCaffrey."

The last thing he wanted to do was meet her friends. He wanted to pull the tie at the back of her neck, lower the fabric to expose her spectacular breasts. He wanted to run his hands up her smooth thighs under that skirt and feel how badly she wanted him. And he could tell from the flush on her cheeks, the brightness in her eyes, and the firmness of her grip, that she wanted him just as much. If they were anywhere else, he'd take her in the bathroom right then.

"And this is Gina," she was saying.

He came alert at the name because that was her best friend. So, he smiled at the girl-woman-er, vixen. Holy shit, the girl was smoking hot. Total sex kitten. In a dress wrapped around her like an Ace bandage, she showcased every outrageous curve. Her half-lidded gaze made her look like she wanted him.

"So this is Mr. Hot Sexy Pants." Gina's voice was a throaty purr. "You're absolutely delicious. No wonder she's still with you."

The smile slid off his face. What the fuck did that mean? He looked at Nicole.

"She's been there for our highs and lows," she said quietly.

"Hey." The shithead thrust a hand out. "Jonathan."

Dylan's firm grip held a warning.

"Okay, let's get out of here," she said. "The car's waiting."

She led the group to the door, holding his hand the whole way. But then Jonathan opened a closet by the front door, pulled a long, thick scarf off a hook, and shook it out for her. She turned her back to him, and he draped it around her shoulders.

Dylan swallowed back his anger. Not going to ruin her evening, but this fucker was not going to be happy with the way things went down tonight if he kept acting like she was still his.

Once she was bundled, Dylan put his arm around her, drawing her near. Her honeysuckle scent wafted up from the soft fabric.

"Ready?" she said.

"Lead the way."

Dylan sat on a bar stool, his girl standing between his legs. Everyone drank either sodas or San Pellegrinos with wedges of lime. Conversation went on around him, but he kept quiet. They talked about people they knew, vacations they'd just taken, and what they'd gotten for Christmas.

The only thing he'd gotten was a gram of weed and a bottle of Jack from Kelsi and a University of Colorado at Boulder sweatshirt from his mom. He and Nicole had agreed not to exchange gifts, but she'd stuffed all kinds of little presents into his duffle bag. Each time he'd reached inside for some underwear or socks, he'd heard the crinkle of wrapping paper. Nothing expensive, just cute things. A book-the retelling of Star Wars through Shakespeare's voice, a bag of nuts and raisins, a couple protein bars, and a plastic keychain with a picture of their Sweet Treats logo.

"Who's down?" Jonathan held a flask in each hand. He shook one. "Vodka." And then the other. "Jack."

"I've got Coke, so I'll take the Jack," one of the girls said.

"I'll take vodka," someone else said.

Jonathan poured a good amount in each glass. Then, he got to Dylan. "What'll it be?"

He shook his head. "I'm good, thanks."

"Oh, come on. It's a party. I know you want some." His gaze slid to Nicole. The fucker.

"Actually, I don't. But thanks." He pulled Nicole tighter to him.

"You're seriously going to let her pussy whip you like this?" Jonathan might have talked to him, but he watched Nicole the whole time.

"I thought you wanted to get her back, you ass." Gina stepped into the circle they made and shoved him.

Jonathan stumbled back, knocking into the person behind him. He kept that stupid laugh going until he straightened, then took another swig from each flask. "Taste testing." And then he leaned toward Dylan, tipping the flask over his glass.

"Cut it out, Jonathan," Nicole said quietly. "He said he didn't want any."

"Look at him. He's a big, bad ass. No one tells him what to do." He sneered at Dylan. "You gonna let her lead you around by your dick?"

"I don't make him do anything," Nicole said.

"Why's it so important to you?" Dylan shrugged.

"You're being such an asshole," Gina said to Jonathan.

"And please stop thinking about my dick," Dylan said. "It makes me uncomfortable." Everyone stopped and stared at him, and then they burst out laughing.

"Come on, let's dance." Gina made a grab for Nicole.

She turned to him, lifting up on her toes so their faces were close. It was such an intimate gesture, it made him go all caveman, wanting to throw her over his shoulder and drag her back to his lair. "Dance with me?" she asked.

Cupping her chin and holding her gaze, he said, "No."

"Please-"

"Don't dance. Nonnegotiable. Now go have fun."

She pressed her mouth to his, and then pulled away. But she didn't go. She sighed, her gaze dropping to his lips. He smiled, and then Gina tugged her and she disappeared into the crowd.

An hour later, Dylan watched a very drunk Jonathan come up behind his girl and start grinding on her. That's it. He pushed off the barstool and drove into the crowded dance floor.

Yanking the asshole off, he gave him a hard shove. Nicole watched in horror as her ex stumbled back, circled his arms, and then fell down, clearing a space on the dance floor.

She didn't go to him. Gina didn't, either. Two of the others did, crouching beside him.

"Is he hurt?" Nicole slid her arm through Dylan's.

"No."

"Good, then let's get out of here."

"You want something to drink?" Spending nine bucks for a glass of water pissed him off, but she'd danced pretty hard for a solid hour. She needed to hydrate.

She shook her head, leading him off the dance floor. They wound through tables until she stopped against a painted concrete wall. He wrapped his arms around her, then turned so his back was to the rough surface. Didn't want to hurt her bare skin or tear the filmy skirt of the dress.

"Fun night, huh?" he asked.

Tears pooled in her eyes. "I hate when he's like this." She sounded apologetic. "He's been egging you on all night."

"He's drunk. He doesn't know what he's doing."

"I'm so sorry we went out tonight. It's your first night in town. I wish we'd stayed home and just been alone."

"Why didn't we?"

"We'd planned it before I knew you were coming, and my friends have been so good to me this whole break."

"Because of me?"

She nodded.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. I just...I didn't know what was going on."

"We talked every day." It wasn't like he'd dumped her.

"Not for the last two days."

"Those were the best two days of my life-minus the not talking to you. But getting my mom taken care of? Huge."

That got a smile out of her. "Huge. But when I stopped hearing from you, I didn't know-I thought maybe you were partying."

"I told you I stopped."

She rolled her eyes. "I know, but..."

He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "No buts. When I say something I mean it."

She held his gaze, and it took a moment for her to finally smile and relax against him. "Okay." Her hands scraped through his hair, and she got up on her toes to reach his ear. "Let's go home."

He squeezed her hips. "Yes."

"Um, one thing. You should probably know we can't do anything with my dad and brothers around."

"Don't worry about it."

"Oh." She sounded disappointed. "You're not going to try anything?"

He smirked. Like he could keep his hands off her. "Oh, I'll try."

"With my dad around?" She looked worried.

"You act like I don't find you irresistible or something."

She gave him a dazzling smile.

"Sunshine, nothing will keep me from you. Nothing."

"Okay, then." She pulled away from him, reaching for his hand. "Let's get out of here."

"What about your friends?"

"They'll want to stay." She glanced briefly to the dance floor.

"Okay, you go tell them what we're up to. I'll find Jonathan."

"Jonathan? Why?"

"He's pretty messed up."

"So? It's his fault. He does this all the time."

"Sunshine, where I come from, we don't leave anyone behind. If I don't think he's capable of getting home on his own-"

"He'll go home with Gina."

"Come on, you know as well as I do the trouble he can get into in his condition. How many times has he not gone home with his friends?"

"A lot." She worried her bottom lip with two fingers. "Yeah, okay. I don't want him with us, but you're right." She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. "You're pretty amazing."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.