me look like a hot commodity. I backed away, but then froze as Reese took the Narco’s place.
The club suddenly felt ice cold as the blood drained from the top half of my body. His hands hesitantly clasped my waist, but he kept a small distance between us. There was no warmth—no Narco power emanating from him. I urged my heart to calm as I closed the gap, molding my body into his embrace. He took a sharp breath.
Reese kept his head forward, eyes trained on something…other than me. Fine. I swallowed my pride and rested my head against his shoulder. His body stiffened.
My mind reeled, but I had to think of something to say. “How’re you liking the Academy?” Lame. But I was only trying to break the ice shield around him.
He huffed. “It’s all right.” He swayed us back and forth, but didn’t say anything else.
I timidly ran my hands along his back, reveling in the feel of his muscles beneath his leather jacket. I squeezed my eyes shut. “Reese…”
“Don’t.” He drew away from me a little.
“Then why are you dancing with me?” I looked into his eyes. They were still focused away from me.
He gritted his teeth, a muscle feathered his jaw. “You’re a good dancer.”
“Bull.” I shook my head. “At least give me the chance to expl—”
“Explain?” Reese finally looked at me, his eyes fire red. “I know what your explanation is, Dez. Jace kissed you, you didn’t see it coming, you panicked.”
“Yes. I panicked.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“So you kissed him back?” he said, his eyes glowing fiercely. “I saw the way you kissed him. No matter what, I knew Jace was my competition. I just thought we had something.” He turned his head away from me, his lips pressed in a hard line.
I opened and closed my mouth, my words dying on my tongue. I had kissed Jace back. I still didn’t understand why, other than I’d been caught off guard and I had panicked. But I couldn’t repeat Reese’s excuse back to him.
He stopped dancing and took a step away from me. “This was a bad idea.” He turned to go, but before he left, he added, “You and Jace make a cute couple.” Then he stormed off the dance floor, leaving me speechless and shaken.
So that was it. One mess up from me and everything between us was over. I hugged my waist as I inched through the horde of dancers. I pressed my back to the mirrored wall, hiding behind the filter of steam. Being raised by the Narcos, Reese’s pride had won out. He really was one of them, after all.
I slipped off the dance floor and out of the club. I wanted to run back to the Academy, but I knew Jace would freak if I disappeared. God, I hated that I could never do what I wanted, when I wanted.
Anger burned in my chest, replacing my guilt. I hadn’t meant to hurt Reese, but he wouldn’t give me the chance to redeem myself. His stubbornness infuriated me, boiling deep in the pit of my stomach. I marched back into the club and searched for him.
Reese was talking with his Narco buddies along the far wall. He wanted to play cruel and callous guy…fine. He had that Narco act down. But I was part Narco, too.
I took off toward him, ready to tell him off right in the middle of Cogs. He’d hear my side whether he wanted to or not. I was halfway across the club when a hand clasped my arm and halted my determined march.
“Hey,” Jace said, stepping in front of me. “What’s wrong?”
I closed my eyes, urging the anger burning in my chest to calm. My body shook, and I knew I had to get a grip. “Nothing,” I said and opened my eyes.
Jace’s forehead furrowed, and his eyes searched mine. “Bullshit. I know when you’re upset. What happened?”
I huffed out a long breath. He knew me too well and wouldn’t believe I wasn’t mad. “I’ll take care of it, Jace.” I glanced around his shoulder. Reese’s eyes caught mine, and flames ignited my blood.
Calm down. I was scared my eyes would shift red.
Whipping around, Jace followed my gaze. He turned back toward me. “Did he do something to you?” His nostrils flared, and his eyes lit with blue fury. “I’ll kill him.”
He released me and started in Reese’s direction.
Shit!
Panicking, I latched onto his arm. “Jace, no.”