Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 34

Nik's POV:

I couldn't keep my eyes off her.

And don't even get me started on how delicious she smells. I could just eat her out right here, right now. In front of everyone.

Victoria was sitting on the couch, completely unaware of how effortlessly she was stealing the show. The way her hair framed her face, the subtle shimmer in her eyes under the dim party lights, the way she carried herself—it all drove me crazy. And she had no idea. None. She was so clueless about the attention she got, even when she was buried in oversized hoodies and baggy jeans. But now, in that outfit, she was turning heads left and right. I'd lost count of how many guys and girls had their eyes on her tonight, and Victoria, predictably, remained oblivious.

Harvey was sitting next to her, chatting her up, and I could tell he wasn't even trying to hide how much he was checking her out. The guy had always been shameless, but tonight he was taking it to another level. And as much as I wanted to focus on the group of girls flirting with me behind the couch, I couldn't. My attention kept drifting back to Victoria, to Harvey, to the way she smiled that little half-smile of hers that made her look both innocent and mischievous at the same time.

I leaned back against the couch, half-listening to the girls talking to me, but mostly keeping an eye on Victoria. Harvey was harmless, but still, I wasn't about to let him get too friendly. I knew my best friend well enough to recognize when he was pushing his luck, and the way his eyes kept drifting down to Victoria's boobs was starting to irritate me.

"You just did it again," Victoria exclaimed suddenly, crossing her arms over her chest and giving Harvey a pointed look.

Harvey laughed, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "I can't help it. They're just so nice, and full, and in my face!"

I had to fight back a laugh. Harvey wasn't exactly known for his subtlety, but even this was bold for him.

"What can I say? I'm a proud, certified boob guy," Harvey added, shrugging and grinning like a kid who'd just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Victoria took one long, assessing look at him, and I could practically see the gears turning in her head. "So, tell me about your relationship with your mother."

Harvey's smile faltered, his eyes widening in shock. "Okay, who snitched?" he yelled, looking around at the rest of us, genuinely baffled at how she'd just figured that out. He had two sisters he was close with, but his relationship with his mother was non-existent. Very shitty. It was a sore spot for him, one that not many people knew about.

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as I watched her. She was sharp, quick-witted, and had a way of cutting through the bullshit that was both terrifying and fascinating. Harvey looked like he'd just been hit by a truck, completely blindsided by how she'd turned the tables on him so effortlessly.

As the girls behind me continued their chatter, I found myself tuning them out completely, my attention fixed on Victoria. The way she was handling herself tonight, surrounded by strangers, getting along with my friends as if she'd known them for years—there was something magnetic about it. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, and the smile tugging at my lips only grew wider.

She was sitting there, completely at ease now, not realizing how easily she'd slipped into the center of attention without even trying. And I, standing just a few feet away, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride mixed with something deeper, something I didn't want to name.

As I watched her, I realized I was completely obsessed. And I didn't even care to hide it anymore.
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The party was in full swing, and "Yeah!" by USHER blasted through the speakers, making the walls of the crowded frat house vibrate with every beat. The smell of beer and sweat mingled with the thick air with the heat of too many bodies packed into one space. People were packed in every corner of the house, chatting, dancing, and generally having a good time.