Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 84

Nik's POV:

I couldn't take my eyes off her. I'd tried. God knows I'd tried all night, but it was impossible.

Victoria was drunk out of her mind, completely lost in the music, moving like she didn't give a damn about anything or anyone. Her headphones flashed that blue light again, just like everyone else's, and she swayed her hips in sync with the rhythm of the music. Talk That Talk by Rihanna blasted through the club, and she danced like her life depended on it, like there wasn't a care in the world, like she wasn't surrounded by guys and girls who watched her like wolves circling their prey.

And she was the prey. Whether she knew it or not. Whether she cared or not.

Her body moved so seductively, effortlessly. Her hips rolling, her hands running through her hair, fingers brushing over her skin. It made something burn inside of me. She didn't even realize what she was doing, the effect she had on people. Or maybe she did and just didn't care.

The guys and girls were all over her-trying to get close, trying to touch her. Some of them succeeded. I watched as Ash stepped in, starting to dance with her. They looked good together, too damn good. And it pissed me off. I clenched my jaw, watching Ash slide closer to her, her hands moving down Victoria's waist. But Victoria didn't stop her. She danced with her like he was just another body, another face in the sea of people she didn't care about.

Then Kieran joined in, his hand brushing against her back as they started grinding together. The three of them-Ash, Kieran, and Ria-moved like one, a fluid, sultry rhythm. People watched them with lust in their eyes, including me.

I should've stepped in, should've done something, but I didn't. I just stood there, frozen in place, unable to look away. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion, and I was too far gone to stop it.

She didn't see me watching, or if she did, she really, truly didn't care. Her movements were wild, reckless. Part of me wondered if she even knew what the hell she was doing. Probably not. She was too drunk to know, too far gone to realize the attention she was drawing. Every guy and girl in the place had their eyes on her, and she didn't give a damn.

But then, like some kind of guardian angel, Layla stepped in. She wedged herself between Victoria, Ash and Kieran, handing her a bottle of water. Victoria took it gratefully, gulping it down like she hadn't had anything to drink in days. I felt a small, fleeting wave of relief. At least Layla was taking care of her.

But the relief didn't last long.

An hour later, I spotted her again-this time on the bar.

I blinked, disbelief hitting me like a brick. She was up there, dancing like she owned the place, people cheering her on like she was some kind of goddamn goddess, including the fucking barista's. She moved with the same wild energy, hips swaying, her body twisting in ways I didn't even think she could. Her hair fell in waves, whipping around as she turned, laughing and smiling like she was hvaing the time of her life. She couldn't care less about anything in the world right now.

That was the problem.

"Is that... Victoria?" Harvey asked from beside me, his eyes wide as he watched her dance. He wasn't the only one. Guys and girls from across the bar were staring, some pulling out their phones to record her. "Holy shit, she looks-"

"Drunk," I cut him off, my voice harsher than I meant. I didn't need Harvey giving a running commentary on how hot she looked, not when I could barely keep myself from storming over there and dragging her ass off that bar.

"Yeah, well... maybe someone should get her down," Noah chimed in, nudging me slightly. Padma stood beside him, looking concerned as she glanced from me to Victoria. "She's gonna get herself hurt."